Have you ever wondered how your nutrition affects you? A well-balanced diet can give you long-lasting energy, help you stay strong and healthy, and it may even help prevent illnesses from a bad diet.

In today’s article, we’ll discuss the importance of nutrition and how it affects the body. We’ll also be sharing several tips to help you eat and create a more well-balanced diet; keep reading to learn more.

The importance of nutrition

Not consuming the right amount of calories or nutrients can affect us in many ways. And on the other end of the spectrum, consuming too many calories can cause weight gain and other issues.

The foods we consume give us energy and provide nutrients that allow our body to function properly. The quality of your diet can even impact your mental health, longevity, and disease risk.

How to eat more nutritiously

You don’t necessarily have to do a complete analysis of your diet, but creating new eating habits and finding a healthy balance and moderation can do wonders in creating a healthier version of you.

There are 3 main nutrients we get from foods, known as macronutrients; these include:

• Fat - contrary to popular belief, fat is an essential component of a healthy diet. It helps absorb Vitamins A, D, and E. And it’s also the only way for the body to get essential fatty acids, as it cannot create them on its own.
• Protein - this nutrient is found throughout our body. It makes up our bones, muscles, skin, and even hair. It helps in many ways, from building and repairing your body’s tissues to maintaining a proper pH and fluid balance.
• Carbohydrates - think of carbohydrates as our main source of fuel. They’re broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream during digestion and turn into what’s known as “glucose.” The body then uses glucose for energy.

There is so much to unpack with nutrition, but if you follow some simple steps, you can create a healthier lifestyle and a healthier version of yourself.

For instance, we need all three nutrients (fat, protein, and carbs) to function properly. However, where we decide to get our sources of macronutrients is very important.

Getting fats from healthy sources can help decrease your chance of getting certain diseases. It’s best to consume monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats compared to other forms of fat like trans and saturated.

You can get healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) from:

• Fish
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Olive oil
• Avocados

There are also two different forms of carbohydrates. There are “complex carbs” and “simple carbs,” generally, people consider complex carbs to be the healthier form.

They digest slower in our bloodstream, contain more nutrients, and make us feel full for longer. This could help us maintain a healthier weight, as staying full for longer may prevent us from eating more calories.

You can get complex carbs from sources like:

• Peas
• Beans
• Vegetables
• Whole grains

Many foods contain protein. From fish to nuts, there are a variety of sources of protein to choose from, depending on your diet.

There isn’t necessarily a “healthier” form of protein, but certain sources may have lower calories and fat.

Some lean sources of protein include:

• Tofu
• Beans
• Lentils
• Whitefish
• Egg whites
• Skinless white meat poultry

Eating vegetables and fruits is also very important as they provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and fiber.

Maintaining a healthy diet comes down to understanding what to avoid and what’s best for you. Were all different, and our diets vary.

It’s important to find a healthy balance that’s sustainable and suitable for your lifestyle. Make sure to share this article with a friend or family member who could use some education and help with understanding nutrition.