How Important is it to Watch What You Eat?

This popular phrase conveys how impactful a person’s diet is to their long-term health. Proper nutrition is integral to leading a healthy lifestyle. 

Here are a few reasons why we should keep an eye on what we eat!

Reduced risk towards developing lifestyle diseases

Lowering your risk factor for developing various diseases is a critical determinant in leading a healthy life. This can be achieved with the help of a balanced and nutritious diet and being physically active. Studies have found that people who consume a diet that contains whole foods have a much lower incidence of major chronic diseases, unlike individuals who eat refined carbohydrates, processed foods, and saturated fats. An unhealthy, calorie-dense diet, including junk food, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, is a catalyst for the onset of obesity and other chronic, non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which can eventually lead to disability, morbidity, and impaired quality of life.  

Sustained energy levels

Consuming a balanced, nutrient-rich diet helps maintain consistent energy levels. Fluctuating energy levels can impede work schedules and other daily activities. Individuals who don’t regularly eat a balanced diet may experience nutritional deficiencies, including sub-optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. This lack of essential nutrients may trigger the onset of illnesses and chronic health conditions.

A healthy external appearance

Another reason for paying attention to your diet is external appearance. A balanced, nutritious diet, especially one enriched with fruits, vegetables, protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, can keep unnecessary weight gain at bay. Simple things like avoiding sugary drinks and processed foods can positively impact your body composition, prevent weight gain, and enhance your overall appearance.

Nutrition plays a vital role in gaining and to gaining healthy and radiant skin, hair and strong nails. A healthy balance of all nutrients, such as proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, and collagen, helps improve hair texture and skin tone, including its firmness and elasticity.

It’s important to remember that having a healthy, attractive physical appearance will boost self-confidence, and help improve personal wellness goals .

Better mental health

Besides playing a significant role in improving physical health, a healthy diet also impacts your mental health.

Research indicates that a diet rich in whole foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, can significantly decrease the risk of depression. Including high-quality protein-rich sources in your daily diet helps stabilize blood sugar levels, thereby improving your overall mood. Carbohydrate consumption can be coupled with foods high in protein or fat content so that the body can digest the carbohydrates slowly, thereby avoiding sugar-level fluctuations in the blood.

Be mindful, wise, and bring changes to your daily diet.

Adopting a healthy diet doesn’t mean changing your dietary regimen in a day. It involves smart planning to focus on modifying your diet components for the better. Limiting the consumption of refined and processed food early on, including fried/oily and sugary items, can reduce the risk of developing many chronic conditions.

We should be vigilant about our health irrespective of whether we currently have any chronic medical conditions or not.

Apollo ProHealth offers personalized preventive risk screening assessment programs that predict risk for chronic diseases and facilitate timely intervention and continuum of care.

Is your diet right for you? Is your diet doing more harm than good? Get personalized preventive health screening by our panel of experts and ensure a continuum of care and path to wellness.