Proper diet is essential to good health. Good foods and nutrients are our fuel as well as our medicine. But many do not know the effects poor nutrition can actually have on the body.
Good Eating
Sure, exercise is great and healthy tendencies are even better, but did you know that eating has a direct effect on your physical health and well-being? When your body receives the vitamins and minerals it needs, it will function as it was meant to. Certain foods regulate hormone levels, and also keep them at a minimum, including cortisol – a stress-inducing hormone in the body. When we eat correctly, we will be happier and more energetic because everything is flowing as it should.
This means better productivity as well, because the brain has the fuel it needs to thrive and the energy it needs to concentrate. Focus and memory improve, as well having a clear mind overall. Of course, one of the biggest known benefits of watching what you eat includes weight loss. When you eat better, not only will you want to eat less because your body gets what it needs the first time around, but you will stay full longer. These things both help weight control significantly. Skin appearance improve as antioxidants in nutrient rich foods fight off signs of aging. Skin will have a healthy glow and wrinkles decreased. These same antioxidants also fight against diseases in the body such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, and a multitude of other health threatening conditions. This mean overall a longer lifespan for those who eat healthy.
Bad Eating
While it’s great to eat healthy, what happens when you don’t ea as healthy? It is really that bad? The answer is yes! When we eat bad, the opposite of the above occurs. Our bodies do not get what they need. This means nutrient deficiency. Over time, when your body doesn’t get specific nutrients, it perishes in several different ways. For example, lack of calcium in the body can result in bone weakness and lack of potassium can mean muscle weakness and fatigue. Some nutrients are needed, but should be limited in the diet, such as sodium. This results in high blood pressure or hypertension. When we eat trans fats and foods with bad cholesterol, we are at a much higher risk for heart disease.
Obesity is an obvious result of poor diet, and can lead to many other physical health problems, including stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and depression. When obesity occurs the body does not use insulin correctly, and directly results in diabetes as well as hyperglycaemia. Not only do extra pound rob the body of extra energy, they put a strain on all other systems that are trying to function properly. These are just a few results of poor diet.
Not Eating Enough
You’ve heard it said that eating too much is bad for your health, but eating too little is just as bad. Many suffer with diseases such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which involve not eating enough food or expelling already ingesting food.
Not having enough food and robbing the body of nutrients can lead to lack of energy, social withdrawal and depression. In addition, skipping breakfast can be just as harmful. Your body needs energy and focus for the day. It needs to the correct fod to function properly. It is not healthy to go hungry, as your body will overcompensate, saving calories, and ultimately end up packing on more pounds than losing them.
For all these reasons and more, eating healthy is very important in diet and lifestyle. The quality of your physical health depends on it.
For more information visit www.physioandmore.co.uk