The foods you eat have a big effect on your health and overall quality of life. The saying, “You are what you eat,” certainly rings true. Although eating healthy can be fairly simple, the rise in popular “diets” and dieting trends has caused some confusion. In fact, these trends have often distracted people from the basic principles of nutrition that are most important.
A balanced diet is important because your organs and tissues need the proper nutrients to work effectively. Without good nutrition, your body is more prone to disease, infection, fatigue, and poor performance. Children with a poor diet run the risk of growth and developmental problems, and even poor academic performance. Bad eating habits learned at an early age can persist for the rest of their lives. However, like most things in life, a little effort and attention can go a long way towards more positive outcomes.
Research continues to find links between serious diseases and a poor diet. For example, eating healthily can drastically reduce your chances of developing heart disease and cancer, a couple of the world’s leading killers. A good diet can improve all aspects of life, from brain function to physical performance, and even helps towards getting a good night’s sleep.
Here’s a great rule to live by: If you can’t see yourself on this diet in one, two or three years, then it’s probably not right for you. Far too often, people go on extreme diets that they cannot maintain, which mean they never actually develop long-term, healthy eating habits. Eating 90 percent whole foods such as grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables, along with portion control, will allow you to achieve optimal health.
Sticking to a nutritious diet isn’t the only thing that matters for optimal health, however. Following a healthy diet along with exercising can give you an even bigger health boost, as well as getting a good night’s sleep and staying well hydrated. In the grand scheme of things, all of these factors are equally as important as good nutrition when it comes to managing disease risk and weight control.
Just taking the time to read about healthy habits is a great first step in the right direction. If you would like more information about how nutrition is important towards your overall health and how we can help facilitate your goals, contact Rockville Concierge Doctors at (301) 545-1811, or request an appointment online.
