One way to maintain an active lifestyle is to balance the benefits of a healthy diet while trying to exercise regulary and appropriately.
The benefits of a healthy diet are well known to most and if you consider an increase in energy, improvements in the way the body functions, a strengthening of your immune system and prevention of weight problem, you can see that a healthy diet really makes a lot of sense and will allow you to maximise your life.
- Meeting your nutritional needs - A varied, balanced intake provides the nutrients you need to avoid nutritional deficiencies. This also includes non-nutrients, such as fiber.
- Preventing and treating disease - One of the key benefits of a healthy diet is that it can help prevent you from developing certain diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. It is also helpful in treating other ailments such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Enjoying life - There are other benefits of a healthy diet. Food is an important part of many social events, and is a major way of connecting with other people. Cooking fresh, wholesome meals can be an enjoyable way to spend time, whether alone or with others.
- Managing your weight - Eating well is crucial if you are to maintain a suitable weight. Eating the wrong food, or simply over-eating, will lead to weight gain, and all the problems associated with it.
Research continues to find direct links between good eating habits and disease prevention everyday. For example, reducing your fat intake may reduce the likelihood of breast, colon and prostate cancers, while higher amounts of saturated fat are linked with high cholesterol, heart disease and various cancers. Anti-oxidants, such as vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin E and selenium, which are mainly found in fruits and vegetables, can help to protect cells from damage.
Learning to eat a variety of good, fresh food will help you adapt to the stresses and strains that life throws at you and still satisfy your nutritional requirements.
