Healthy diet is one of the major keys to long life. A well-balanced and nutritious diet is important for good nutrition and good health. It protects you from several major noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Consuming less fat, salt and sugar, and eating a wide variety of organic foods and natural fats, are key to healthy diet. This diet has been seen to improve skin condition, reduce cholesterol and improves cardiovascular functions.

The word ‘diet’ simply denotes a regime or schedule in which we consume food in fixed amounts and at prescribed intervals. Such a regime needs to be followed on a regular basis. There are several types of diets, depending on their nature and purpose. The most common diet is the one that involves the consumption of mainly fruit and vegetables. In this kind of diet, whole-grain foods are also included. This diet aims at providing sufficient nutrients and calories to the body without causing any weight loss or undesirable side effects.

Noncommunicable diseases are diseases that could spread through contact with unhygienic conditions. These include diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis, measles, viral hepatitis, food poisoning, and malnutrition. Generally, a healthy diet would exclude any toxic substances or injurious chemicals from the diet, in order to protect the body from the accumulation of toxins. Some harmful chemicals or substances include salt, overindulgence in sugary foods, and overeating of highly flammable food items. Foods that are rich in salt or highly acidic in nature are considered potential causes of diarrhea. Consuming excessive amounts of salt can lead to the accumulation of acid in the body that causes discomfort, and pain and can even result in NCDs.

The consumption of fruit and vegetable juices, as well as juices in dry form should be discouraged when trying to obtain a healthy diet since they are high in fructose and aspartame which cause an imbalance in blood sugar levels. Even foods that are low in sugar content, such as dry fruits and juice can trigger an imbalance in blood sugar levels. Consume mostly raw and steamed vegetables to avoid absorption of excess sugar from these foods.

Sweet foods are easily digested by the body and have minimal or no calories. However, sweet foods also provide energy to the body by stimulating the central nervous system. It is important to limit your intake of sweets to 2 portions per day for maintaining a healthy diet. Limit the number of processed sugars you are eating since they are easily converted to fats that raise bad cholesterol levels. Even though it is not bad to have sweets once in a while, you should limit their consumption to less than one third of your daily serving.

Physical activity is another important component of a healthy diet that lowers blood pressure, and cholesterol, and contributes to good heart health. Since good heart health is vital to your overall wellbeing, by eating healthy and staying active, you can prevent many major problems. Physical activity includes playing sports and other hobbies such as riding and walking.

Engaging in physical activity helps release a chemical known as endorphins that produce a feeling of pleasure. These feel good feelings make people feel more motivated to perform chores around the house, exercise more, and lead a better quality of life. If you are not already engaging in regular physical activity, learn more about the benefits of this activity that contributes to good health.

Elliot Grant

Welcome to Motivational’s. This is Elliot Grant, fitness fanatic, and your go to advisor and blog post writer, putting your fitness first.