With fast food and other unhealthy options offered in almost every general store, it can become a challenge to maintain a healthy diet. Consuming healthy foods provides you with many benefits that you simply cannot get with junkfood. Knowing the benefits good food gives to your body will go a long way in developing good eating habits that will last a lifetime.
Healthy Choices
Healthy food choices are plentiful, and it should not be difficult to find something you like. As a rule, you should eat as much unprocessed, natural food as possible and check the labels of any prepackaged foods you buy. Avoid foods that include excess amounts of sugar and saturated and trans fats. The Food Guide Pyramid created by the USDA recommends that every day the average adult should consume 6 ounces of grains, with at least three being whole grains; 3 cups of low-fat dairy; 2 to 3 cups of vegetables; and 2 cups of fruit. These are minimum recommendations. With choices such as the fruit and vegetables, the more you eat, the more nutrition value you receive. When planning your meals, be sure to take your level of activity into consideration to ensure that you are not consuming too many or too few calories.
Nutrients
Healthy foods help provide your body with nutrients that are essential for normal, everyday functions. The nutrients ensure that your muscles are working properly, your heart continues to beat at a healthy pace, your brain activity remains normal and that your energy supply remains at high levels. The nutrients found in healthy foods also aid in regulating the processes of your body, such as your blood pressure, while strengthening your bones, tendons and muscles.
Illness Prevention
Eating a healthy diet can go a long way in preventing certain illnesses and sickness. According to "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating", when you feed your body foods that lack the proper nutrients and are full of fat, cholesterol and artificial additives, the natural defense system against illness in your body begins to weaken, potentially letting bacteria and viruses run rampant in your system. When your body is being fed a diet of foods that are good for you, it can work more efficiently to prevent illnesses ranging from the common cold and the flu to more serious medical conditions.
Disease Management
If you have already been diagnosed with a disease, a healthy diet may help you manage your disease more effectively, according to "Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal." If you suffer from diabetes, eating healthy foods can be a valuable tool for reducing potential complications of the condition and for controlling your blood sugar. If you have high cholesterol, eating foods that are rich in soluble fiber while minimizing saturated fats can actually help to lower your cholesterol levels. High blood pressure can be controlled by making simple changes such as limiting the amount of salt you consume.
References
- "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating"; Walter C. Willett, M.D.; 2005
- "Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal"; Reader's Digest; 1997
- United States Department of Agriculture: Food Groups
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