Pros and Cons for Healthy Nutrition

 

The world of nutrition and fitness is characterized by evolving trends. They range from detoxes and intermittent fasting to high-impact aerobics training and growth enhancement interventions such as human growth hormone (HGH) injections. But the bottom line in all these trends is healthy living. For most people, physical fitness or the absence of illness and disease is the epitome of a healthy lifestyle. This is far from the truth. Healthy living encompasses physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being.

A healthy lifestyle is measured and defined using the following parameters:

·        Eating a healthy diet comprised of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fats in the right proportions.

·        Being physically active through regular exercise. 

·        Getting adequate sleep, meditating and doing some brain exercises to maintain your mental health.

·        Avoiding high-risk behavior, such as smoking and alcohol intake.

This post looks at proper nutrition – the pros and cons and essential nuggets to improve your health.

What is Proper Nutrition in Our Days?

Over the past decades, nutrition has been considered a process of supplying the body with the necessary nutrients. This hasn't changed, but it has been redefined. There are five criteria used to define proper nutrition today:

·        Nutrition density: This is the proportion of calorie density against nutrient density in a portion of food. Essentially, your diet should comprise of low calorie-dense foods and high nutrient-dense foods.

·        Energy balance: Good nutrition provides an excellent balance between the energy you consume and the energy you expend. And there are even some foods that increase hgh levels in your body. 

·        Performance, body, and health goals: Good nutrition should not only lead to improved performance, health, and body composition but also enhance the right balance between these three aspects.

·        Real outcomes: An excellent nutritional plan should be honest and have measurable results or goals.

·        Sustainable: Good nutrition should be doable over a long period and should not cause environmental degradation. 

Pros of Healthy Nutrition

Stronger immunity
Proper nutrition helps your body to fight disease-causing organisms more effectively. Vitamin C, found in oranges, lemons, cherries, and plums, has excellent prowess in fighting diseases. It enhances or improves the production of white blood cells, such as the T and B-cells. Omega-3 and olive oil are healthy fats containing many antioxidants that reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Low glycemic food varieties such as oats, broccoli, and cereals minimize the risk of diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.
Slim figure
Switching to a healthy diet helps you maintain a healthy weight. You can achieve this goal by eating plenty of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. These categories of foods fill up the stomach faster and stay in there longer, reducing the craving for subsequent meals. This means you feed less, keeping your calorie intake in check. A healthy weight leads to a desirable shape.
Improved appearance
Eating well improves the appearance of your skin. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables support the growth and development of skin cells. They also fight free radicals that result from sunlight, pollution, and smoking. This will prevent you from developing pimples and acne on your face. On the other hand, water hydrates your skin, giving it a natural healthy glow.

Mood

Foods that are rich in the growth hormone can boost your moods and reduce stress and depression. For instance, pineapple contains the hormone serotonin, which is essential in the production of HGH. Also, whole coconut oil helps in HGH production, which in turn boosts energy production during workouts.
Extra energy
Maintaining a proper nutritional plan keeps your body energized. This is achieved by eating the right portions of energy-giving foods. Sweet potatoes, brown rice, bananas, fatty fish, and other carbs are a great source of energy. Having the right amount of energy boosts the performance of your daily activities.
Cons of Healthy Nutrition
Cost
Healthier foods are generally costly than ordinary ones. This is because organic foods have more production requirements and high production costs. For this reason, some healthy food varieties are hard to come by.
Overdoing

Good nutritional habits, when overdone, can go overboard and lead to addiction. Even nutritious foods like omega-3 oil and olive oil contain many calories, which can be problematic in the long run. Fish is an excellent protein but has potentially high levels of heavy metals. Overdoing leafy greens can lead to stomach upsets, while excess carrots cause orange skin.
Time and mind discipline
Another disadvantage of eating healthy is the time factor required in preparing and planning the meals. If you are following a strict nutrition plan, you will need to calculate your calorie intake. As such, you will need to know how to measure amounts and read labels. And preparing your meals takes more time than buying ready-to-eat processed food.

How to Make Your Nutrition More Improved and Extended

The following are some crucial tips to improve your nutritional habits:

·        Dedicate the largest part of your meals to low-fat dairy products, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

·        Determine your nutrient and calorie requirements based on your weight goals, activity level, gender, and age.

·        Plan and prepare meals early in advance to avoid making rushed decisions during mealtime.

·        Always adhere to recommended, and reasonable portion sizes of food.

·        Try to include as much fiber in your diet as possible. You can obtain this from whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts.

·        Pick plant-based sources of proteins such as nuts, soy, peas, and beans. Select lean animal proteins, including fish and poultry.

·        Eat a wide variety of foods and drink plenty of water daily. 

Life Hacks That Will Make It More Effective
Do the following simple hacks to help you live a healthy lifestyle:

·        Get smaller plates in your kitchen

·        Join a group of health-focused like-minded people

·        Eat your dinner 2-3 hours before going to bed

·        Eat your breakfast 30 minutes after waking up

·        Double your water intake 

·        Log your food consumption

·        Move junk food to the furthest cabinet 

·        Become a slow eater

·        Fine yourself for bad eating habits

The advantages of healthy nutrition outweigh the disadvantages. So, find a good nutritional plan and adhere to it faithfully. It will improve not only your physical health but also your mental and emotional well-being.