What Are the Benefits of a Regular Diet?

What Are the Benefits of a Regular Diet?
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The foods you eat supply your body with valuable vitamins and nutrients that help keep it in a healthy state. Vitamins are not something the body produces, so it is up to you to see to it your body gets proper nutrition by adhering to a regular diet. A regular diet offers many health benefits when a variety of foods are eaten every day, and a regular diet can help the young, the old and those in between enjoy better health.

Stronger Bones

A regular diet is a diet that should include calcium-rich foods. Calcium is needed by people of all ages to strengthen bones and teeth and to lessen the chance of developing osteoporosis. According to Linda Page, author of "Linda Page's Healthy Healing, All New Eleventh Edition," the life of all body cells depends on calcium intake. When dairy foods and calcium-rich foods such as sardines, broccoli and molasses are part of a regular diet, your bones and your body will benefit. According to MyPyramid.gov, a regular diet that includes potassium-rich vegetables such as sweet potatoes and canned white beans may assist in keeping bones strong.

Heart Protection

A regular diet that includes fiber foods may help prevent cardiovascular disease. It may also help lower your cholesterol. A regular diet that contains fiber may also help you lose weight by filling you up and satisfying your hunger so that you will eat less. Foods such as navy beans, kidney beans, lentils, soybeans, pears, oat bran cereal and brown rice offer these health benefits and should be part of your regular diet.

Healthy Skin and Gums and Better Vision

Foods in a regular diet that contain vitamins A and C contribute to beautiful skin, healthy gums and protection against night blindness. Vitamin A foods that offer skin and vision benefits include dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, carrots, cantaloupe and eggs. Vitamin C foods that keep your gums and teeth healthy include oranges, grapefruits, red and green peppers, kiwi, tomatoes and cabbage.

More Energy, Enhanced Immunity and A Healthier Nervous System

Including foods that contain the B vitamins, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin in your regular diet can give you the benefit of increased energy. Vitamin B6 also enhances the immune system, and it is beneficial to the nervous system. Foods that offer these health benefits include meat, chicken, turkey, fish, dry legumes such as beans and peas, eggs, nuts and seeds.

References

Article reviewed by KathleenM Last updated on: Sep 2, 2010

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