We all lead busy lives. Sometimes amidst the chaos we turn to quick convenience foods that may not be the healthiest or most nutritious. We forget that eating healthy is important for our bodies, and we grab foods that please our taste buds but not our bodies. Take a moment to remember that eating healthy is worth it; consider the many benefits of making good food choices.
Healthy Weight
Eating healthy will help you maintain a healthy weight. When your eating plan includes staying within your daily calorie needs, enjoying treats in moderation and emphasizing foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and whole grains, you are on your way to managing a healthy weight. While you are eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, stay positive by looking at all the foods you can have. The key is portion control.
Cancer Prevention
Eating healthy can help decrease your risk for developing cancer. Consuming fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in antioxidants, may slow or prevent the development of cancer. For example, try sweet potatoes for beta-carotene and vitamin A and eat pink grapefruit for vitamin C and lycopene. Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation is especially helpful in decreasing your cancer risk. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderation as up to one drink for women and up to two drinks for men per day.
Heart Health
A benefit of eating healthy is avoiding heart disease. A fiber-rich diet coupled with a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol will help prevent high cholesterol in your blood. Furthermore, a diet limiting or meeting the sodium recommendations can help lower your blood pressure. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming no more than 2300 mg of sodium per day. This is roughly 1 tsp. of salt per day. Individuals who are African-American, middle-aged or older or who already have hypertension should aim for 1500 mg of sodium per day.
Positive Outlook
A positive outlook may be the biggest pro to eating healthy. Eating healthy assures us about our food choices, makes us proud that we made healthy choices and gives us confidence to make healthy food choices in the future. A sense of accomplishment may contribute to a positive outlook and a drive to continue eating healthy.
References
- CDC: Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight
- MayoClinic.com: Cancer Prevention: 7 Tips to Reduce Your Risk
- USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005: Alcoholic Beverages
- National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet
- CDC: Heart Disease Prevention: What You Can Do
- USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005: Sodium and Potassium
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