How Improving Your Diet Can Improve Overall Health

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While obesity is a serious problem for millions of U.S. adults, losing weight isn't the only benefit of eating a healthy diet. Choosing natural foods and eliminating processed products has many more benefits on the mind and body. This overview points out just a few of the advantages of a healthy diet.

Prevent or Manage Diabetes

An unhealthy diet that consists of consuming large amounts of refined sugar will make it more difficult for your body to use that sugar as energy. As a result, it will be stored in fat cells, leading to obesity. It will also raise the risks of insulin resistance, which is a key factor in developing type 2 diabetes. 

However, even if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, switching to a healthy diet, and eliminating most of that added sugar from your diet will help your body burn more fat. This makes it easier for insulin to push glucose to cells for consumption, reducing insulin intolerance. Over time, you may be able to return to a pre-diabetes condition.

Boost Cardiovascular Health

A poor diet is a major contributing factor in raising the risks of heart attack or stroke. Conversely, changing your diet to a plant-based one and getting more exercise can reduce those risks by up to 80% for the average adult. In particular, cutting out foods that contain trans fat will significantly cut your chances of a heart attack. 

This is because the cholesterol in foods that are high in trans fat leads to greater plaque buildup in the artery walls. Reducing that plaque buildup will help improve blood flow, so blood pressure and heart function will be boosted.

Boost Bone Health

From the moment we're born, our bodies are continuously creating new bone to replace the bone density we lose over time. However, as we reach our later adult years, this process slows down, and it can lead to osteoporosis and other degenerative conditions. 

When we eat healthy foods that are rich in calcium and magnesium (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes, etc.), our bodies have the nutrients necessary to strengthen existing bones and teeth. If you add enough of these foods to your diet, you may be able to stave off osteoarthritis and osteoporosis for longer.

Prevent Depressive Episodes

If you struggle with emotional health disorders, working with nutrition coaching professional to create a healthier meal plan can help you maintain a better state of mind. A recent study found that foods with a high glycemic index caused a worsening of depressive episodes. Examples of these foods include white and yellow potatoes, white bread, and sugary soft drinks. 

Eating these foods too often or in too much abundance caused individuals to experience episodes of depression and fatigue more frequently in addition to increasing the severity of each episode.

Stave Off Cognitive Decline

Another problem everyone faces as they age is the decline of cognitive functioning, which can ultimately lead to dementia. However, research has shown that certain natural foods can help strengthen and protect the mind when eaten regularly. In particular, vitamins C, D, and E were beneficial to cognitive health. 

Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and polyphenols helped to reduce memory loss and concentration difficulties in seniors. In addition to eating more fruits and vegetables, you can get these essential nutrients by eating certain types of fish, including salmon and mackerel.

Maintain a Healthy Gut

There are trillions of bacteria in your large intestine, forming a community called the gut microbiome. While some bacteria are harmful, the bacteria in your gut are actually beneficial. A more diversely populated gut has a stronger impact on your health, so it's important to eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In particular, fermented foods, such as plain yogurt and sauerkraut, contain the probiotics that help your gut bacteria thrive. In turn, those microbes help your digestive system function better, boost immunity, and may affect your risks for Parkinson's disease. As research continues, scientists are finding more ways that the health of the gut microbiome affects biological systems throughout the body.

Overall, eating a natural, plant-based diet will help your body function better, and that will give you a better feeling in general. Your mood will be brighter, you'll have more energy, and you'll maintain a better quality of life for longer. Changing your diet now may even help you live longer.