Why is a healthy diet important?

Now it doesn’t matter at what stage of life you are at, what you eat matters. According to the world health organization, a healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. You are what you eat. This is why it is important to watch every aspect of what is on your plate or in your cup.

A great diet does not only make you have a great body, it helps keep your body healthy. Good food protects your body from many chronic non-communicable diseases including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What constitutes a healthy diet?

Eating a diet that contains all the classes of food can be a great way to begin. This includes fruits, legumes, vegetables, and staples such as cereal i.e. wheat, maize, and rice. Animal sources of protein are also great to substitute your diets such as fish, eggs, and milk.

Eating plenty of vegetables and fruit is an important source of vitamins, dietary fiber, plant protein, and antioxidants. People who eat plenty of vegetables have been seen to have a lower risk of developing lifestyle diseases such as obesity, a certain type of cancer.

So what is your excuse for not eating right?

Apart from making sure you eat the right foods, what should you avoid? Eat fewer fats and oils and particularly some fats sources that are harmful to your body. Most of the industrially produced trans-fat have been known to cause an increased probability of heart disease and even stroke.

To supplement your need for the fats in your body, consider using unsaturated vegetable oils such as olive oil, soy, or sunflower oils.

A tip you can use is to make sure that your fat consumption does not exceed 30% of your overall intake.  Limit your sugar intake and should just be around 10% of your diet intake in terms of the energy component. Choosing to eat natural sugars from fruits instead of the famous snacks such as chocolate, cakes, and sweet snacks is a great way to cut sugar intake.

Eating a balanced diet does not need to be complicated. You can achieve this from locally sourced foods and do not have to cost you money. 

If you feel you want to start living better, or you are n health advocate, share this article and let us keep a healthy nation together.

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