We all know that consuming foods that are high in sugar and have no or little nutritional value can leave us feeling sluggish. In fact, we are told time and time again that the secret to staying healthy is eating a balanced diet and completing at least 2 hours’ worth of exercise per week. Sometimes, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Creating gourmet dishes fit for a king every day of the week can not only be time consuming, but it can also be expensive. Plus, visiting the gym when you have to juggle a full time job and the kids tends to be the last thing on your mind. Despite this, the need to consume healthy food lingers in the back of our minds. In this blog, the team here at The Healthy Living and Fitness are going to go over some of the reasons why a healthy diet is important…
- The foods we eat determine the type of nutrients that our body receives for everyday living. Consuming healthier foods like fruit and veg means that we are provided with an abundance of components that will benefits us in the long run. For example, we require carbohydrates and fats for energy and whilst these can be gained in short bursts from snacks like crisps and chocolate, the nutritional value is very limited. On the other hand, these nutrients can also be gained from vegetables that also provide vitamin A, C and E to act as antioxidants. If you do not have a healthy or balanced diet, you can put the essential functions these nutrients carry out at risk.
- If we consume foods that have a very high fat content and don’t carry out enough exercise to burn these calories, it’s no secret that they will be stored as excess fat on our body. In fact, a healthy diet is vital in controlling or losing weight and without it, we will gain a higher body fat percentage.
- It is possible to develop medical conditions due to a lack of certain nutrients and since we have to consume particular healthy foods to gain these nutrients, it is easy to see why a balanced diet is so vital. For example, a lack of calcium can lead to weakening of the bones, thus making us prone to nasty break whereas consuming an excess amount of saturated fat may lead to a cardiovascular disorder like heart disease.
Swapping out junk food for something with a nutritional value can be difficult however it is the best thing you can do for your body. Not only does it help prevent conditions such as diabetes, it also helps to control your weight and limit your risk of a heart attack. For more information, speak to a member of The Healthy Living and Fitness team today!