Benefits_of_Healthy_Eating

Did you know that obesity is becoming one of the number one killers of Americans today' It’s also becoming a huge problem with children in America as well. There is only one way to fix that; and that’s to learn to become healthier eaters and get moving. Diet and exercise play important roles for keeping yourself healthy. Health and weight are connected. If you have a high body mass index (BMI) you are prone to more diseases. The formula to calculate your BMI is weight (in pounds) / height (in inches) x height (in inches) x 703. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses BMI to define terms like overweight and obese: Underweight: below 18.5, Normal weight: 18.5 to 24.9, Overweight: 25.0 to 29.9, Obese: 30.0 and above. A diet high in nutrients along with exercise can help keep your immune system strong and healthy and is one of the best defenses against getting sick. The whole family can benefit from a healthy diet. Disease prevention is one of the biggest benefits from a healthy lifestyle. Being overweight can higher your risk for many diseases which include: Heart disease, Diabetes, some cancers, Liver and Gallbladder disease. Type II Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases of today. 8 out of 10 people are overweight that are diagnosed with this disease. Type II is becoming more common in children and teenagers because of the increase in obesity in these age groups. Blood sugar levels are controlled through diet and physical activity. Starting to move and exercise will lower your blood pressure and your risk of getting these diseases. It’s important to speak to your physician about your weight. He or she can tell you if your chances for these diseases are high and can explain what you can do to make the necessary changes to your eating habits and physical activity. Physical activity is very important to go along with a proper diet. Most people take in more calories than we spend on our physical activity. Finding the proper balance with food intake and exercise is the key. Fitting more physical activity into your day is a good way to start. The minimum for good health is 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each day. You may have to do 60 minutes a day to reach a healthy weight, or a more intense workout. Increasing the physical activity in your life can also make you feel better mentally. It increases endorphins in your brain which help you feel happy. Choosing the right foods to eat can be hard when you’re used to eating a diet high in fat and sugar loaded drinks; for example, candy and soda. You don’t have to remove these foods right away. You can lose them in moderation and make smaller portions. You can limit yourself to one can of soda a day and drink more water. Water is very important. It keeps us hydrated and regulates our metabolism. A healthy eating plan includes; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat free or low fat milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. A diet low in saturated fats, Trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugar. Include fiber in your diet too. Fiber helps with constipation, digestive disorders, lowers cholesterol, and stabilizes blood sugar. Your entire family can benefit from healthy eating and exercise. Teaching your children when they are young will instill in them the importance of choosing the right foods and being physically fit for their future. They can pass this down to their children. This will help with the fight of childhood obesity which is becoming a large problem in this country. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. Obesity in children ages 6 to 11 has increased from 69% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. In ages 12-19 it went from 5 % to 18.1%. One way to get your children more active is to decrease their TV time and increase their physical activity. Encourage them to engage in sports at school or in the town. As a family, you can go on hikes or bicycle trails, go to a local gym. Keep healthy snacks only in the house. Such as, fruits, whole grains, and nuts. If you don’t have the junk food in the house than no one in the house can eat the junk food, at least while they’re at home. Schools today are buckling down on what they are serving to the children and are getting healthier. Some schools are taking out soda and snack vending machines so they’re not available to the kids. They are getting healthier choices which include the necessary nutrients needed for children today. It’s never too late to change to a healthier lifestyle. Even people in their 70s and 80s can benefit when they start to exercise -- as long as they do it safely By Gina Shaw WebMD the Magazine - Feature Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD. The results: After nine months of exercising with his personal trainer, Anthony Absalon, Harvey has gone from 225 to 185 pounds. "My balance has improved, and I feel so much more secure in my walking now," he says. "They tell you not to give up the cane once you start using it, but I get around fine here in the house without it. And my hips don't hurt as much and they seem to work better. I feel much stronger and more invigorated -- it's amazing!" That is proof that you can start at any age and benefit from living a healthy diet. As long as you combine the right foods with the proper amount of physical activity you and your family will be on the path of living healthy. So take on the new challenge! Get moving out there and eat healthy. Don’t forget those fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water. Your body will thank you in the long run. It will be a whole family affair and a good way to keep you healthy and happy.