Looking at the world around us, we can see two opposing directions. On the one hand, there is civilization and a society that is harming itself with bad habits, where only the apparent side of such a view shows that people rarely are taking care of themselves. On the other hand, there is a boom of various methodologies, and practices of health improvements, with a whole army of followers of a healthy lifestyle.
Everyone who is leading a healthy lifestyle is dreaming of longevity. Solid health put a safety margin for the long term, where for some people it is eighty, for others, it might be a hundred or more. In that regard, civilization gives advantages for people, and on the other hand, it spoils them. Many people these days are subjected to premature aging, obesity, diabetes, chronic diseases, and other health problems.
Accordingly, the costs of medical bills are becoming higher, making it costly for people to have a disease. All these problems can be avoided if leading a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy. In the light of the aforementioned, this paper states that healthy eating helps people to be healthier, lowers the risk of diseases, and saves the costs of paying medical bills, without lowering the fast pace of their lives.
The notion of healthy eating should not be confused with the diets directed toward having an unnatural and skinny look and depriving oneself of a favorite food. It is rather learning nutrition basics, after which a person will acknowledge what type of food improves health and should be chosen and what type of food raises the risk for disease and, thus, should be avoided. (“Healthy Eating – Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition,” 2008)
Accordingly, the threats that result from “unhealthy” food include diseases such as weight gain, diabetes, tooth decay, an increase of bad cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and increased risk of pancreatic cancer. (“The 6 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs,” 2009) Thus, it is stated that one way of being healthier is avoiding the products that contain ingredients that increase the risk of the aforementioned diseases.
Another way, as stated earlier, is learning the basics of nutrition in what type of food should be consumed. In that regard, maintaining good health the food must contain a variety of elements. The food must contain amino acids, the deficit of which can harm the health. Essential amino acids are contained in milk, rye bread, potatoes, cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey and etc. (“Essential Amino Acids,” 2005)
Amino acids are the building blocks of our body and are formed when the protein consumed is broken down during digestion, where” a lack of protein in our diets can result in slow growth, reduced muscle mass, lower immunity, and weaken the heart and respiratory system.” (“Healthy Eating – Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition,” 2008) It should be mentioned that protein should not be consumed more than it is necessary.
Calcium, which also should be given the body, participates in heart work, and its deficiency leads to a decrease in a mental and physical working capacity. Products rich with calcium include milk and dairy products.
Phosphorus participates in numerous physiological processes, where it is contained in milk, eggs, buckwheat, and beans. Magnesium stimulates bile discharge, strengthens the peristalsis of bowels, and normalizes heart work. The source of magnesium sources is found within peas, millet, bread, cheese, and others.
Additionally, there is no way the body can manage itself without vitamins, which should be contained in the food in sufficient quantities. With an insufficient quantity of vitamins, a hypovitaminosis might occur. Vitamins, as well as minerals considered micronutrients, where they play an important role in “the structure and function of your body, such as making new cells and promoting wound healing.” (“Healthy Eating – Why Is Healthy Eating Important?” 2009)
Summarizing the aforementioned, a healthy eating plan, according to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, should conform to the following:
- Concentrate on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Contains lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
- Low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars
- Maintain the daily calorie need (“Healthy Weight – it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle!”)
In terms of medical interventions, healthy eating can have a beneficial impact on the overall budget of medical assistance.
Taking as example obesity, as a disease that requires intervention, and which can be caused by unhealthy eating and increase the risk of other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, several types of cancer and others, it is stated that those obese people “cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills.” (“Obesity Medical Bills Cost an Extra $1,400 per Person per Year,” 2009)
Additionally, on an individual level, the obesity medical bills cost an extra $1400 per person per year, which can be saved by turning to healthy eating and avoiding any food that is bad for health and for weight.
From another perspective, the busy lifestyle of many people might seem to prevent them from eating properly, where many of the types of unhealthy products are associated with fast food and fast way of life. Taking an example of Australian people, the third of their household budget goes to convenience food, such as takeaway and supermarket ready-to-eat meals, which are “are notoriously higher in fat and salt.” (“HEALTHY EATING WITHIN A BUSY LIFESTYLE,” 2008)
In that regard, the concept of healthy eating does not contradict the busy lifestyle, where both can be maintained simultaneously. Maintaining healthy eating while keeping a busy lifestyle is outlined through such aspects as the following:
- Planning the meals and their content in terms of nutrition-rich foods.
- Keeping an eye on the weight as an indicator of good health.
- Maintaining a good balance of food choices over time.
- Identify the mistakes in your own eating habits. (“Healthy Eating Tips for the Busy Lifestyle,” 2009)
Finally, the help that healthy eating can provide to the overall health system and its protection from the diseases does not assume that there is a unified rule for everybody. The nutrition needs vary from person to person, where “pregnant women, growing children, and older adults will have different needs for certain nutrients.” (Golonka, 2009)
Accordingly, the needs of people who already have certain health problems will have to adjust the product that they consume in accordance with these problems. The same goes for people who do not have any apparent problems, where healthy eating will work as a prevention system, controlling the level of such substances like sugar, salt, and fat.
Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that eating healthy does not constitute physical activity, and while “healthy diet improves your energy and feelings of well-being while reducing your risk of many diseases…[a]dding regular physical activity and exercise will make any healthy eating plan work even better.” (“Healthy Eating – Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition,” 2008)
In conclusion, it can be stated that healthy eating is indeed helping people to be healthier, lowers the risk of diseases, and saves the costs of paying medical bills. People have the opportunity to control their eating habits and, thus, have the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.
When we are still young, we do not pay attention to the food we eat, the most important thing for the food to be delicious. When we enter the fast-paced world of work, the most important thing is to have food that will not slow our rapid rhythm. Health attributes are the last thing we think about in food.
It can be seen that food is something that should be paid attention to, and what is most important, healthy food does not exclude the thing we got used to about food. Leading a healthy life and leading a busy life can be combined at the same time, where certain life aspects force people to put emphasis on their career, and thus both aspects should be paid attention to.
Additionally, eating healthy as prevention might also be helpful in terms of being constantly in shape as well as being aware of the status of their own health.
References
The 6 Most Unhealthy Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs. (2009). SixWise.com
Essential Amino Acids. (2005). Nutritional Supplements.
Golonka, D. (2009). Healthy Eating. Yahoo Health.
Healthy Eating – Tips for a Healthy Diet and Better Nutrition. (2008). HelpGuide.org.
Healthy Eating – Why Is Healthy Eating Important? (2009). WebMD.
Healthy Eating Tips for the Busy Lifestyle. (2009). Associated Content.
Healthy eating within a busy lifestyle. (2008). Complete Performance Solution.
Healthy Weight – it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Obesity Medical Bills Cost an Extra $1,400 per Person per Year. (2009). Fooducate.