Nutrition and Disease Managment

Did you know that adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers? In fact, what you eat matters more than you think. Diet plays a critical role in how the body develops and maintains health. The better your diet is, the better chance you have to live a long healthy life. A healthy diet has been shown to improve health in infants, children, pregnancies, childbirth, adults and the elderly.

Why It's Important 

Most people know that good nutrition and physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight. But eating a healthy, balanced diet can be one of the most powerful but easy ways to protect your body from disease. Good nutrition can help:

• Reduce the risk of some diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers and osteoporosis.

• Reduce high blood pressure.

• Lower high cholesterol.

• Improve your well-being.

• Improve your ability to fight off illness.

• Improve your ability to recover from illness or injury.

• Increase your energy level.

What is Good Nutrition? 

Good nutrition means your body gets all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs to work its best. Plan your meals and snacks to include nutritious foods that are also low in calories.

Tips For Eating Well

• Eat plenty of fruit to get the benefit of the natural fiber in fruits. You should eat fruit whole rather than as juices.

• Eat vegetables of different types and colors every day.

• Eat plenty of whole grains.

• At least half of the cereals, breads, crackers and pastas you eat should be made from whole grains.

• Choose low-fat or fat-free milk. These provide calcium and vitamin D to help keep your bones strong.

• Choose lean meats. Lean cuts of meat and poultry have less fat and fewer calories but are still good sources of protein. 

• Try other sources of protein. Try replacing meats and poultry with fish, beans or tofu.

   

What Are Some Barriers to Eating a Healthy Diet?

It’s not so much we don’t know what to eat, as much as the how to go about it. On a day-to-day basis, we can face barriers to healthy eating like late-night snacking, too many processed foods that are quick and easy to choose from, stress eating on comfort foods, not enough time to eat healthy, and eating out with family and friends.

Most people are likely to come across one or more of these barriers from time to time. What matters is practicing eating healthy daily. This can take time so go easy on yourself. But if you do find it hard to stick with a healthy diet, this site can help you find solutions.