There is much talk about the importance of eating well – the diet industry is a thriving, multi-million dollar one in our country, and if you go to your nearest local bookstore, you are likely to find a plethora of books on eating healthy and dieting. But what exactly does a healthy diet look like? With so many food options available, and so many different diets that claim to be the best, it can be very easy to get confused about what exactly healthy eating looks like.
First and foremost, why should you care about eating healthier? What possible benefits can you expect from a good diet? Numerous studies and years of research all testify to the fact that what we eat is strongly linked to our overall health. If you want to be as healthy as possible, it will be difficult if not impossible to achieve this goal without a healthy diet. Your risk of various disease go down dramatically if you eat well – you will be less likely to develop heart disease, for example, or cancer. You will be less at risk for hypertension and diabetes. The list goes on and on. Improving your diet will go a long way towards improving your health.
If you are interested in improving your diet, what foods should you eat? You can never go wrong with fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are two food categories that you never need to limit your intake of, so eat away! Make sure you always have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies around to snack on, and try to incorporate them into each meal. Most of us do not eat enough of these foods, so pay special attention to how many servings you get on a daily basis. Is it enough?
In general, you want to reduce your consumption of any food that you do not make yourself. Although fast food can be very cheap and convenient, it is often loaded with fat and sodium and sugar and can really do a number on your health. Likewise, limit your intake of fried foods and dessert. No food is completely off limits in moderation; if you try to cut these items out of your diet cold turkey, you are likely to be unsuccessful. You can still eat them; just cut the portion sizes in half.
What are some of the long term benefits of eating well? You will likely experience an increase in your energy level, for starters. A diet high in processed food and sugars can often cause you to experience a mid day crash – all the suger that you’ve been eating may temporarily make you feel more energized, but you’ll soon feel sluggish and tired as a result of your diet. Eating will will give you the energy that you need to get through the day. You can also be proud of yourself for making healthy choices for your body.
Deciding to eat well is a laudable goal! We wish you well in your quest to eat a healthy diet.