Our diet is comprised of the foods we consume on a daily basis. All of the nutrients that our bodies require in the proper quantities for development and health maintenance should be present in our diet. Neither should be over- or under-represented. Water and roughage should be included in the diet as well. A varied diet includes a variety of foods.
A person may be getting enough food to consume, yet the diet may lack a specific nutrient. If this occurs for an extended length of time, the person may develop a deficit. A lack of one or more nutrients in our bodies might result in illnesses or problems. Deficiency diseases are illnesses caused by a lack of nutrients over an extended period of time