Benefits of Healthy Eating

Benefits of Healthy Eating

University of Phoenix Axia College

Rosalind Hairston

A healthy diet is important because it increases energy, prevents illness, and promotes well-being in all people.

Staying healthy and eating right is a lifestyle that many people should consider. A juicy hamburger from McDonalds dripping with special sauce topped with cheese is not exactly considered a healthy meal. Our society today is busy and on the go at all times. It is so much easier to stop and get fast food and then continue on. However, we should stop and think; is it really worth it to not eat right and exercise? Studies have shown, people that eat right and exercise live longer. Eating fattening foods clogs your heart with cholesterol and fat. People that do not exercise, and continue to eat unhealthy foods will slow their metabolism. This is why over 60% of our society is overweight today. My aunt has had heart problems with her heart in the past mostly because she was very overweight and eating the wrong foods. The doctor advised her to exercise and eat right. Now after two years of following this advised her heart is stronger than ever. The doctor also advised her that at least ten years has been added to her life. Eating healthy also helps to build persons self-esteem. Many people who are overweight do not feel good about themselves. They want to be thinner but instead of doing it the right way they try crash diets that seem to always fail or do nothing at all about their condition. When a person is at the right size and statue, that they would like to be then their self-esteem rises. If one has a good attitude and think they look great, than more than likely other people will also. When one exercise and eats healthy foods than they will also physically feel great. The fact that one has just spent an hour on the treadmill and a salad was for dinner makes a person feel as if they are really accomplishing something. If people would realize what a great feeling a person gets from working out and eating healthy food then everyone would be doing it. It’s a lifestyle that people should adapt and live by. It should make a person feel good that they are doing something to better themselves. All of us have areas that we can improve on. Improving our physical imperfections it makes us feel great. Some people were raised to eat everything on their plate, whether it was healthy or not. If your mom made the food, then it is eaten. What our generation should do is learn from our parents’ mistakes. We should start cooking our children healthier food so that they will grow up knowing and living healthier lifestyles. Other say that fat free foods don’t taste as good as fattening foods. However, we should make the time to improve eating habits. This will enhance mental and physical state. Also, there are now ever fat free potato ships on the market that taste the same as regular potato chips. Some people even say that problems make them eat more, but we should practice more self control during these times that we are having problems. The excuses for choosing to live unhealthy in my opinion are just that; excuses!

Proper nutrition can definitely help you get a lot more out of life. If you’re eating a diet full of life giving nutrients, you’re going to have a life that is full of energy. You can’t participate in activities if you don’t have any energy. The energy production cycle which is called the Kreb cycle in the body, absolutely requires many nutrients that are found in fresh whole foods in order to produce energy, It also needs water. The mitochondrion, which is the factory in every cell in the body requires water, and the thousands of nutrients and enzymes that are in whole foods in order to produce energy. Energy is required for every sing metabolic function in the body as well as every activity we do with our body. So, proper nutrition will give you zest for life; it will give you high sense of well being, You’ll be calm instead of anxious because of not having enough nutrients. What we call the vitamins and minerals that are the stress vitamins which are naturally occurring: the B vitamins, and vitamin C. If you are not getting all those nutrients from whole foods, you are probably not going to have energy. Eating foods such as fresh orange juice peanut butter on whole grain are foods that increase energy. High protein foods such as soy burger may increase energy level as well. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat. We live in a society that makes eating unhealthy foods convenient.

The health benefits and risk of foods has been and will always be a source of excitement and controversy, and research. Although it might seem that dietary recommendations change frequently, the consistent findings are that getting an adequate source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants through foods is the best way to stay healthy. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, a moderate in everything else, had been consistently found to be most beneficial. A general rule is that the darker the color of the fruit or vegetable, the more nutritional value it has. Cancer fighting chemical groups include, phytochemicals and antioxidants. Some of the most beneficial foods according to recent studies are considered to be super nutrients. Here are some of the foods and the value it has to preventing illness. Tomatoes and tomato products contain vitamin C, and antioxidant cancer fighting chemicals that reduce digestive tract and other types of cancer. Broccoli contains phytochemicals that are thought to make cancer cells less toxic. Spinach is rich in folate, fiber, and iron nutrients needed. Tea contains phytochemicals which are cancer fighters. Green tea has been associated with a lower risk of stomach, esophageal, and liver cancers. Nuts have monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that improve levels of cholesterol by lowering triglycerides, and LDL. Along with raising LDL, preventing heart disease and stroke. Nuts also contain fiber and vitamin E, both of which prevent heart disease and cancer. Oats contain beta glucan which is the fiber contained in oats. Beta glucan help eliminates cholesterol from the intestines before it gets absorbed and lowers blood pressure. Oats also contain vitamin E and antioxidants. Fish, especially Salmon, Herring, Anchovies and Sardines contain omegas-3 the fatty acids that prevent clumping of the blood platelets, preventing the brain cells from diseases of aging, prevent autoimmune diseases and lessen depression and menstrual cramps. Garlic contains Allyl sulfides and phytochemicals. These protect the heart and reduce cholesterol, and prevent blood from clotting. Which has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Blueberries and other berries are the highest antioxidants, including phytochemicals that help prevent heart disease and cancer. Blueberries also prevent memory loss. Soy also contains Omega-3 fatty acids which prevent heart disease and stroke. And most importantly, drinking at least eight glasses of water a day is recommended to prevent colon cancer, constipation, obesity, and complications of dehydration. In active athletic women, more is often required.

In adults, healthy eating can help you manage your weight and will improve you overall feeling of well-being. Eating a healthy diet improves your skin. Want fabulous skin—glowing, vibrant, and yes younger-looking skin? We all do. Make sure your putting foods for healthy skin on your plate. Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods that are consumed, the better your skin will look. The reverse is true as well. The less attention we pay to what goes in our mouth the more problems we may see cropping up with our skin. You can have sallow skin, dry skin, older looking skin, It’s not going to happen overnight, but starve your skin of proper nutrients and it’s going to show. According to Elaine Linker, PhD, biochemist and co-founder of DDS skin care says “a number of condition such as acne can cause you to suddenly break out, and some chronic skin conditions such as eczema, many be linked to a poor diet”. One of the most components of skin health is vitamin A. One of the best places to get it is diary products. The health of our skin cells is dependent on dietary vitamin A. Blackberries blueberries, strawberries, and plums, these four foods are high in antioxidant. In a study published in the journal of Agricultural and food chemistry, these four fruits weighted in with the total highest antioxidant capacity of any food. The benefits of these foods for healthy skin are plentiful. Over exposure to the sun , damage the membrane of skin cells potentially allowing damage to the DNA of that cell. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can protect the cell. Salmon, walnuts, canola oil, and fax seed all deliver essential fatty acids. These are all foods for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids are responsible for healthy membranes, which is not only what act as barriers to harmful things but also as the passageway for nutrients to cross in and out. But for waste products to get in and out of cell. Because it is the cell membrane that also holds water in the stronger the barrier is the better your cells can hold moisture. And that means plumper, younger looking skin. The best known essential fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6, which must be in balance for good health and good skin. Fish, walnut, and fax seed oil are among the best sources. These contain more than fatty acids. Eating good quality oil helps keep skin lubricated and keep it looking and feeling healthier overall. Another benefit of well being from a healthy diet is maintaining a healthy weight. The best way to maintain a healthy weigh is to adapt to healthy eating.

All people should adapt to a healthy eating lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet is easier than ever. Cookbooks are available to assist. Grocery stores now carry organic and other healthy products. A person could never go wrong by eating healthy. The benefit of healthy eating are endless, Healthy eating increases energy, prevent illness, and promotes well being in all people.

www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm www.pubs.acs.org/journals/jatcau/ www.U.S.DepartmentofHealth