Good nutrition is not only beneficial, it’s necessary for wellness. From obesity to Type 2 diabetes, an unhealthy diet can wreak havoc on your health. Most Americans eat a diet that falls short of nutrition recommendations. For starters, only 10% of people eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and most fail to get enough whole grains and fiber.
At the same time, many consume too much salt, added sugar, and fat, which has a major impact on health and disease development. In fact, an unhealthy diet contributes to over 675,000 premature deaths each year.
If you’re falling short, learning these benefits of good nutrition should give you the motivation to improve your nutrition.
Nutritious foods supply your body with the nutrients needed to ward off disease and keep you healthy. Nutrition and health are closely related, and good nutrition plays a crucial role in leading a long, productive life.
All of your body systems work together synergistically. When you fail to get the proper nutrition, one by one, your systems struggle to function optimally, paving the way for disease. An unhealthy diet increases your risk for the following chronic conditions:
There’s a major difference between living and thriving. Existing on a poor diet has a major impact on your quality of life. Eating too much salt, saturated fat, added sugar—and not enough healthy foods—affects everything from your mood and energy to your hormones and psychological well-being.
Have you ever noticed that you become tired and irritable after scarfing down a sugar-loaded treat? After the initial sugar rush quickly wears off, it’s common to feel lethargic and out of sorts. This often causes people to reach for more junk food, which can become an unhealthy cycle.
People who eat nutrient-poor diets are more likely to feel stressed and get less enjoyment out of life. It’s difficult to feel great and live life to the fullest when your body is starved of the proper nutrients and is instead bombarded with unhealthy amounts of dietary components that throw the body out of whack.
Good nutrition can mean the difference between living healthy and independently as you age and being bogged down with age-related health issues like arthritis, osteoporosis, and low muscle mass. Making it part of your lifestyle to eat healthy keeps your brain, bones, and organs strong as you age.
Getting older doesn’t have to mean being prescribed multiple medications and leading a lower quality of life. Adults who follow a healthy diet as they age are more mobile, have a better cognitive function, and suffer from less chronic disease as they go through their senior years.
Make no mistake, poor nutrition can cut your life short, so think of healthy eating as an investment. When you choose nutritious foods, you feed your piggy bank of health and it contributes to a longer lifespan.
Good nutrition is important across all ages but is particularly important as you age. The cells in your body are constantly regenerating and need the right nutrients to replace old and damaged cells. When nutrition is lacking, tissues are unable to repair themselves and create new healthy cells, leading to disease and premature death. Proper nutrition is key to extending your life expectancy.
Along with lifestyle factors, like getting plenty of exercise and avoiding smoking and excess alcohol consumption, a healthy diet helps you thrive and live your best life. For preventive and ongoing care, call us at Lafferty Family Care, or book online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Scott Lafferty.
