According to the CDC, there are multiple benefits of eating healthy for adults. Some of the benefits your body will experience include:
- Living longer
- Keeping your skin, eyes, and teeth healthy
- Support for your muscles
- Boost your immune system
- Makes your bones stronger
- Lowers your risk of heart disease, some cancers, and type 2 diabetes
- Helps your digestive system function properly
- Helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight
When you have a well-balanced diet, you receive the necessary nutrients to energize yourself all day, as well as those needed to grow and repair your body or help it to stay strong. A healthy diet will help your body fight against diet-related illnesses and some cancers. When you remain active and eat a healthy balanced diet, you are able to maintain a healthy weight and do not miss out on key nutrients that would weaken your immune system.
Healthy Eating Reduces Risk of Diabetes
By maintaining a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and high in fiber such as those found in whole grains, you reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood sugar levels to become too high. The hormone insulin produced by your pancreas controls the amount of glucose in your blood. With type 2 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce enough insulin and with type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce any insulin.
Healthy Eating Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease
The benefits of a healthy diet including one rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy will reduce your risk of heart disease. This diet will also maintain your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you suffer from high cholesterol or high blood pressure levels, it can be the result of too much-saturated fat or too much salt in your diet. By eating healthy and including a portion of oily fish such as trout or salmon in your diet each week, you can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly. High levels of omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are heart-healthy foods.
Healthy Eating Strengthens Teeth and Bones
A healthy diet rich in calcium will maintain the strength of your bones and teeth. This diet will also slow bone loss associated with aging. Calcium is typically found in dairy products, however, you can also get sufficient calcium by eating:
- Dark, green vegetables such as broccoli or kale
- Tinned salmon with bones, pilchards, or sardines
- Calcium-fortified foods, such as cereals, fruit juices, or soya products
It is also important to get outside and get plenty of sunshine as Vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium. Getting plenty of sunshine or consuming foods with Vitamin D in your diet will help your body absorb the calcium and make optimal use of this nutrient.
Healthy Eating Manages Your Weight
When you eat healthily and have a diet that includes lots of vegetables and fruits, a moderate amount of unsaturated fats, dairy products, meats, and whole grains, you will be able to maintain a steady, healthy weight. A diet that includes a variety of these foods leaves you with less room during the day for foods high in sugar or fats which are the leading cause of weight gain.
Healthy eating along with exercise will help you reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, and help you lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. For more information on how to maintain your health through healthy eating, contact the specialists at Pinnacle Nutrition.
Pinnacle Nutrition Consultants value your health and understand the importance of healthy eating and a healthier you. Our registered dietitian is more than a nutritionist and with a combination of research, knowledge, and experience, we are ready to help you streamline a strategy to maximize your health. Contact us today and learn how we can help achieve your nutrition and health goals.
