10 Reasons Why Good Nutrition and Diets Are Important
- officiallivesimple
- Feb 2, 2018
- 3 min read
Having a good nutrition and diet is strongly important. A healthy diet prevents malnutrition and protects from diseases like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Today, many people's diets consist of more saturated fat, trans fats, sugars, and more sodium than fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber. Your body's health reflects what you put into it.
Here are 10 reasons why good nutrition and diets are important:
1. Well-being is reduced with a poor diet.
Eating unhealthy reduces physical and mental health. Mental Health Foundation strongly states that people who report no mental health issues are people who eat fresh fruit and vegetables daily.
2. Unhealthy living is expensive.
More than two-thirds of the American population is overweight or obese. An average healthy individual spends 25% less than an obese fast-food enjoying individual. Therefore, why not save money and still live and look better.
3. Helps you manage a healthy weight.
Eating a well-balanced nutritious diet will help maintain a healthy body weight. We understand how difficult it is to resist the delicious unhealthy temptations, and let's face it, once you see anything chocolate, we forget what healthy means. However, we need to remember goals and give ourselves reminders. If eating healthy makes you think about the food you can't have, refocus you thoughts on the foods you can have; try putting a new spin to an old recipe and make it a little healthier. You don't have to give up your favorite comfort foods, it's all about balance.
4. Maintains your immune system
Our immune system is our defense against disease, but poor nutrition is the most common cause of immunodeficiency's worldwide. Maintaining your immune system required an intake of paper vitamins and minerals. Eating a well-balanced diet, including fruits, vegetables, and low fat foods will help support a healthy immune system.
5. Delays effect of aging.
Taking in the right foods with the right vitamins that are good for your skin is always a good idea! These foods include tomatoes, berries, avocados, nuts, and fish. For example, tomatoes contain Vitamin C, which helps build collagen, in turn making your skin look firmer and slow premature aging. Berries are full of antioxidants and vitamins, eating them promotes cell regeneration for new skin.
6. Gives you energy
CARBOHYDRATES! PROTEINS! & FATS!! These are three main nutrients our body uses for energy. For example, Carbohydrates are the best for prolonged energy because they are digested at a slower rate. Our bodies gain energy from the foods and liquids we consume, therefore, if we carefully monitor our intakes, we can control the energy our bodies have.
7. Reduces the risk of chronic disease.
Dietary habits are typically established in childhood and carry on into adulthood. Teaching children the importance of eating a healthy diet early on is crucial to prevent future unhealthy living. In every group of 4 people, there is at least 1 diabetic person. Diabetes remains being the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, and non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation.
8. Healthy eating positively affects your mood.
Keeping a good balance between the 3 main nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) is strongly important. Lack of carbohydrates can increase feelings of tension. A diet rich in protein, moderate in carbohydrates, and low in fats will have a positive effect on your moods. This balance leaves the body a supply of iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and affects our food choices. People feeling happier feelings are more likely to choose healthier foods.
9. Increases Focus.
Food has an impact on the way we think. When the body is low on glucose, the brain is not receiving the energy it needs to remain focused. "Diets high in fat and cholesterol can seriously damage the brain by building up plaque in brain vessels, damaging brain tissue and causing strokes." (Live Well with Unity Point Health, 2015) Eating fruits and vegetable throughout the day helps keep the mind healthy and engaged.
10. Healthy diets may lengthen your life.
It's obvious that our bodies need food in order to survive, but the process of breaking down food nutrients, or metabolizing, cause stress on the body. Overeating creates more stress on the body and could lead to a shorter lifespan. Obesity could potentially lead to decline in life expectancy in the United States. Diets that are rich in nutrients and do not contain processed foods have been found to have a positive effect on life expectancy.
Sources: Live Well with Unity Point Health, 2015
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