How does Healthy Eating Affect Our Lives?

Healthy eating really does keep the doctor away and it may also help us feel better. A balanced diet along with regular exercise can reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart diseases, diabetes and perhaps even depression.

The human body needs three essential types of nutrient – protein, fat, and carbohydrates – as well as fibre, vitamins and minerals. The perfect balanced diet is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and carbohydrates, some dairy foods, meat and fish, but to go easy on the fats and sugar.

Nutritionists say we should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to get all the vitamins and minerals we need. These also provide fibre which helps us digest our food and control our weight.

Carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta and potatoes, provide calories and other nutrients and should make up at least a third of our diet.

Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues.

The body needs fat to absorb some vitamins. Some fats like omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the brain and may even help learning.

Foods rich in unsaturated fats, such as oily fish and nuts, are better than saturated animal fats which increase harmful cholesterol levels in our blood.

Processed foods are particularly unhealthy because they are full of fats, sugar and salt and are very high in calories.

Studies show that eating three meals a day affects the way we feel. Scientists believe that eating breakfast regularly is even more important. So if you want to feel good throughout the day, don’t miss your breakfast!