Not only is eating healthy important for people of all shapes, sizes and genders, but it’s especially important for the senior population. We are going to cover four reasons why eating healthy will allow you to live the life you have imagined for yourself.
1) It’s good for your organs
To start on a basic level, it is good and quite frankly, necessary, to eat healthy for your organs. Nutrition can affect your kidneys, eyes, liver and heart – to name a few. According to www.renovalleyseniorliving.com, some food groups that are important to fit into a senior’s diet are Vitamin B12, Fiber, Protein, Calcium, Vitamin D, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and so many more. If you care about your overall physical and mental health from a holistic approach, it’s important to figure out what deficiencies you may have. That’s why it is important to go to your primary care provider on an annual or even bi-annual basis. Stay in the know!
2) You will feel more energized
We all know that feeling when we are sitting on the couch and just finished an entire pizza by ourselves. Do you feel energized or like you want to lay down and take a nap? Probably the latter! It is okay to overindulge occasionally, but it’s important not to do that each day – then eating unhealthily is just a habit. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule. Eat healthy and nutritious 80% of the time and have your cheat meals, pizza and ice cream only 20% of the time. When you eat healthy 100% of the time, you restrict, which is not good for you, either. Moderation is key!
3) Better sleep
Who would have thought that eating better would be beneficial for your sleep cycle, as well?! According to shapescale.com, “A poor diet can easily result in sleep quality drop. When you only consume foods that digest quickly and leave you hungry, you can disrupt your sleep cycle with middle of the night hunger. Once you start eating healthy, you will sleep more soundly. You will also fall asleep easier and won’t wake up so much throughout the night.”
As we all know, sleep is very important to our mental health and overall well-being. If eating healthy directly correlates to a better sleep cycle, it’s worth giving it a shot!
Track your sleep one night after eating healthy and a day after having a few cheat meals – see how you feel! You may be very surprised.
4) A positive attitude
A healthy, balanced diet WILL in fact have an impact on your mood. After reading above to what this healthy diet does for your health, sleep and energy levels, it’s impossible not to have a better attitude when those factors are in your favor! Even if you don’t notice a sudden shift in your physical appearance after eating healthy, you will most definitely feel it mentally. We all know how we feel after eating at McDonald’s. Skip the drive-thru and eat something from home – non processed and rich in nutrients! You will feel empowered. Be good to your body – we only get one!
Sources:
https://shapescale.com/blog/health/nutrition/what-happens-when-you-start-eat-healthy/