Do I really have to eat healthy?

Healthy eating is the basis of good health and is a key element in healthy human development, from the prenatal and early childhood years to adulthood. Healthy eating is equally important in reducing the risk of many chronic diseases and is critical to your children's wellbeing. It is generally agreed that it is best to stick to basic dietary principles of eating less, do more exercise, eat fruits and vegetables and whole grains and avoid too much junk food.

So what are the benefits of healthy eating? Well, here are a few:

Cancer Prevention

It's long been believed that eating the "right" foods is more likely to prevent cancer: this includes eating more fruit and vegetables which are full of antioxidants (thought to have cancer-fighting properties), eating low fat and high fiber foods. Although there is no shortage of media reports that bad diets cause cancer and good diets prevent cancer, the link between diet and cancer is a little tenuous; however, new studies are coming out saying that women that eat a diet low in meat with lots of fruit decrease their risk for breast cancer and colon cancer.

Fruit and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are almost always low in calories and fat, and they are generally very nutritious as well. Fruits and vegetables are advisable for healthy snacking instead of sugar-based products. 7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is generally recommended as a good balance. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains and helps keep healthy bowels.

Energy

For people who have to leave early for work, have a heavy schedule, and then have a demanding family, they often find that their energy levels drop and they don't feel capable of additional exercise. Minerals and Vitamins such as iron and B12 give you energy to get through the day. Select foods that will meet your needs of energy and essential nutrients.

Sugary drinks are a big source of empty energy. Healthy eating increases energy, improves the way your body functions, strengthens your immune system and delays weight gain.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is present in all parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Cholesterol travels in your blood in packages called lipoproteins. Not all cholesterol is actually bad for you - it is a natural substance that serves as a building block for cells and hormones and helps to carry fat through the blood vessels for use or storage in other parts of the body; however, a high blood cholesterol level can lead to a build-up of plaque in your arteries, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. Certain types of fiber (e.g. oats) can help to lower cholesterol and to keep blood sugar levels normal.

Meals

Believe it or not, 3 meals and 2 snacks are best to maintain both energy levels and healthy weight. You are more likely to overeat or choose nutrition-poor foods when you skip meals and are over-hungry. Try to relax and pace yourself so that your meals last at least 20 minutes, since it takes 20 minutes for you to feel full. It's hard to compete against fast-food kid's meals which are fatty, salty, served quickly, packaged in bright colors and they come with toys.

There seems to be a common belief that it costs more to buy healthy foods. The author firmly believes that this is a fallacy. Using the economy of seasonal shopping, fruit and vegetables can be very cheap and go a long way to filling you up; with some careful planning you can produce exciting, cheap meals that are also good for you.

Here's a 5 star book you might be interested in reading:

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (Paperback)