About This Lesson
You’ve probably heard it all your life: eat your veggies! Drink more water! Cut out the sweets! The reasons behind some of this advice are obvious; other times…not so much. We all know we need to eat foods that are good for us and avoid the ones that are bad for us, but we don’t necessarily know why or what that means. Here’s a helpful breakdown of the benefits a healthy diet can give, and how certain foods help, while others hurt.
Fighting Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease
Let’s start by talking about sugar. Sugar is delicious, and we need some of it, but it’s one of the biggest culprits behind unhealthy living. Your liver and kidneys must work extra hard to process complex sugars, break them down, and put them to good use in terms of your body’s energy. It’s generally agreed upon that a portion of the good sorts of sugars found in grains and carbohydrates are part of a balanced diet. But the sugars found in most desserts and snack treats can’t be broken down fully and turn to pesky fat.
Again, something we all know: we don’t want excess fat in our bodies. It corresponds to unwanted weight gain, and negatively affects our appearance. In addition, it is a massively negative force in terms of overall health. Obesity is an epidemic, and puts pressure on joints in the knees, makes breathing difficult, and stresses the organs from the kidneys to the heart. Obesity is the leading cause of type II diabetes, in which the body’s pancreas is no longer able to properly regulate insulin. People who suffer from diabetes must monitor and supplement their blood sugar, and risk losing limbs, and enduring diabetic comas. Finally, there’s a very direct correlation between obesity and heart disease. Making you heart work too hard is a recipe for disaster.
Improving Energy and Focus
We’ve been dwelling in negative territory up until now, so this is a good time to examine the benefits of making good dietary decisions and putting healthy things into your body. Take carrots, for example. They can improve cholesterol and eyesight. Fruits like apples, plums, and prunes help make your digestive system more effective and efficient. Plant-based supplements like Gundry MD Primal Plants also help with skin and heart health.
We should take a moment here to talk about “superfoods.” This term applies to foods with dense nutrients but is not a scientific distinction. While the title of “super” is accurate in the sense that they are very good for you, please don’t mistake “super” with “magic.” They should be part of a balanced diet, not your only source of nutrition.
Types of fish, dairy, and acai berries are often listed as superfoods. This is because they are rich in antioxidants which are commonly believed to have a positive effect in warding off cancer. They have lots of fiber that improves digestion. They also have something called phytochemicals, which fight cancer and boost the immune system.
Let’s get away from the specific science for a moment. If you aren’t weighed down by fatty, bloating foods, the simple fact is that you have more energy. It’s easier to move, and your body doesn’t get sluggish as it processes healthy food; quite the opposite, in fact. Speaking of sluggishness, it affects the mind as well as the body. One of the main causes is dehydration. One of the healthiest things a person can ingest to fight a tired mind and body and renew focus is one of the simplest: water.
Water gives energy and flushes out many of the less healthy things we take in. Hydration aids focus greatly. A good rule of thumb is to take in half your weight (in pounds) in ounces of water daily. So, a person weighing 150 pounds should shoot for 75 ounces; a little over two liters.
Help your body and mind with energy, focus, and disease-fighting properties. Develop good habits with a healthy diet rich with vegetables, supplements, superfoods, and water!
