We are all looking for a way to stay healthy, decrease the risk of suffering from some serious lifestyle diseases and slowing down the aging process.
So what’s the answer…….I find eating more good quality whole foods goes a long way to achieving the daily nutritional results you are looking for.
Whole foods are the foods closest to their natural state, which means they contain considerably more nutrients than highly processed foods which are common in many people’s diets these days.
Of course, it’s incredibly hard to make your diet consist of whole foods only, but at least you should strive to make them the majority of the foods you consume on a daily basis.
Whole foods include unprocessed vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, nuts, legumes, whole grains, seafood, fish, eggs, grass fed meats and free range poultry.
Now most people know that whole foods are healthier, but a lot of people don’t want to spend the money on them as they are perceived to be slightly more expensive than their processed cousins.
But here’s one thing I can tell you from experience, when you get to my age you suddenly realize your health means everything……it is far more valuable to you than money because money can’t buy good health or fix a lifetime of poor dietary choices.
So just take a moment to think about how health is important in your life and if you truly need all the processed snacks, meats and soft drinks you buy on a regular basis. It’s a much better idea to simply visit your local farmers’ market and buy a basket full of nutrient packed whole foods.
Need more convincing: Here’s 6 ways whole foods contribute to your well-being and longevity.
1. Lower the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
According to Doctor Mercola, a diet that involves a lot of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits significantly lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In case you are already suffering from this disease, know that you too will feel better if you follow a diet based on whole foods.
2. A Stop to Nutrient Shortages
WebMD notes that a survey about eating habits was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, and the results they found were shocking.
A huge amount of people didn’t have proper nutrient intake.
In fact, 92-97% of the population who participated in the survey didn’t consume enough potassium and fiber, while a third of the people didn’t consume a sufficient amount of vitamin C.
These nutrients help reduce the risk of some serious diseases and are very important for your overall health. So, what should people do when they simply don’t get enough nutrients from the food they eat?
Start consuming whole foods. All of these nutrient shortages can be fixed by following a diet filled with healthy, whole foods.
3. Dietary Fibre Benefits
Most whole plant-based foods are extremely rich in fiber, while processed and junk foods aren’t. Fibre is a very important nutrient that improves your health in numerous ways. For example, it helps you fight diabetes, heart disease, it helps you feel full faster, and it keeps the GI tract moving and free from bowel cancers.
Whole foods are a much better way to increase your fiber intake, since they contain both types of it (insoluble and soluble). Eating foods rich in fiber will also help control your weight, blood fats, and blood sugar.
4. Weight Management
If fat loss is on your radar and you want to keep your weight under control, but don’t feel like going on some extreme diet that promises the world and does nothing, then you’ll be pleased to hear eating whole foods promotes healthy weight management, especially if you choose to eat mostly whole vegetables and fruits.
These foods contain very little calories, so you won’t have to worry about counting them.
5. Having More Energy
There is a simple explanation why whole foods will provide you with more energy. When you eat something, your body has to break down that food. However, processed foods are difficult to break down, so a lot of the energy they have to offer will actually go into the processing of breaking it down. On the other hand, it’s not a challenge for your body to break down whole foods, so you will be left with a lot of unused energy.
6. Add Healthy Fish and Seafood Dishes to Your Diet
The delicious goodies that come from deep waters yield multiple benefits. Here is why you should add seafood delicacies to your diet:
The omega -3 fatty acids in cold water fish, such as salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel and herring reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and/or heart attack. You can get these from fish oil capsules on the market today but why not get it directly from actual seafood?
Nutrients in fish and seafood help protect your skin against the damaging effects of ultra violet rays. Fish oil also helps reduce acne breakouts.
Eating fish helps boost fetal growth and development, and may reduce chances of delivering prematurely.
Prawns are very low in calories; in fact, 6 large grilled or steamed prawns have only 155 calories and about 20 grams of protein!
There are very many seafood options to choose from, whichever you prefer and you will reap all the tasty fishy goodness from it.
Closing Thoughts
Consider what you are eating every day and that diet is your best chance for living a longer and healthier life. Just throw in some regular moderate exercise and you have your health and fitness sorted for years to come.
Cheers – John – your Active Ageing Coach and Advocate.
P.S. Help a friend find better health……like and share. Thanks.
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