10 Things You Didn’t Know About Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Eating a varied diet that is rich in unprocessed and natural foods is a huge help to your body, along with quality rest and plenty of exercise. Food plays a vital role in keeping our bodies functioning, but what exactly are the less well-known benefits of a healthy and nutritious diet?

Let’s look at 10 good things about eating healthily:

Better Digestion

1. Leafy green vegetables contain a lot of fibre, which acts as a scrubbing brush in the gut. It helps to reduce the absorption of toxins in the body, and it can also reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and hypertension.

A study has shown that consuming 30 grams of fiber per day can reduce the risk of breast cancer. It can also reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by almost 20%.

The best fiber rich veggies include cabbage, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, broccoli, romaine lettuce and celery.

2. Healthy, raw fats like those contained in avocado, nuts and sweet potato are also good for maintaining a healthy stomach lining. If you suffer from constipation, increasing the amount of good fats you eat can help. Coconut and olive oil are also good sources of natural fats.

Weight Loss

3. If you eat more fruit and veg, you’ll stay fuller for longer, which means you’ll be less likely to be tempted by high-fat and high-sugar snacks.

4. Water can help limit overeating. We often mistake thirst for hunger, so drinking more water can help us control this.

Quality of Life

5. Research has shown that a bad diet can result in poor sleep patterns. Key nutrients such as vitamin B6 and magnesium are essential to help give a good night’s sleep. These nutrients are found in oily fish and whole grains.

6. Your sex drive can be affected by your diet. Foods that are rich in vitamin C and amino acids, like figs and watermelon, can give you a boost in the bedroom.

Preventing Sickness

7. Plant-based foods, pulses and nuts have antioxidant qualities, which help to protect the body against the effects of environmental pollution.

8. Green leafy vegetables like kale, lettuce, cabbage and spinach can assist in healthy cell development, which helps prevent illnesses.

9. Foods such as garlic and probiotic yogurt have been found to be important in boosting the immune system.

10. A diet rich in vegetables, whole grains and legumes could be a key to reducing the risk of breast cancer.