Healthy eating plus regular physical exercise equals overall fitness, and the two practices depend upon one another. Without a good diet, you don't get the nutrition to fuel activity. Without expending calories, eating even the best foods will make you gain weight. When you eat right, the physical benefits begin with the strength that fitness brings, and you are likely to gain a positive appearance and a life free of disease. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans notes that satisfying your nutrient needs within reasonable calorie boundaries will produce optimum physical health.
Digestive Health
Fats in food slow your digestion, while the fiber you get from healthy eating aids digestive function, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Meeting your daily requirements for protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals with the low-fat foods in a good diet keeps your colon from having to work too hard. Sufficient dietary fiber acts on your colon to clear the way for efficient nutrient absorption and waste elimination. This keeps you "regular," with physical benefits that include avoiding constipation and bowel inflammation. A healthy colon will provide full transport of the nutrients in the foods you eat to all your body cells, to support a vigorous energy level. The American Cancer Society relates that healthy eating may also reduce your risk for colorectal cancer.
Weight Control
Eating foods that are rich in dietary fiber makes you feel full on fewer calories than other foods. Limiting the calories in a good diet keeps your weight down and further slims your chances of getting many chronic diseases, including diabetes. The physical benefits of maintaining a healthy weight include less stress on your joints, bones, bladder and respiratory system. This supports peak musculoskeletal health, with fewer degenerative disorders. The Office of the Surgeon General notes that overweight or obese people have greater incidences of arthritis, incontinence, sleep apnea and asthma.
Heart Health
Healthy eating contributes directly to cardiovascular health via the soluble fiber in foods such as whole grains. A good diet that limits fat, cholesterol and sodium will prevent fatty deposits from collecting in your blood vessels and the development of high blood pressure. Normal heart function supports your respiratory system. Bodily health that has been cultivated by good nutrition also promotes a longer life. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, as a healthy eater, you have a lower risk for heart attack, stroke and other potentially fatal heart problems.
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