Importance of Healthy Eating
Many Canadians are unaware of how to correctly interpret and use the above Canadian Food Guide. Having a healthy balanced diet can have many beneficial outcomes, such as:
1. Prevention of Nutritional Deficiencies - Nutritional deficiencies can occur when you do not eat healthy foods. Some people have medical conditions that contribute to the development of nutritional deficiencies even when they do eat the right foods, but lack of healthy foods in your diet puts you at an increased risk for problems. Foods to avoid include candy, cookies, chips, pop, and other snack foods with little to non nutritional value.
2. Illness Prevention - Eating healthy helps prevent illness. For instance, foods high in sugar lead to obesity and diabetes, while those low in sugar do not. Foods high in calcium can prevent osteoporosis and foods high in vitamin D may help prevent hypertension and some kinds of cancer.
3. Weight Maintenance - Eating too many calories will cause a person to become overweight. Eating too many calories will cause a person to become underweight and unhealthy. Healthy foods can provide both calories and nutrients needed for good health. Foods high in sugar and fat usually provide too many calories while also providing too few nutrients. Eating healthy foods will help you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Energy - Calories provide energy, much like gasoline serves as fuel for a car. While eating too many calories can lead to obesity, not eating enough calories leads to lethargy and fatigue. Protein deficiency also causes lack of energy. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies have the same effect; for instance, iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe fatigue. Healthy foods provide the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to be energetic and feel good.
5. Mood - Eating healthy food does not only help you feel good physically, it also helps your mood. For instance, caffeinated beverages and foods like chocolate can contribute to feelings of nervousness and difficulty sleeping. A diet that does not provide enough vitamin B12 can lead to depression.today
1. Prevention of Nutritional Deficiencies - Nutritional deficiencies can occur when you do not eat healthy foods. Some people have medical conditions that contribute to the development of nutritional deficiencies even when they do eat the right foods, but lack of healthy foods in your diet puts you at an increased risk for problems. Foods to avoid include candy, cookies, chips, pop, and other snack foods with little to non nutritional value.
2. Illness Prevention - Eating healthy helps prevent illness. For instance, foods high in sugar lead to obesity and diabetes, while those low in sugar do not. Foods high in calcium can prevent osteoporosis and foods high in vitamin D may help prevent hypertension and some kinds of cancer.
3. Weight Maintenance - Eating too many calories will cause a person to become overweight. Eating too many calories will cause a person to become underweight and unhealthy. Healthy foods can provide both calories and nutrients needed for good health. Foods high in sugar and fat usually provide too many calories while also providing too few nutrients. Eating healthy foods will help you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Energy - Calories provide energy, much like gasoline serves as fuel for a car. While eating too many calories can lead to obesity, not eating enough calories leads to lethargy and fatigue. Protein deficiency also causes lack of energy. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies have the same effect; for instance, iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe fatigue. Healthy foods provide the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to be energetic and feel good.
5. Mood - Eating healthy food does not only help you feel good physically, it also helps your mood. For instance, caffeinated beverages and foods like chocolate can contribute to feelings of nervousness and difficulty sleeping. A diet that does not provide enough vitamin B12 can lead to depression.today
Dangers of Obesity
When nutritional guidelines are not followed a major risk factor that can result is obesity. In today's world of fast-food and fast paced lifestyles often nutrition is put on the back burner. Obesity occurs when your body consumes more calories than it burns. Some of the dangers of obesity can include breathing disorders, certain types of cancer, coronary artery disease, depression, diabetes, gallbladder or liver disease, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol joint disease, stroke.
Obesity is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in North America. In recent years, the number of overweight people in industrialized countries has increased significantly, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called obesity an epidemic. In the United States, over 65% of the adult population is overweight. In Canada, about 40% to 60% of adults have a weight problem.
Healthy weight can be determined by where you fall on the body mass index (BMI).
Obesity is a leading cause of preventable illness and death in North America. In recent years, the number of overweight people in industrialized countries has increased significantly, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called obesity an epidemic. In the United States, over 65% of the adult population is overweight. In Canada, about 40% to 60% of adults have a weight problem.
Healthy weight can be determined by where you fall on the body mass index (BMI).
Further important facts to consider when thinking about obesity:
- Aside from medical complications, obesity can also be linked to psychological issues.
- Obesity is manageable and treatable to decrease the healthy risks and improve quality of life.
- Fad and crash diets don't work and can be dangerous.
- To lose weight successfully, and to maintain a healthy weight, requires lifelong changes in eating and exercising habits.
- Regular physical activity is an important part of weight management.