Proper diet is essential to maintaining good health. Keeping the body well-nourished and at a healthy weight has been proven to improve mood, quality of life and longevity. It may also go a long way in preventing or controlling many serious illnesses. While there are many complex causes of disease, proper nutrition can make a noticeable difference in keeping individuals healthy.
Benefits of Good Nutrition
Not only do people feel more energetic and happier when they eat well, they also keep their bodies in the best possible condition. The benefits of good nutrition include developing and maintaining physical strength as well as preventing or controlling disease processes. Research has shown that the following disorders may be avoided, controlled, or mitigated by life styles that include well-balanced nutrition:
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Certain cancers
- Dementia
- Gout
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Liver and gall bladder disease
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Osteoporosis
- Type 2 diabetes
While there are many complex causes for diseases to occur, proper nutrition can make a noticeable difference in keeping individuals healthy.
A Healthy Diet
Generally speaking, a healthy diet is a varied one, containing the balanced nutrition needed for cell growth, cell regeneration and the maintenance of healthy organs and tissues. It includes an appropriate balance of protein, fiber, carbohydrates and unsaturated fats in reasonable portions. A good diet is one that:
- Is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Includes limited protein sources such as lean meats, poultry, fish, and especially beans, raw nuts, and seeds.
- Is low in saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars
- Contains a balance of appropriate vitamins and minerals
Calorie intake should be determined by age, activity level and weight goal. While our culture tends to focus on avoiding obesity, being underweight or malnourished is also a serious and often life-threatening problem. In some cases, depending on age and physical condition, certain individuals may require vitamin or mineral supplements in order to maintain proper nutrition and an appropriate weight.
Avoiding Obesity
Obesity, which affects approximately a third of all adults and a fifth of all children in the United States, is avoidable with proper diet and nutrition and a program of regular exercise. Through refraining from overeating and from ingesting foods high in calories and low in nutritional value, individuals can improve their health immeasurably.
Nutritional Counseling
Since avoiding obesity requires making wise food choices, the more informed individuals are about what they eat, the better. Reading labels, eating fresh foods whenever possible and keeping informed about nutritional research may all contribute to leading a healthier, and often a longer life. Nutritional counseling is invaluable in pursuing this goal. Since more and more children have become obese, it is extremely important for nutritional counseling to begin at an early age.
Nutritional counseling services include initially taking a medical (and sometimes psychological) history and establishing a customized dietary plan for each individual patient. A specific diet takes into account each patient's weight goals, personal food preferences, overall health and particular medical conditions. Anyone can benefit from nutritional counseling, especially patients with food allergies or eating disorders. Ongoing nutritional counseling allows for evolving dietary guidelines.