5 Ways Good Nutrition Promotes Healthy Living

Posted: August 27, 2019
By: weadmin

With the belief that food is medicine, I see good nutrition as vital to our wellbeing. What we put into our bodies should build us up physically, mentally, and emotionally and reduce health risks. Therefore, food taken into the body should have a balanced combination of nutrients, which are essential to the optimum functioning of the body systems.

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

Hippocrates

Let’s imagine the body as a building that is continually under construction and renovation. If the proper materials are used during the construction process, the results would likely be astounding. On the other hand, if wrong and substandard materials are used, the results are terrible and would leave the building with a promise of a collapse. In kind, when we take in proper nutrients in the right food combinations, our bodies tend to be more healthy and function exceptionally.

Benefits of Good Nutrition

Boost Immunity

Eating foods containing the right amount of nutrients provide good nutrition, which aids in boosting the immunity of the body. This is because these nutrients, in their recommended proportions, play a huge role in the building of body cells. When the cells of organs are built properly, they function as they should and prevent invading microorganisms from being able to bring the body down. The healthier you eat, the healthier you get. The immune cells and organs of the body also have enough fuel to work.

Reduces the Risk of Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases and stroke have been highly recorded in people who eat unhealthy foods. A habit of eating unhealthy foods such as highly processed foods and food rich in saturated or trans fats lead to the buildup of excess cholesterol. This predisposes individuals to cardiovascular diseases. Cutting back on unhealthy foods and choosing healthy nutrient-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of these diseases.

Maintaining Healthy Body Weight

Eating healthy foods also leads to the maintenance of a healthy weight and prevents obesity. People who are obese are more likely to have poor health conditions than people who aren’t obese. When coupled with sufficient exercise, eating healthy will enable a person to be fit.

Increases Mental Clarity

Proper nutrition plays an important role in achieving mental clarity and peak performance. Food high in tryptophan (chia seeds, grapes, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, flax seeds, quinoa, tofu, walnut, roasted pumpkin and squash), tyrosine (spirulina, pumpkin and squash seeds, lentils, oats and almonds), and omega-3 fatty acids (spinach, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts) provide good nutrition for our brains. If you are prone to high stress levels, consider including these and other foods that are high in tryptophan, tyrosine and Omega-3 in your daily diet. After all, mental health is such a key factor in our wellbeing.

Increases Effectiveness and Productivity

I’ve expressed that maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle supports overall wellness. Our bodies need fuel to function and this fuel comes from the food we eat. Consider this: if you put poor fuel in you vehicle’s gas tank it will likely not perform at it’s best. It may even cause your vehicle to deteriorate. Your body is no different. The fact is proper nutrition helps to boost energy levels and improves the average productivity level of individuals.

Natural Health Foods to Consider for Good Nutrition

Good nutrition has long been established as one of the anchors in the 8 Natural Laws for Healthy Living. Now according to a WHO Study on Diet and Prevention of Chronic Diseases, “Scientists from eleven different counties concluded enough is known to urge a more plant-based diet…suggested that foods of animal origin should no longer be viewed as dominant items in an optimal diet.” From the beginning of time, we have been given the recipe for optimum health where men of old lived long lives while they fed majorly on natural sources of plant-based foods. Here are some food options to consider.

Whole Grains

We should consider having 5 or more servings of whole grain foods per day. Whole and non-processed grains have large quantities of the nutrients required by the body. Grains are sources of nutrients such as fiber, complex carbohydrates, some B vitamins, riboflavin, thiamin, and some minerals. The fiber content also greatly improves the bowel function thereby aiding the digestive process.

Legumes

We should consider having 2 or more servings of legumes a per day. Legumes are just another name of beans, peas, and lentils. They are a good source of fiber, protein, iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, and B vitamins, among other things.

Fruits

If possible eat fruits fresh, when they are in season. We should consider 3 or more fruits per day. Fruits contain a lot of nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C, beta carotene.

Vegetables

We should consider having 4 or more servings of vegetables a per day. Vegetables are also packed with nutrients such as fiber, vitamin C, riboflavin, iron, beta-carotene, among others.

Nuts and Seeds

Consider adding nuts to your daily diet. If you are overweight, about 10 nuts per day, or a small handful should be sufficient. Nuts contain a generous amount of protein, fiber, healthy fats, Vitamins B and E, and magnesium.

Seeds also have a lot of protein, healthy fats, fiber, Vitamin E and magnesium, among other things. Some seeds to consider include sunflower, sesame, flax, chia and pumpkin seeds.

Herbs

Herbs are plants which usually have nutritional and medicinal attributes. Taking a sufficient amount of herbs help protect the body from diseases and also provides healing from diseases and infections.

Final Thoughts

I can’t stress this enough! To maintain a healthy lifestyle, the law of good nutrition should be followed. This should contain the needed nutrients in their most natural and unprocessed forms. The saying “you are what you eat” has been long proven to be true. Contained in the food we eat are nutrients that contribute to the general structure and function of the cells in our body and thus impact our health and wellbeing. You see, the body demands certain nutrients in certain quantities in order to function optimally. Nutrients taken into the body outside that range or not taken at all can cause illnesses, even malnutrition.