Why Is Eating Healthy Food Important?

A healthy diet is important for more than just a healthy body. It's an integral part of your total well-being. Healthy foods are high in nutrients, and they provide a diverse spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They are also low in fat, refined sugars, and added chemical and preservatives. A healthy diet can promote good health by reducing your risk of disease.

Eating to Promote Health

Choosing to eat healthy foods is choosing to improve your health. Eating a wide variety of whole, non-processed foods can promote good health and reduce risk of disease. Foods that are high in fiber, such as legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, can help control levels of blood-sugar and blood-cholesterol, thereby reducing your risk of type-2 diabetes and heart disease. Plant-based foods, including grains and seeds, are high in antioxidants.

Eating to Support Active Lives

Exercise is key to improving and maintaining good health. Nutritious food choices can help you lead an active life by increasing energy and reducing recovery time. In fact, a study published in the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" in 2010 showed that after activities that required carrying heavy loads for long periods, such as hiking with a pack, carbohydrates appeared to help in the recovery of neuromuscular functioning.

Eating to Reduce Risk of Chronic Disease

In a 2005 study of more than 13,000 participants from the Nurses' Health Study, women who ate the highest levels of dark leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale, and cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and broccoli, showed the lowest level of cognitive decline as they aged. A diet rich in produce, whole grains and healthy protein choices, such as fish, has been shown repeatedly to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke.

Eating for Psychological Benefits

Eating a healthy, whole foods-based diet has been shown to increase psychological well-being and reduce risk of depression. In a 2010 study, published in "The American Journal of Psychiatry," the contribution of diet to anxiety and depression was investigated. The study found that diets abundant in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and fish appeared to protect women against symptoms of psychological malaise. Women who included fried foods, alcohol, refined grains, sugars and other processed foods in their diets had a significantly higher risk of depression and anxiety.

Healthy Foods

In 2010, the Harvard School of Public Health released a new Healthy Eating Pyramid. Based on the latest science to guide you to the healthiest food choices, it includes a diet heavy in fresh produce, especially vegetables and legumes; whole grains; lean protein foods, such as tofu, wild-caught fish and lean meats; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, like those found in tree nuts, flaxseed and avocado; and low-fat dairy products. Follow a healthy foods diet to see how it can make a positive impact on your health.