To most people dieting is just about losing as much weight as they can in a short amount of time but that’s not all that it is about. Most people don’t enjoy dieting because it is a lot of work, but most people don’t understand all of the benefits that come with having a healthy lifestyle. Being healthy is always defined as being fit and there in way more to it than being in shape. Everyone can benefit from a healthy diet because it helps maintain a healthy weight, , increases focus, and gives you energy, reduces risk of chronic illness, and maintains immune system.
The main reason for a healthy diet helps maintain a healthy weight. Most people think that cutting out certain foods from their diet will help maintain a healthy weight. It will help you lose weight, but it isn’t the healthiest way to lose weight, and maintain a healthy weight. Our bodies need certain vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats to stay healthy. One diet that a lot of people are using right now is the ketogenic diet, which is a very low-carb diet with moderated amounts of protein and high amounts of fat. Even though many peoples have lost a big percentage of their body weight on this diet it is not a healthy way to do it. Our brains need sugar and our brains derive energy from blood glucose which is a sugar. Diet likes this give people the feeling of sluggishness and takes away all of your energy. Carbs also fuel performance. A study conducted by Copenhagen University found “that a low-carb, high-fat diet resulted in poorer training adaptations when compared to a high-carb approach.” Dieting should not make you think about all the things you can’t eat, you need to think about all the good things you can eat. Even if there is something unhealthy you shouldn’t be eating, just learn how to portion. If you want ice cream to have one scoop instead of filling a whole bowl. Being healthy is all about balancing your food, not just losing weight as fast as you can. A healthy diet should consist of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, proteins and oils to help our bodies work.
Our bodies get their energy from our daily food and liquids. Many people when they’re trying to be “healthy they will cut carbs out of their diet. There are carbs that aren’t good for you, but a lot of carbs actually are good and help your body a lot. Carbohydrates are a big nutrient that we need primarily for energy. Protein and fats are necessary for energy also, but they are more of a long-term fuel source. Carbohydrates fill the bodies immediate energy needs because they are easier and faster to break down than fats and proteins. There are two types of carbs, complex and simple. Complex proteins take more work and take longer for our bodies to break down. Because they take so long to break down, they give our bloodstream a more consistent level of energy. Oatmeal, Brown rice, beans, whole what pastas and breads, Quinoa and sweet potatoes are all complex carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are higher in fiber and digest more slowly which also makes them more filling, so you won’t be hungry right after you eat them. Simple carbohydrates are mostly made up of sugars and it doesn’t take much for your body to break them down and absorb them. Simple carbs are found a lot in processed foods, candy, soda, syrups and milk. Because simple carbs contain a lot of sugar it causes people to gain a lot of weight. This is why a lot of people think badly of carbs, some carbs can be bad for you but there are a lot that are very healthy. Cutting out carbohydrates from your diet will not make you healthy, you need a diet that consists of complex carbs and not simple. This will help increase energy and keep you healthy.
What you eat also has a big impact on your mood and focus. Every food group has a different impact on your mood and that’s why it is not good to just cut things out of your diet for weight loss purposes. Complex carbohydrates produce a sense of calm, lessens high sugar cravings and decreases mood swings. This is because certain carbs contain large amounts of tryptophan. Tryptophan relaxes you is one of the main amino acids found in the foods we eat. Proteins are known to improve brain activity. Protein contains amino acids which makes up the chemicals that our brains need to regulate our thoughts and feelings. Diets high in protein, moderate in carbohydrates and low in fats have a positive effect on mood because they are a big source of omega-3. Our brains and nerves depend of omega-3’s because the nervous system is made up of mostly fat. Omega-3 Is essential because it is one of the nutrients that our bodies cannot produce on its own. DHA and EPA which are both omega-3 fatty acids have been known to benefit multiple mental health disorders. Even though it isn’t a way to cure mental illness it is still helpful in increasing people’s moods. Having a healthy diet can help increase mood because of the nutrients in the foods we are eating.
A healthy lifestyle can also reduce the chance of getting a chronic illness. Dietary habits are usually established in childhood which makes it very important to teach children the importance of having a healthy diet. Over 29 million people in America have been diagnosed with diabetes. Excessive weight gain and obesity and not being active are a big reason for the escalation rates of type to diabetes. Diabetes can then lead to risk of heart disease, kidneys disease and infections. Healthy eating and more exercise can play a big role in preventing diabetes. Cardiovascular disease can be caused from a lot of things, but one main cause is an unbalanced diet. The risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by eating less salt, saturated and trans fats and eating more polyunsaturated fats, fruits and vegetables. Reducing your amount of salt intake can lower blood pressure which is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Osteoporosis can also be caused from an unhealthy diet. People who try to maintain a very thin weight throughout their life are at higher risk of osteoporosis. Also crash diets are very bad for your bones, having 1,200 calories is what’s needed to maintain your bones and tissues. Having diets with calcium and vitamin D can help reduce bone fracture and physical activity can help strengthen bones and muscles. Dental diseases can also be caused from an unhealthy diet. Large amounts of sugar are not good for your teeth. Sugars mixes with saliva and increases bacteria in your mouth which then turns into plaque that coats the teeth. After a while the plaque turns to tartar which leads to tooth decay. Also, teeth can be ruined by acids in beverages and food and can contribute to tooth destruction. This is why it is important to make sure that you don’t cut things out of your diet, don’t put things into your body that are bad for you and are getting all the proper nutrients you need.
Poor nutrition is the most common cause of immunodeficiencies, and the immune system is our only defense against disease. Maintaining our immune systems requires proper vitamins and minerals. Having a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and low amounts of fats will support a healthy immune system. Eating or drinking too much sugar will restrain the immune system cells that fight bacteria. Protein is a big part of the bodies defense mechanism so eating a variety of protein foods will help to protect us from diseases. Vitamin A are the foods that have high colorful compounds called carotenoids. The body turns carotenoids into vitamin A which has an antioxidant effect that helps strengthen the immune system. Vitamin A helps to regulate the immune system and helps to keep skin, tissues, mouth and respiratory system healthy. Vitamin A can be found in spinach, peppers, squash and carrots. Vitamin C stimulates the formation of antibodies and boosts immunity. Vitamin C can be found in oranges, tangerines, strawberries and peppers. Vitamin E works and an antioxidant and improves immune function. It can be found in sunflower seeds, almonds and some vegetable oil. This vitamin is crucial to how your immune system functions. Zinc helps the immune system work property and can be found in poultry, seafood, milk and whole grain products. Zinc deficiency can reduce the effects of your immune system. Iron is also very important because it helps your body carry oxygen to the cells. Iron can be found in chicken, turkey and seafood. If you are a vegetarian, you can also find iron in beans broccoli and kale. Having meals that contains all these vitamins is crucial for health and there are also supplements if it is not possible to eat all these vitamins. Maintaining a healthy diet will help with getting all the vitamins you need.
Being healthy does not just mean that your fit, people can be fit but still not be healthy. There are many parts to a healthy diet, and it benefits everyone. It helps maintain a healthy weight, boosts energy levels, increases mood and focus, lowers the risk of chronic illnesses and protects our immune system. Having a well balanced diet keeps you healthy. Don’t just cut things out of your diet because it will help you lose weight. Every food group has nutrients, vitamins, or minerals that our bodies need to stay healthy. Treating your body right and having the right nutrients to protect us and keep us going is very important.
