Why Should I Strive for a Healthy Lifestyle?

If you’ve ever asked someone how to be healthy, you’ve probably heard this advice: Eat a healthy diet. Really, though, what does that even mean? If you ask many followers of the trendy ketogenic diet, it means shunning sweet potatoes and quinoa in favour of cheese and coconut oil. For another person, it might mean avoiding sugary foods like ice cream and candy at all costs. And someone else may tell you to avoid all dairy and gluten.

The problem is, this back-and-forth about what’s truly healthy can cause a whole lot of confusion, not to mention prompt people to try unsustainable and unnecessarily restrictive diets in the name of health. If that’s you, there’s no need for embarrassment: Just be relieved to learn that healthy eating is far simpler than you may think.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Eating Habits: What’s the Difference?

“What I promote to clients is a whole-foods Plant-Based diet, meaning, eat foods as close to their original form as possible. When food is processed or refined, it’s stripped of most of its fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and often preservatives are added in their place.

Studies show that people who consume a more plant-based diet have a lower risk of all the chronic diseases. Case in point: A study published in August 2019 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who stick with plant-based eating patterns have a 16 percent lower risk of developing heart disease, possibly because these diets tend to include more heart-healthy fiber and nutrients like potassium, while limiting intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. The definition of plant-based eating can vary, but can include Vegan(no animal products), raw vegan (no animal products and only raw foods) or even flexitarian (eating vegetarian most of the time).

Why Should I Make Healthy Food Choices?

Food is one of the most important tools for a life lived well and long.

A Healthy Diet Can Help Prevent Disease

“In the United States, the top leading causes of death are related to chronic disease, which comes from having an unhealthy lifestyle,” she says. Smoking, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol use are the top causes of chronic disease, which includes heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, according to the (CDC

Food Choices Affect Your Mental Health

It’s not just our physical health that can see a boost when we prioritise a healthy diet. Research shows that food choices also affect mental health. In a review published in July 2016 in Clinical Nutrition Research, study authors report that a diet rich in vitamins and minerals is associated with a lower risk for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Eat a Healthy Diet, and You May Lose Weight

Being overweight or having obesity are associated with increased risk of these health conditions, per the CDC, so weight loss can be important if you have a high body mass index (BMI). Fortunately, following a high quality diet in which you pay attention to portion sizes can also help you reach a healthy weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Another piece of the puzzle: eating mindfully. Stop eating when you’re full, and don't eat too fast or for emotional reasons, notes Mayo.

Why Should I Strive for a Healthy Lifestyle?

In sum, the payoff of a healthy lifestyle is huge. “Over time, when you make healthy decisions about food, you are at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even anxiety and depression. You will have more energy, feel better, and may even be in a better mood on a daily basis. Again, it comes down to the length and quality of your life.AA healthy diet was found to decrease the risk of early death from any cause by 56 percent. Researchers defined a healthy diet as one that focuses on eating whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and good fats. On the other hand, a higher intake of red or processed meats increased the risk of early death by twofold.