7 Remarkable Ways Healthy Eating Has Changed Me Forever
The following is a guest post by Supraja Sirala. Her bio follows.
I realized that the food I was eating kept me full, but wasn’t doing much to aid my health. I love fried goodies, but a couple of hours after gulping down those fries, I could literally trace my food pipe. It burnt, and I knew exactly which route my food had taken to reach my tummy – because the entire thing was on fire! I used to have severe bouts of acidity, and that’s what got me thinking about my food choices.For many of us, eating is our hobby, occupation, and motivation to wake up. We all work hard to be able to afford four (or more) meals a day, and it’s only food that keeps us alive and kicking. Apart from water, of course! However, it’s essential to understand that we shouldn’t eat just for the sake of eating. Our food consumption has to aim at better health, obviously.
I switched gears to healthy eating, and my life hasn’t been the same since then. How, you ask? Here are seven ways in which healthy eating changed my life.
Weight Control
As a kid, I was extremely lean. When we’d bump into people, they’d giggle and ask my mother whether she had stopped giving me food, irking her to no end. She’d drill-feed me a lot of food, but nothing would work. At the other end of the spectrum, I see people trying all they can to shed those extra kilos. One of my friends used to consume fenugreek seeds to lose weight, and she found that it was more effective than pumping iron at the gym. Here’s the deal: eating healthy helps you lose or gain weight. With a controlled and correct diet, your weight issues can be tackled.
Increased Productivity
Do you feel like snoozing at work immediately after lunch? Or worse still, have you been caught red-handed sleeping at your desk? I’d once slept off at work post lunch, and more than anything else, the cocktail of my guilt pangs and embarrassment put together made me want to hibernate. But I had to live through it until I switched to healthy eating. I’m not the only one who’s gone through this, though. According to a study published by Population Health Management in 2012, an unhealthy diet leads to 66% increased risk of loss of productivity. A healthy diet makes you feel less full, thereby keeping you active and productive. The moral of the story is – a healthy lunch and good work mean you won’t get fired!
Good Mood
Have you noticed that you tend to get irritable after eating certain foods? Your mood and the food you consume are closely related. Don’t believe me? As per research, the higher the blood sugar after eating sugar and refined grains, the higher the risk of depression. On the other hand, studies have also indicated that whole grains do the exact opposite. It has been proved that foods with vitamins and minerals (fruits, whole grains, and vegetables) reduce the risk of depression. Foods rich in omega-3 fats (nuts, salmon, and other fatty fish) do the same job. I’ve been eating healthy for sometime now, and my mood swings are very rare. My husband can vouch for it!
Healthy Heart
We all know that for a healthy heart, eating healthy is very important. Unhealthy food can cause serious heart issues. Too much sodium or frozen food isn’t good for your heart. Regular consumption of foods that have high fat content could increase your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and cause a build-up of plaque in your arteries. These facts nudged me to continue my healthy eating habits. I include walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, oatmeal, berries, coffee and even chocolate in my diet so that my heart is happy and healthy. It’s also important to provide your kitchen with safe, non-toxic cookware, e.g., carbon steel pans, more traditional cast iron skillets or even stone pans made from granite.
Half A Pharmacy For Dinner? No Longer!
Most lifestyle diseases like diabetes are the result of unhealthy eating. Desserts are essential and delicious, but over time, excessive quantities could cause you trouble. It could lead to insulin resistance, which converts itself into type 2 diabetes. Since diabetes runs in my family, I wanted to play it safe. Consuming complex carbohydrates (whole grain bread, oatmeal, even brown rice) works wonders. They regulate blood sugar by releasing sugar into the bloodstream. So, instead of consuming half a pharmacy for your dinner, opt to eat healthily!
Good Sleep
The thing about having healthy food is that you fall asleep at the right time. By the right time, I mean, not while you’re at work, but when you hit the bed. In a world full of insomniacs, it wouldn’t hurt to sleep well. Numbers suggest that in the United States alone, more than 50 million Americans don’t sleep well. And we do know what lack of sleep leads to, don’t we? A few things I incorporate into my diet to ensure that I get my eight hours of sleep time are yogurt, whole grains, bananas, cereals and chickpeas.
Look Young, Feel Young
Ever since I started eating healthy, the pieces of my health puzzle are falling into place. I’m eating better, getting enough sleep, falling sick less often and have sustained energy. This is one of the reasons why even though I am aging, I look young, and I obviously feel very young too. Of the foods that I consume, some are great for my skin. These include water (obviously), yellow bell peppers, kiwi, eggs, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.
Did I give you enough reasons to ditch the junk and get started on a healthy eating routine? Yes? Great! All the best!
About Supraja Sirala
Supraja is a home maker and a full-time mom. Her interests lie in writing, healthy cooking, and kitchen gardening. She is a certified english professional from the University of Cambridge and also pursuing a course on fitness and nutrition. She is a regular contributor to www.Stylecraze.com and writes to share her views on healthy practices and inspire readers to embrace a hassle free life.
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