It
seems that the whole world wants us to eat. Why? No pizzas, no burgers, no
fries, no chocolate… Isn't it asking for too much? Well, the answer turns out
to be a big NO. Before you hurt your head thinking about it any longer, let me
tell you about why you should start eating healthy. Trust me, you will be convinced
to give up on those highly unhealthy foods in no time!
1. Eating Healthy
Controls Weight
Unhealthy
eating habits have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United States:
about one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5
million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese. Eating a
low-fat diet can also help control weight. When you start the day with a
healthy breakfast, you help avoid hunger spasms that could send you running to
the fast food before lunch, says the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The
ADA also recommends incorporating at least five times per day of fruits and
vegetables, which are low in calories and high in nutrients, in to your diet to
help with weight control.
2. Eating Healthy
Improves Mood
Doing
right by your body pays off for your mind as well. Eating a healthy diet as
well as exercising can lead to a better physique, so you may also feel better
about your appearance, which can boost your confidence and self-esteem. What we
eat has an impact on our brains. Did you know bananas contain 10 milligrams of
dopamine, a chief mood booster in the brain? Dark chocolate, packed with
polyphenol, is also known to boost serotonin, a neurotransmitter that many
antidepressants also target.
3. Eating Better Makes
You Live Longer
Healthy
habits can help prevent certain health conditions such as heart disease, stroke,
and high blood pressure by boosting high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or
"good," cholesterol and decreasing unhealthy triglycerides. This
combination keeps your blood flowing smoothly, decreasing your risk of
cardiovascular diseases. One study showed that a diet of fruit and vegetables,
in combination with exercise, extended life expectancy for women in their 70s.
Elsewhere, researchers reviewed a group of studies that suggest vegetarian or
low-meat diets could help you live a longer life. And another study points to
nuts as a way to reduce your risk of early death. No matter how you cut it, a
healthy diet can play an important role in how long you’ll live.
4. Eating Healthy Will
Make You Save Money
Many
of the benefits of healthy eating contribute to potential savings. If you stay
healthy, you’ll have fewer medical bills to pay and by cutting back on food,
you’ll eat less and have fewer groceries to purchase. Save your body and your
wallet and eat your greens today.
5. Eating Healthy Leads
To Improved Brain Function
Just
like your car, your brain needs quality fuel to run efficiently. One study
found that eating unhealthy foods puts you at a 66% increased risk of
productivity loss. Eating a healthy, balanced diet to make sure your brain has
the fuel it needs means more energy and increased productivity at work. Foods
rich in B vitamins, particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12 and folic acid, can help
reduce your homocysteine levels. High levels of homocysteine have been tied to
increased risk of dementia, according to the Harvard Medical School.
