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What a Proper Diet Can Do for Your Health

By Dr. Josh Axe

August 3, 2018

Ever since our parents tricked us into eating vegetables when we were two, we’ve always known that we need to eat healthy foods. It can be difficult to pass up the donuts and opt for the side of fruit instead, especially if our only justification is, “because it’s good for you.” But how, exactly, is healthy food good for you? We’ve compiled some obvious and not so obvious benefits you’ll get from eating a healthy diet.

Support a Healthy Weight

One of the most obvious benefits of a healthy diet is maintaining a healthy weight. In the United States, more than one third of adults struggle with obesity. Although there are a lot of contributing factors, the first thing to address is the diet. Adopting healthy habits of eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains may be the most effective place to start if you’re wanting to maintain a healthy weight.

Boost Energy

If you feel like you need an energy drink in the morning to get going, you may want to take a look at your diet. Eating high-fat, sugary, or processed foods gives us a lot of empty calories while weighing us down. A healthy diet high in vitamins and minerals actually boosts our energy and keeps it up for more of the day than a caffeine or sugar fix does.

Helps Maintain Overall Health

Diet is a huge factor in helping to maintain overall health. If you’re keeping your body well fed and properly nourished, it will be better equipped to fight anything from the common cold to cancer.

Supports a Positive Outlook

The food we eat doesn’t just affect the way we feel physically, but what our outlook is like, too. in fact, eating a lot of junk food can lead to moodiness and even bursts of uncontrolled anger. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fats has been linked to an overall positive outlook.

Look Better

You don’t have to spend a fortune on beauty items to get gorgeous skin, nails, and hair. The benefits these beauty products boast often come from simple foods that you can easily get from a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables help to moisturize and fortify your skin against normal aging, while fish, lean meats and bone broth can support healthy skin, nails and hair. Supplementing your diet with protein has a lot of benefits.

Support Restful Sleep

It’s possible that eating the right kind of food can help you get restful sleep. If stress keeps you up at night, try getting more calcium and vitamin A in your diet. Fruits like tart cherries and bananas are higher in melatonin, which signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep. One thought is that eating kiwi before bed can help with sleep!

Maintain Better Relationships

This may seem like a bold claim, but it’s possible that eating a healthy diet may actually improve your relationships with coworkers, friends and family. Getting enough sleep, feeling physically energized, less stressed and healthy all make you a far more pleasant person to be around. A change in diet may result in a change in your overall outlook. You might find yourself becoming more patient and less irritated, and people will notice a difference. If you’re struggling to bond with your new cubicle neighbor or get easily frustrated with your kids, try taking a little time for yourself to take care of your body and feed it the things it needs. The changes could brighten everyone’s day.

The reasons for eating healthy go far beyond “just because your mom said so.” Taking care of your body by putting good food into it is the fastest way to feel better overall. Take some time to care for yourself and the return can be exponentially greater.