What are the advantages of eating healthy? What are the physical benefits you can enjoy from eating nutritious foods? If you have been thinking of how to eat healthy, but have not taken the time to seriously plan your meals and portion sizes, it’s about time you put some serious thought into your eating habits. Eating healthy is important in all areas of life – physically, mentally and emotionally. So, what are the benefits of eating healthy?
First, you will find that your energy level increases, making you feel light and uplifted throughout the day. You will also notice a decrease in mood disorders, including depression, and an increase in overall well being. Your diet plays a major role in how you feel, and your diet can affect both your mental and physical health. This is because a balanced diet provides the proper nutrients for your body and provides you with the necessary building blocks for optimal mental and physical function.
What should you look for in a diet that promotes healthy eating? The first thing is that it contains everything that you need to maintain a balanced diet – including everything that provides fuel for the body and metabolism. Some of the most important components of any diet include: carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some of the more high-need or “good” carbohydrates include complex carbohydrates such as those found in whole grains; high fiber vegetables; and lean proteins such as fish. Vitamins and minerals are also found in a good diet, and they include Vitamin E, B5, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Zinc and Other Vitamins.
What types of carbohydrates are good? Carbohydrates provide fuel for the body and brain, and high levels of these nutrients can keep you feeling full for a longer period of time. Some examples of good carbohydrates include: breads and cereals, pasta and potatoes, rice, and other grain products. Some good fats to include in your diet include: spreads, butter, fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, olives and other foods that contain fats. What kinds of vitamins and minerals should you avoid?
Bad carbohydrates include: sweets, starchy carbohydrates, sweets, cakes, candy and hard candy. Good carbohydrates include: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and legumes. Bad fats include: junk food, deep fat fried foods and processed foods. What types of vitamins and minerals should you eat? The best choices include: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Zinc, Inositol, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, and Vitamin B6.
What are the risks of eating unhealthy foods? Eating an unhealthy diet lowers your good nutrition and increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and other health problems. What kinds of diseases could you get if you ate a bad diet? The top three diseases you could get if you ate a bad diet are heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Can you imagine what these three would do to you? I think not.
The most important nutrient for a diet is fiber. Many people do not get enough fiber in their diet and must add more fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich products to their diet to receive the full benefit of these nutrients. Do you know what percentage of your calories are comprised of fiber? Probably not! If you add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, you will also receive more fiber and will benefit greatly from a diet high in plant-based foods.
What are the risks of eating a diet high in processed foods like white flour or refined carbs? The risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems increases dramatically. High refined carb foods contain more refined sugar than any other type of flour. Unrefined carbs such as fruits and vegetables have much more fiber and can be beneficial for your health. Eating whole grains, nuts and other natural whole foods can greatly benefit your well being by eliminating a lot of the chemicals and toxins found in the typical American diet today.