Thought it might be tempting to adopt a super low calorie diet to get fit, doing so could put you at a nutritional deficit and make it harder to get in shape. That's why a balanced diet is so important for optimum health and physical condition. By eating right, you can exercise to your fullest potential and get in the best shape possible.
Food is Fuel
A balanced diet is essential for maintaining physical fitness because quite simply, food is fuel. The foods you eat contain calories and your body burns these calories to power all of your body's functions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you need a diet that's high in healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein sources like chicken and fish. Likewise, your diet should be low in cholesterol and saturated fat. Use a calorie calculator to determine out how many calories you need a day to maintain your current weight.
Immune System
Eating a balanced diet can also help to maintain or boost your immune system, according to CNN.com, which is essential for optimum physical fitness. Eating healthy foods boosts blood flow -- vital for immune system function. To really give your immune system a boost, load up on foods that contain antioxidants like green tea, lean protein like soy, legumes and fish and take a supplement that contains iron, zinc, vitamin C, selenium and vitamin B.
Workout Benefits
Since eating a balanced diet improves your overall health, it makes sense that it would help your workout routine as well. Getting the nutrition you need ensures you have enough energy to exercise on a regular basis and that you get the most out of every workout. For the most workout energy possible, ensure about 60 percent of your diet comes from complex carbohydrates found in vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes. The rest of your diet should be a combination of lean protein and unsaturated fat.
Muscle Tone
To maintain your physical fitness, you also have to build or maintain muscle tone. And you can't do that without getting plenty of protein. According to StrongLifts.com, you can get ample protein from sources like chicken breast, tuna, whey and eggs. Adding these foods to your diet in moderation can help you bulk up your muscles without packing on the fat.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight: Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight
- "CNN.com"; Follow This Eat-Right Plan to Fortify Your Immune System; Stacey Colino; November 14, 2007
- "Cooking Light"; Food for Fitness; Nicci Micco
- StrongLifts.com: Build Muscle on a Budget: The 10 Cheapest Sources of Protein
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