Does Diet Really Matter? It's Everything!
By Genevieve Cunningham
Diet is a huge part of who we are. It affects absolutely everything -- our health, our feelings about life, our skin, our energy levels. If something doesn't seem right in any area of your health or body, one of the first places you should look is your diet. But why? What makes diet such a heavyweight in our lives? If you're ready to get a greater understanding of diet and move it in the right direction, take a look at what you need to know to make it happen.
Diet is Where Nutrients Abound
While it's true that you get some of your nutrients from other places, like Vitamin D from the sun, the vast majority of your nutrient content comes directly from the food you consume. If you're eating foods that are full of healthy nutrients, then your body is getting what it needs. But if your diet is full of junk and low quality food, it's entirely possible to eat too much and still be nutrient deficient. And seriously, how can your body operate at its best if it's not getting the proper nutrients?
Diet Affects Inside and Out
Sometimes the effects of our diet are obvious. We might notice that our skin breaks out more than usual. We might notice weight gain or other outward side effects of eating poor quality food. But diet affects the inside too, and these are often much less noticeable. It affects the way your heart, kidneys, liver, stomach, and intestines work. It affects the way your body functions as a whole. If we don't choose to eat well, we're choosing a poor functioning body that will likely only feel worse and worse over time.
Diet Affects Your Mind
Along with affecting the body, your diet also affects the mind. You are what you eat; you've definitely heard this statement before. This is true for your physical makeup, and it's also true for your mental well-being and the way that you feel about life. A diet low in necessary nutrients is more likely to lead to anxiety and depression. It's more likely to lead to low self-esteem. If we can improve this area of our lives -- especially since diet is something we can control -- it may help us in a more uncontrollable area, such as mental health, and keep us feeling our best day in and day out.
What you choose to consume is really important. This is true for everything -- food, drink, reading material, TV programs. It all affects your health and well-being! Choose foods that fill your body with healthy nutrients. Choose foods that help your body function at its very best. What you eat matters, so make good choices, and make your health the best.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in North Charleston, S.C.