d9m5j We are what we eat. We are basically food rearranged. What this means is that everything you eat has an impact on you. Food is essential for your body to properly function. Food is fuel. Food has the power to make you malnourished or overweight. Two in three adults in the US are obese. You would be surprised if you knew what the effects of what you eat are on your body. Eating healthy can simply make you healthy. Not just that, food can also have a direct impact on your mood.
Food impacts your energy level and sleeping patterns. Your brain needs a lot of nutrients to function well. Food improves your immune system in general. Good food helps you reach your full potential. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, once said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Your diet also affects your skin. A well-balanced diet can make your skin clearer and more glowing. Here are some specific ways in which your diet can affect your beauty and your health:
Bloating
Bloating occurs when you feel full and your stomach feels swollen after eating. It not only looks bad, it also feels bad. It increases your stomach size temporarily. Bloating occurs when your gastrointestinal tract is filled up with air or gas. It can cause burping or stomach rumbling. You may also feel stomach pain or headaches. One of the causes of bloating can be eating excessive salt. Salt in your cells retains water and can make you feel bloated. If you feel bloated regularly, you may be having a condition called small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Food allergies and lactose intolerance can also cause bloating. Beans, lentils, and carbonated drinks are also known to contribute to bloating. Keep a check on the consumption of these.
Heart Disease
Diet has strong implications in terms of heart disease. If you have a habit of stuffing yourself with food, you are at a higher risk of various heart diseases. Reducing the amount of trans fat and saturated fat intake will reduce your blood cholesterol. This reduces your risk for heart diseases. According to the American Heart Association, you should avoid trans fat and reduce your saturated fat intake to less than 10% of your total diet. Try to use less butter and margarine. Choose lean meat. Eating too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which is a further risk factor. Switch to a plant-based diet. Start eating vegetables, fruits, and legumes more. When you use oil for cooking or baking, choose the ones that are high in monounsaturated fat. Peanut oil and olive oil would be ideal. You can also opt for oils high in polyunsaturated fats, such as soybean oil. Avoid sugary foods while adding fiber-rich food to your diet for better heart health.
Depression
Your brain is always working. All day, every day, every year. It works on fuel. Similarly to your body, food is also the fuel for your brain. What you eat has a direct impact on your brain and your mood too. Mild to moderate forms of anxiety can be avoided by eating the right type of food. There are trillions of microorganisms living in your gut, like viruses and bacteria. Studies suggest that this microbiome acts through many neural and hormonal signaling pathways.
Major depressive symptoms in humans have been associated with changes in the gut microbiome. Some studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the chances of developing depressive symptoms. Avoid processed food as it contains unhealthy preservatives. Include probiotics in your diet in the form of yogurt, for example. Probiotics are also associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms. Go for fresh vegetables and fruits instead of packaged juices. Fermented fruits and bananas have been shown to improve your mood too.
Diet and Beauty
Sugar is a big no-no when it comes to the beauty of your skin. Sugar can cause acne and inflammation. Also replacing unhealthy saturated fats with healthy ones reduces acne. Keto diets can help you reduce fat and look fit. The keto diet is a low-carb high-protein diet. Cutting out on dairy is yet another way to reduce acne and make your skin smooth and glowing.
A low-calorie diet combined with moderate amounts of physical activity is a great way to stay healthy and good-looking. Looking out for food allergies is a must. Switching to green plants is much healthier for your body than a diet high in meat intake. For the best health results that will also make you look better, avoid saturated and trans fats.
