We often hear about the importance of eating healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but many Americans struggle to accomplish this goal. Additionally, we also fail to realize the significance of healthy eating, and the multitude of health benefits it can offer.
The connection between diet and health…
There is that old saying, we are what we eat. When I hear the word, diet, I start thinking of restriction; however the word diet is more related to how we eat and how much. We really only need enough food to keep us healthy and alive. This means we need balance. Sometimes it is difficult to decide when we actually need to eat and just want to eat because it is time or because it is just the thing to do at the moment. If we find the right balance of when to eat, what to eat, and how much then our diet leads to good health.
Lifestyle choices that we make can positively and negatively impact our overall health status…
The life style choices we make are directly related to our well being. If we consistently eat junk food, we will feel tired, sleep poorly, act lethargic, avoid physical activity, and gain weight. If we make it a point to eat mostly non-processed foods, eat smaller portions and have an active life style, we are likely to have more energy, have less depression, become stronger and possibly live longer. Another old phrase, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
In reality, eating more of any fruit or vegetable will keep you out the doctor’s office because nature does not add things to preserve and enhance taste. A person should also consider that our lifestyle choices can lead to cardiovascular problems, hypertension and obesity. “It is well established that being sedentary during leisure time is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and obesity and also that the lack of physical fitness is strongly negatively related to both conditions”( Zarrazquin, Torres-Unda, Ruiz, Irazusta, Kortajarena, Hoyos, & Irazusta, 2014, pg 1145). Modern day society is less mobile because of modern production, the use of computers, and machines. As individual farming moved to industrialization, and industrialization introduced many easy ways to accomplish hard tasks; hard labor is less necessary. Since human activity has decreased so has the need to ingest as many calories. Too many calories and less activity can lead to hypertension and obesity.
Health consequences of inadequate or improper nutrition…
When we think of inadequate nutrition, the first thought that comes to mind is food. But there are other ways to get calories into our body. One of them is drinking. This includes calorie laden smoothies, coffee, and alcohol. “Inadequate food intake and impaired nutrient absorption of alcohol abuse frequently lead to a deficiency of the B vitamin thiamine” (Sizer, & Whitney, 2013, pg. 110). The hangover one gets from drinking is directly related to alcohol blocking the absorption of B vitamins. Improper nutrition leads to poor vitamin absorption, low energy levels and poor health. When the body is consistently missing certain vitamins, we tend to eat in response to symptoms; such as, tiredness, restlessness, irritability, and malnutrition.
Everyone has an excuse. What is mine?
The aspects of my diet that increase my risk of illness or fatigue are timing, quantity, and activity. Bad timing is a major component for me. If I am running around, I tend not to actually sit down and eat. When people sit down and eat, then tend to eat less because they are more conscious of what is on their plate, tend to eat slower, and digest better. Bad timing sometimes leads to eating too much and then feeling too tired so the thought of increased activity goes out the window.
Taking Babys Step to good Nutrition
Try not to eat too late.
Remember to get 6 or more hours of sleep.
Eat & drink socially, yet moderately.
If you have a day when you fall from your good intentions, do not be so hard on yourself up, just resume them ASAP!!!!!
References:
Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Kindle Version.
Zarrazquin, I., Torres-Unda, J., Ruiz, F., Irazusta, J., Kortajarena, M., Hoyos Cillero, I., & … Irazusta, A. (2014). Longitudinal study: lifestyle and cardiovascular health in health science students. Nutricion Hospitalaria,30(5), 1144-1151. doi:10.3305/nh.2014.30.5.7833
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