The way you eat can have a huge impact on your daily life and ensuring you eat a balanced and nutritious diet has never been more important, or indeed easier. With an increased awareness of the types of foods that offer benefits to your health and wellbeing and those that don’t, it has never been easier to start making healthy nutrition choices. Here are some of the benefits you can expect to enjoy from choosing a healthy, balanced diet.
Energy levels
Diets that contain more nutrients will help to provide your body with the fuel it needs to get through the day. Nutritious meals have been scientifically proven to give you more energy and provide you with the kick you need to face that workout or tedious tasks you have been putting off. Conversely, foods that are high in sugar or caffeine may feel like they are giving you an energy burst but this burst is quickly followed by a low or dip in energy levels making that elusive motivation can be hard to come by. What is more these food groups and nutritionally dense foods can leave you feeling sluggish and lethargic.
Weight management
What you eat is directly linked to your weight, this is not a secret. Foods high in saturated fats, salts, and sugar that are calorie-dense will have a greater detrimental effect on your weight management. That is not to say these foods should be ignored altogether but rather enjoyed in moderation. Food labeling makes it easier than ever to help identify foods that are nutritionally sound and those which are likely to be harmful to your health and weight. It is important to remember that weight management is not just about aesthetics but about healthy living. Being overweight or underweight can have serious health consequences. Being overweight can contribute to health complaints such as diabetes or heart disease.
However, being underweight can result in a decreased immune system or weaker bones and muscles. Malnutrition can be common in people recovering from addictions, Sunshine Behavioural Health estimates that as many as 70% of people on detoxification programs have a lower than average BMI measurement. It is recommended that those with a lower BMI undertake a weight management plan to help improve lost strength and immunity.
Your immune system
The food you eat, or lack of it, can affect the efficiency of your immune system. Your immune system helps fend off diseases and illness and a well-balanced nutritious diet can help provide your immune system with the nutrients it needs to do this. A diet should be rich in the following vitamins and minerals, Vitamin A, B2, B6, C, D, E, Zinc, and Selenium. The good news is you should be able to get most of these vitamins from a balanced diet but if you feel you may be lacking in any of the above then it is always worth considering supplements or multi-vitamins to make up any deficit. It can be common for followers of a vegan diet for example to be lacking in B12 as this is commonly found in meat and fish.