No matter your age, your daily food choices can make a huge difference in your overall health and in how you feel and look. Eating a healthy, balanced diet daily provides the nutrients your body needs to keep your bones, organs and muscles in optimum shape. These nutrients include fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. Healthy eating can also help you maintain a healthy weight, boost your heart health, prevent diabetes and improve your brain function.
1) HEALTHY HEART
Consuming a balanced diet with lots of high-fiber foods, such as nuts, legumes, whole grains and fruits and vegetables, will help ensure that your heart works at optimal efficiency. Choose deeply colored fruits and vegetables as they have the highest micronutrient content. Good choices include peaches, spinach, berries and carrots. To reduce your risk of death from heart disease, eat oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon and trout, twice a week. Oily fish contain substantial amounts of omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for your heart.
2) IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION
With good nutrition and healthy eating habits, you can be on your way to improving your day-to-day mental health and well-being. 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. Good food sources of B vitamins include leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals and grains. Omega-3 fatty acids help improve memory and learning and battle mood disorders, schizophrenia, dementia and depression.
3) YOUTHFUL LOOK
Eating healthier foods helps you maintain a fresh and youthful appearance. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables may help slow aging by eliminating free radicals, which are harmful agents caused by metabolic processes and environmental toxins. Free radicals damage cells, including skin cells, speeding up the aging process.
4) HELPS FIGHT OBESITY
A meal plan that incorporates healthy foods such as whole grains can help you combat weight gain. Whole grains contain fiber which stays in the stomach for longer, reducing hunger and food cravings. This consequently reduces your calorie intake and helps you lose excess weight.
5) LONGER LIFE
Healthy heart, healthy mind, lower level of stress, fit body, less diseases – all these contribute to make our life healthier and happier. One of the wonderful benefits of eating a healthy diet.
