As important as it is to work out, fueling our bodies is what truly maximizes our overall health. Our bodies receive proper nutrition when we consume a wide variety of food rich in nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. Eating a well-balanced diet can provide a multitude of health benefits including achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, improving mental health, and supporting the immune system.
Simply put, a balanced diet offers the nutrients to support the body’s functions properly. Disregarding a balanced diet can lead to disease, infection, exhaustion, certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. In order to achieve and maintain weight control, it is pertinent to understand the importance of nutrient-dense foods. Eating a healthy variety of foods that are nutrient-dense makes us feel more full and allows less room for calorie-dense foods that can lead to weight gain. Calorie-dense food examples include fatty or sugary snacks, processed foods, and any foods that provide little nutritional value overall. Consuming lean proteins such as chicken and seafood along with carbohydrates such as quinoa and vegetables leave us feeling fuller for longer and providing plenty of nutrients for our bodies to function properly.
The brain is the most important organ of the body. Without the brain, we would not be able to function at all. When consuming a balanced diet, we have the opportunity to keep our brains functioning at their peak performance. Foods such as salmon, avocado, and walnuts contain Omega-3 fatty acids that provide long-term benefits. These benefits include improving memory and the ability to learn. Omega-3 fatty acids also help our bodies fight against dementia, schizophrenia, depression, and many other mental disorders.
Essential nutrients gathered from a well-balanced diet produce germ-fighting cells in the immune system and help improve vascular function. The immune system relies on the vascular function to send white blood cells quickly to areas of need. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables also increases the production of germ-fighting cells and prevents bacteria from attaching to cells in the body.
Ability Fitness offers 1:1 nutrition coaching, meal prepping, and in-home kitchen consulting. We have a high level of expertise in food behavior change and the support you need to create new healthy habits. Please check out our services page or reach out to us at abilityfitnesschi@gmail.com to learn more!
