In a world of instant gratification, fast food culture and fast-paced living, diet is often the first thing to take a backseat while we try to keep up with the ever increasing pace at which our lives are moving.
Between college, business meetings, family commitments and social events we cannot seem to avoid, eating becomes less of a priority and more of a necessity to satiate a basic human need.
We begin eating for convenience sake and not to nourish our bodies, which has the potential to create serious health issues and usually leads to weight gain and malnutrition.
Most people, despondent at the weight gain, begin strict diets, cutting out essential elements in their nutrition and although weight loss results may be visible, something far more sinister is happening below the surface.
Remember, your body needs certain foods to function correctly on a physical and mental level.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EAT THE WRONG FOODS
We all know that the wrong types of food in the wrong quantities will inevitably lead to weight gain.
In the short term, this doesn’t seem to be that much of a tragic trade-off; however, the long term effects of carrying too much extra weight can be devastating to your health.
Heart disease, diabetes and excessively high blood pressure are all potentially fatal conditions that can be managed and, in the best case scenarios, reversed with proper nutrition and healthy eating.
Most of us have packed on a few extra pounds before and we know that the short term effects are not pleasant. Waking up sluggish, losing our breath easily and aching joints all begin to rear their head and daily tasks begin to feel like you have run a marathon.
HEALTHY FOOD IS THE EASIER OPTION
Now, before you turn your nose up at visions of limp boiled vegetables and fatless cuts of meat that are grilled to leather, remember that eating a healthy diet and incorporating healthy foods into your everyday life does not necessarily mean you are banished into a bland, tasteless existence for all eternity.
Eating healthy food means that you are becoming consciously aware of what you are putting in your mouth. When you start to put healthy food back into your body you will help your immune system fight bacteria and viruses, strengthen your bones, rebuild your muscles, replenish and slow down organ degeneration and brings your mind back up to speed with the pace of your life.
If you have read up until this point or if you have fallen into the same unhealthy eating habits as most of us do, you will know what an unhealthy diet does to you. The truth is, eating healthy food is a lot simpler than it has been made out to be in mainstream media and you really don’t have to be spending hours prepping meals or eating food you don’t like.
ENERGY AND YOUR METABOLISM
Eat lean proteins like chicken, dairy, fish, meat, eggs and soya. These will replenish your muscles and burn fat as your body digests it.
Couple your protein intake with healthy unsaturated fats that will give you energy, help protect cellular membranes and provide the thin protective barrier needed to keep us warm. Nuts, seeds and certain vegetable oils are incredibly good forms of fat to add to your diet.
Speaking of energy, you should be eating carbohydrates, just remember that not all carbohydrates are made equal. Nature provides a good variety of carbs that will nourish your body and help you keep your energy levels where they need to be. Good carbohydrates increase your body’s metabolic rate and keep you energised as your day progresses. Foods like sweet potatoes, quinoa, bananas, berries and apples are all excellent sources of carbs that won’t pack on the pounds.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
The news gets better; eating healthy carbohydrates also means that you are getting loads of natural vitamins and minerals. You already know that your body needs vitamins and minerals to be healthy.
Fiber, iron and calcium are just some of the vitamins and minerals we can benefit from when we eat healthily.
A bad diet that lacks vitamins can leave you sick, really sick. Scurvy, anemia, a sluggish thyroid and rickets are all illnesses that are directly related to poor nutrition and a lack of vitamins and minerals in your diet.
A BETTER LIFE
Remember that swapping out your unhealthy eating habits for healthy food is not as difficult as you think it is and that by being consciously aware of what you eat, you are halfway to a healthier body.
When you make healthier choices, you are not only nourishing your body but helping your mind cope with our fast-paced life.
You deserve a healthier body and mind, make the right decisions.