The word "diet" has two similar but distinct definitions. The word either refers to what food and drink a person consumes, or it can be an organized regimen of eating and drinking designed to help a person control his health, appearance or weight. Research and common sense alike indicate that diet has an immense effect on a person's health, psychology and even earning power.
Diet and Health
According to the World Health Organization, "healthy diets and regular, adequate physical activity are major factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cites a healthy diet as necessary for normal childhood growth and development and key in reducing the risk of chronic disease.
Diet and the Environment
According to Mark Mark Bittman, author of "Food Matters," eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat helps to reduce the environmental impact that results from industrial farming. A diet of more fruits and vegetable and less meat can also improve your health. In an effort to decrease his carbon footprint, Bittman switched from eating bacon and eggs for breakfast and a hamburger for lunch to starting his day with a bowl of oatmeal, eating fruits and vegetables for lunch, and eating meat only sometimes for dinner. He lost 35 pounds (15 percent of his body weight), decreased his cholesterol by 40 points, and his improved his knee function.
Basic Diet Types
There are several basic diet types. A carnivorous diet consists entirely of foods produced from animals (meat and eggs). An omnivorous diet consists of meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy products. Vegetarians don't eat meat, but do eat eggs and dairy products along with fruits, vegetables, and nuts, while vegans don't eat any foods that come from animals. Islamic Halal dietary constrictions exclude pork while the Jewish Kosher diet excludes seafood and pork.
Dieting for Weight Loss
Countless diets have been devised over the years, and choosing a diet program can be daunting. If you want to start a diet to try to lose weight, The Weight Control Information Network recommends you consult your doctor or another health care professional before making a decision. You should ask questions about whether your weight is affecting your health and whether your extra weight may be caused by a medicine you're taking or hypothyroidism. You should also become familiar with potential health risks and costs before committing to a new diet plan.
Diet and Earning Power
According to "Good food boosts earning power," a BBC article by Mark Doyle published in the British medical journal The Lancet, evidence indicates that babies that eat more nutritious food are more likely to be more economically prosperous later in life. According to Doyle's research, a well-fed group of study participants earned nearly 50 percent more than participants who were not well-fed.
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