Diet & exercise: the perfect combination for health and well-being

It's important to ensure that you eat a balanced and varied diet because it's the only sure way to ensure that you stay healthy, mobile and mentally alert in the long term. It sounds like a simple concept, though it can sometimes be more of an ordeal than a pleasure for many people. However, enjoyment and health don't necessarily have to rule each other out and if you follow a few simple rules, you'll see and taste that a balanced, delicious diet is much easier to integrate into your daily routine than you might think.

Choose the foods that you eat according to season so that they have the maximum content of nutrients and vitamins. Take a look at our Seasonal Calendar to find out when all the different fruit and vegetables are in season. Seasonal eating isn't just the most inexpensive option, it also ensures that you have plenty of variety on your plate the whole year round. If you handle fresh ingredients properly, they'll taste delicious and benefit your body. Fruit, vegetables and salads are foods that should be eaten every day. And the same applies to Kikkoman's versatile seasoning sauces. They deliver delicious seasoning straight out of the bottle without masking the food's natural flavour. For example, you can use Teriyaki marinade to conjure up delicious dips for crisp, fresh raw foods and Sukiyaki stir-fry sauce to season delectably light wok dishes. The carbohydrates in pasta, potatoes and wholemeal products deliver the energy that the body needs to function. And, even though fat is essential, you should keep your intake to the minimum. It's also very important to drink plenty of water!

Sport is just as important as a healthy diet because regular exercise strengthens your muscles, tendons and ligaments, improves bone density and helps you to reduce stress levels. Physical and mental health improves and the risk of obesity and obesity-related illnesses declines. And if you exercise regularly, you can eat more sweets and tempting treats. It's always best to integrate an exercise regime into your everyday life. Simply use the stairs instead of the lift, cycle instead of taking the car or take a brisk walk in your lunch break. Little gymnastic or stretching exercises at your desk throughout the day are also an excellent way of relieving the pressure on your vertebrae.