Eating healthy is a foundation for good health. By eating a healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced diet, we can reach the fittest form of our bodies. With a healthy diet, there comes a long list of benefits. Mostly, we start eating healthy when we are motivated to lose some pounds, but this is not the only reason. There is much more to it. You will see a drastic change in your daily activities, and your mental and physical energy will be boosted. Instead of being burnt out at the end of the day, you will feel fresh as a daisy. It will also motivate you to develop a routine that will help you organize your daily tasks. This way, you will feel burden-free as your tasks will be completed on time!
There are many ways to find out if the food you are eating is healthy enough for your body. If you feel sluggish and tired throughout the day and are not being able to sleep properly at night, this might be due to a lack of nutrients in your diet. Your skin is also a window to what’s happening inside. If your skin feels pale or you have dark circles, then it’s time you start eating healthy.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of a healthy diet:
DISEASE PREVENTION
“You are what you eat.”
This is why it is recommended to cut out junk and oily food. They only cause harm and nothing good. It’s just the taste that appeals and makes us crave for more. The craving and binge eating will only make you regret it later in life. Food choices don’t affect temporarily, they can cause permanent health damage. Diseases like obesity, atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart diseases are very commonly caused due to food that assists in the production of LDL (bad cholesterol). Its excess causes it to accumulate in the arteries making it hard for the blood to flow and sometimes even obstructs the arteries. Unhealthy food is also responsible for the generation of chronic diseases. The oxidants and free radicals in the body keep stashing in the body due to the lack of antioxidants in the diet. They keep making the inner conditions worse. To prevent diseases it is best to limit sugary, processed, and oily food.
STRONG BONES
Milk is not the only source of calcium for the bones, and it alone is not enough for us. Our dietary habits can have a negative impact on bones. There can be many things you are intaking that can lead to loss of bone density. One of the main factors is smoking and alcohol intake. They alter the functionality of bone cells, making them fragile and more prone to fractures. But quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can reverse this process. Also, some medications like corticosteroids, anti seizures, and anticancer drugs are also linked to reduced bone strength.
To prevent all of this and get healthy bones, it is best that you intake calcium (builds bones) and vitamin D (maintains bone strength). Dairy products are a good source of calcium. There are alternative methods as well for calcium, like supplements, but it is recommended to get calcium naturally first. As for vitamin D, it is present in fatty fish, soy milk, some cereals, etc. It can also be absorbed through the skin via sunlight but it is not a safe method as excessive skin exposure can lead to skin cancer. Vitamin C and other minerals are also quite beneficial for bone health. That is why it is best to incorporate healthy vegetables and fruits in your diet as well.
GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
Depression and anxiety are a result of eating sugary and processed foods as they can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Glycemic foods, rich in carbs and sugar promote free radical production in the body. Excessive free radicals induce oxidative stress which is responsible for damaging the DNA of brain cells and modifies the essential proteins. Oxidative stress leads to many diseases like Parkinson’s disease, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and depression. Due to this very reason healthy fruits and vegetables are crucial for health along with vitamins and minerals as they help detoxify our bodies.
CONCLUSION
Eating healthy can help one live to their fullest by providing them with energy and strength. Along with that, it also helps prevent diseases that can cost you your health and make your body age prematurely.
