Living Healthy with Diet
A healthy diet should provide adequate fuel to the body so it can function properly. It should provide a balanced diet of nutrients and avoid over drying of the body. A healthy diet helps maintain or enhance general health. A healthy diet gives the body essential nutrients: micronutrients, fluid, carbohydrates, and sufficient calories.
Proper nutrition is important for our daily life. We need healthy dietary practices to avoid obesity, chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hypertension, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease (IBS) and a number of other diseases and disorders. This nutrition should include a balanced diet of foods rich in carbohydrates, fats, protein and fiber. However, one should not solely rely on these foods. These foods alone cannot provide all the nutrients needed by our bodies.
Overeating should be avoided. This includes table salt, high-fructose corn syrup, and sugar, particularly sucrose, as these are the main sources of calories in our food. These foods should be replaced with foods rich in minerals, fiber, vitamins, enzymes, flavonoids (a powerful antioxidant), and polyphenols (a powerful natural antioxidant). Examples of healthy dietary practices include drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and avoiding highly processed foods. Other healthy dietary practices include eating lean meats and fish, excluding red meat, using low-fat dairy products, and consuming fiber-rich legumes and whole grains.
A healthy diet can prevent many diseases and contribute to a healthy body weight. It lowers the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes, gallstone formation, kidney stones, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and certain types of cancer of the colon, stomach, bladder, head, and bones. A healthy diet prevents obesity, contributes to muscle strength and stamina, maintains or improves bone density, increases blood flow, increases oxygenation to the cells and brain, helps normalize cholesterol levels in the body, reduces stress and anxiety, and improves the immune system. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and herbs promotes optimal digestive function, peak physical health, energy levels, and proper skin care. A well-balanced diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, and diabetes.
A healthy diet consists of an intake of foods that are rich in fiber, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and enzymes, while avoiding or minimizing consumption of meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, processed foods, refined sugar, fats, and other junk foods. It also consists of regular exercise, e.g. aerobics, yoga, dancing, swimming, walking, or jogging. A healthy diet consists of a balanced combination of food from each group.
It is important for all individuals to consume a healthy diet, which is composed of a variety of foods. Individuals should avoid foods that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, sugar, preservatives, additives, and other substances that affect health and the environment. It is also important for individuals to choose foods that are nutritious and low in calories and other nutrients. A healthy diet should be part of a lifestyle, as it cannot be achieved without the will and determination to live healthy.
