benefits of eating healthy
A healthful diet typically includes nutrient-dense foods from all major food groups, including lean proteins, whole grains, healthful fats, and fruits and vegetables of many colors.
Healthful eating also means replacing foods that contain trans fats, added salt, and sugar with more nutritious options.
Following aย healthful dietย has many health benefits, including building strong bones, protecting the heart, preventing disease, and boosting mood.
This article looks at the top 10 benefits of a healthful diet, and the evidence behind them.
1. Heart health
According to theย Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States.
Theย American Heart Association (AHA)ย state that almost half of U.S. adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a growing concern in the U.S. The condition can lead toย heart attack, heart failure, andย stroke.
Some sources report that it is possible to preventย up to 80%ย of premature heart disease and stroke diagnoses with lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical activity and healthful eating.
The foods people eat can reduce their blood pressure and help keep their heart healthy.
The dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet, known as theย DASH diet, includes plenty of healthful foods for the heart. The program recommends the following:
- eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
- choosing fat-free or low fat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils
- limiting saturated and trans fat intake, such as fatty meats and full-fat dairy products
- limiting drinks and foods that contain added sugars
- restricting sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day โ ideally 1,500 mg dailyโ and increasing consumption of potassium, magnesium, and calcium
High fiber foodsย are also crucial for keeping the heart healthy.
Theย AHAย state that dietary fiber helps improve blood cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, andย type 2 diabetes.
The medical community has long recognized the link between trans fats and heart-related illnesses, such asย coronary heart disease.
Limiting certainย types of fatsย can also improve heart health. For instance, eliminating trans fats reduces the levels of low-density lipoproteinย cholesterol. This type of cholesterol causes plaque to collect within the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Reducing blood pressure can also promote heart health. A person can achieve this by limiting their salt intake toย no more than 1,500 milligramsย per day.
Food manufacturers add salt to many processed and fast foods, and a person who wishes to lower their blood pressure should avoid these products.
Learn more about the DASH diet here.
Eating foods that containย antioxidantsย can reduce a personโs risk of developing cancer by protecting cells from damage.
The presence of free radicals in the body increases the risk of cancer, but antioxidants help remove them to lower the likelihood of this disease.
Many phytochemicals found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes act as antioxidants, includingย beta-carotene, lycopene, andย vitaminsย A, C, and E.
According to theย National Cancer Institute, though humans trials are inconclusive, there are laboratory and animal studies that link certain antioxidants to a reduced incidence of free radical damage due to cancer.
Foods high in antioxidantsย include:
- berries such as blueberries and raspberries
- dark leafy greens
- pumpkin and carrots
- nuts and seeds
Having obesityย may increaseย a personโs risk of developing cancer and result in poorer outcomes. Maintaining a moderate weight may reduce these risks.
In aย 2014 study, researchers found that a diet rich in fruits reduced the risk of upper gastrointestinal tract cancers.
They also found that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and fiber lowered the risk ofย colorectal cancer, while a diet rich in fiber reduces the risk ofย liver cancer.
Read more about cancer-fighting foods here.
Some evidence suggests a close relationship between diet and mood.
Inย 2016, researchers found that diets with a high glycemic load may trigger increased symptoms ofย depressionย andย fatigue.
A diet with a high glycemic load includes many refinedย carbohydrates, such as those found in soft drinks, cakes, white bread, and biscuits. Vegetables, whole fruit, and whole grains have a lower glycemic load.
If a person suspects they have symptoms of depression, talking to a doctor or mental health professional can help.
The colon is full of naturally occurring bacteria, which play important roles in metabolism and digestion.
Certain strains of bacteria also produce vitamins K and B, which benefit the colon. These strains also help fight harmful bacteria and viruses.
A diet low in fiber and high in sugar and fat alters the gut microbiome, increasingย inflammationย in the area.
However, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains provides a combination of prebiotics andย probioticsย that help good bacteria thrive in the colon.
These fermented foods are rich in probiotics:
- yogurt
- kimchi
- sauerkraut
- miso
- kefir
Fiber is an easily accessible prebiotic and is abundant in legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables. It also promotes regular bowel movements, which can help prevent bowel cancer andย diverticulitis.
A healthful diet may help maintain cognition and brain health.
Aย 2015ย study identified nutrients and foods that protect against cognitive decline andย dementia. The researchers found the following to be beneficial:
- vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E
- omega-3ย fatty acids
- flavonoids and polyphenols
- fish
Among other diets, theย Mediterranean dietย incorporates many of these nutrients.
Read more about foods to boost brain function here.
Maintaining a moderate weight can help reduce the risk of chronic health issues. Having overweight or obesity are risk factors for several conditions, including:
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- poor bone density
- someย cancers
Many healthful foods, including vegetables, fruits, and beans, are lower in calories than most processed foods.
A person can determine their calorie requirements using guidance from theย Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015โ2020.
Maintaining a healthful diet free from processed foods can help a person stay within their daily limit without monitoring calorie intake.
Dietary fiber is particularly important for managing weight. Plant-based foods contain plenty of dietary fiber, which helps regulate hunger by making people feel fuller for longer.
In 2018, researchers found that a diet rich in fiber and lean proteins resulted inย weight lossย without the need for monitoring calorie intake.
A healthful diet can help a person with diabetes in:
- managing blood glucose levels
- keepingย blood pressureย andย cholesterolย within target ranges
- preventing or delaying complications of diabetes
- maintaining a moderate weight
It is vital for people with diabetes to limit their intake of foods with added sugar and salt. They should also consider avoiding fried foods high in saturated and trans fats.
Read about the best foods for diabetes here.
A diet with adequateย calciumย andย magnesiumย is important for strong bones and teeth. Keeping the bones healthy can minimize the risk of bone issues later in life, such asย osteoporosis.
The following foods are rich in calcium:
- low fat dairy products
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- cabbage
- canned fish with bones
- tofu
- legumes
Food manufacturers often fortify cereals and plant-based milks with calcium.
Magnesium is abundant in many foods, and some of the best sources include leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
A variety of factors, includingย sleep apnea, can disrupt sleep patterns.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airways repeatedly become blocked during sleep. Risk factors include obesity, drinking alcohol, and eating an unhealthful diet.
Reducing alcohol and caffeine intake can help a person gain restful sleep, whether they have sleep apnea or not.
Children learn most health-related behaviors from the adults around them, and parents who model healthful eating and exercise habits tend to pass these on.
Eating at home may also help. Inย 2018, researchers found that children who regularly ate meals with their families consumed more vegetables and fewer sugary foods than their peers who ate at home less frequently.
In addition, children who participate in gardening and cooking at home may be more likely to make healthful dietary and lifestyle choices.
There are plenty of small, positive ways to improve diet, including:
- swapping soft drinks for water and herbal tea
- eating no meat for at least 1 day a week
- ensuring each meal consists of around 50% fresh produce
- swapping cowโs milk for plant-based milk
- consuming whole fruits instead of juices, which contain less fiber and often include added sugar
- avoiding processed meats, which are high in salt and mayย increaseย the risk ofย colon cancer
- eating more lean protein, which people can find in eggs, tofu, fish, and nuts
A person may also benefit from taking a cooking class, and learning how to incorporate more vegetables into meals.
Healthful eating has many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. It can also boost a personโs mood and provide them with more energy.
A doctor or dietitian can provide tips on eating a more healthful diet.