There are a lot of reasons why people pick up unhealthy eating habits, it could be due to stress or laziness. Eating healthy involves leaving out or rarely consuming foods that have added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. This includes fast food, sodas, processed snacks, and anything with more milligrams of sodium than there are calories.
It is a bit difficult for people already drawn into this unhealthy eating habits to stop, yet it is not impossible. All you need is DISCIPLINE!
Here are some compelling reasons to give up on junk foods and start eating right.
Eating right makes you smarter
What we eat has influence over our brain. According to the CNN, eating certain food can help boost your brain function. Eating meals containing grape juice, apples and spinach help improve memory, brain function and defend against cognitive decline. These can help decrease the likelihood of brain dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
Research shows that consuming blueberries, salmon, nuts and seeds and avocados increases brain activity and enable you to function optimally. There are various studies pointing to the conclusion that eating right impacts our ability to remember.
A study conducted by Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who ate the most saturated fats from food such as red meat and butter performed far lower on tests of thinking and memory than women who ate the lowest amounts of saturated fats. Food rich in saturated fat raises blood levels of unhealthy low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Dr. Francine Godstein of Harvard law says that there is increasing evidence that cholesterol is now bad for the brain
Tip: Symptoms of attention-deficit disorder can be reduced by eating diets comprised of healthy vegetables and fruits as they help improve concentration.
It wards off depression
Eating right not only gives you the satisfaction of keeping hunger at bay, it also has a tremendous effect on mental health. Eating certain types of food has a huge impact on mood and contributes to the experience of both positive and negative feelings. Thus, making healthy food choices can contribute to feeling good. A nutrient-rich diet consisting of wholegrain cereals, fruits and vegetables activate and releases the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, both of which help to improve mood.
Eating a healthy diet has also been linked with a direct impact on some mental health conditions. It helps reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and attention-deficit disorder. Eating healthy meals regularly can keep blood sugar levels steady which by extension reduces dips in mood associated with depression and anxiety. Exercise is another great way to improve mood because it releases endorphins. When released, you are likely to feel contentment, pleasure, and euphoria. A healthy diet combined with regular exercise will have you feeling good for a long while.
Tip: Eat fewer high sugar foods and more wholegrain cereals, nuts, beans, lentils, fruit, and vegetables.
Sugary foods get absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This causes an initial high which wears off as the body increases its insulin production, leaving you feeling tired and low. Wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit, and vegetables are more filling and, because the sugar in these foods is absorbed more slowly, don’t cause mood swings.
Eating healthy makes you look good
An estimated 160 million Americans, 2/3 of adults and nearly 30% of children are overweight or obese. This is largely because of unhealthy eating habits, especially those with high-fat content and free sugar which is predominant in the diets of many people.
It is no news that our body is influenced by what we eat. Eating healthy foods provides us with nutrients that keep us full all day and prevents unnecessary snacking and sugary beverages which in turn leads to a healthy weight and a great looking body. The benefits of having good nutrition go beyond a healthy weight, it goes further to give a great skin tone. More research now points to the fact that eating right gives the skin an added glow, and naturally moisturizes it leaving it looking fresh and nice. According to the Mayo Clinic, the leading cause of acne breakouts is carbohydrates. This is not totally surprising as carb-rich food increases blood sugar levels, and these sudden sugar induced spikes may trigger acne. So, if you want to have that acne free face, it’s time to watch what you eat.
Tips: Vitamin A intake helps keeps the eyes and skin healthy and protect against infections. (Found in vegetables). Vitamin C helps in healing cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy. It also aids in iron absorption.