The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Food
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Introduction
Nutritionists and health experts recommend eating a balanced and healthy diet to maintain or lose weight, or to protect the body from diseases. A healthy diet should contain protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. This article explains the difference between healthy and unhealthy food in detail. [1]
Contents
1. Healthy Food
2. The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Food
1. Benefits of
Healthy Food
2. Drawbacks of
Healthy Food
3. Benefits of
Unhealthy Food
4. Drawbacks of
Unhealthy Food
3. Benefits of a Healthy Diet
Healthy Food
Nutritionists and health experts recommend eating a balanced
diet containing protein from fish, meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, nuts,
and legumes. Fats can be obtained from dairy products, nuts and oils.
Carbohydrates are present in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and
legumes. A healthy diet should also contain vitamins like A, B, C, D, E and K,
as well as minerals and water.
The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Food
There are many health bulletins about the pros and cons of
healthy and unhealthy food, which can be confusing for people looking to follow
a weight-loss diet. Here is a detailed explanation of the difference between
healthy and unhealthy food [2]:
Benefits of Healthy Food
Eating healthy food helps avoid many age-related diseases
like heart disease and diabetes. Consuming healthy food is the best way to
prevent infections and complications of diseases that can affect the body.
According to a 2017 medical report published in Molecules, researchers
confirmed that the importance of healthy food lies in its positive role in
cancer prevention.
Healthy food also has beneficial effects on mental health. A
2014 study published in BMC Psychiatry indicated that healthy food impacts the
mental health of children and adults by reducing the risk of depression and
dementia with age.
Drawbacks of Healthy Food
These drawbacks cannot be classified as unhealthy at all.
The only drawback is that kids may not be keen to eat it as they feel it is not
as tasty as junk food. This is one of the biggest problems faced by parents
regarding healthy food.
Benefits of Unhealthy Food
Such food contains high amounts of sugar, salt and unhealthy
fats like potato chips and candy. People tend to consume it more as it is
easily available. On the other hand, these food items sometimes have beneficial
effects like providing the body instant energy, having a calming effect,
enhancing functional performance and increasing sexual arousal due to the
compound endorphin.
Drawbacks of Unhealthy Food
The negative effects of unhealthy food are the health
problems that arise from consuming too much of it. Scientists have linked the
high obesity rates in children to excessive consumption of fast food and sweets.
Weight gain often continues into adolescence and increases the risk of
diabetes. Unhealthy food also severely impacts mental health, sometimes leading
to suicidal thoughts.
Benefits of a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet contains a variety of fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, starches, lean fats and proteins. It should have low amounts of
salt and sugar. Here are the key benefits of a healthy diet [3]:
1. Reduces risk of weight gain, obesity
2. Lowers risk of cancer
3. Controls blood sugar levels and risk of diabetes
5. Boosts children's and adults’ mental and behavioral
health
6. Maintains dental and bone health
7. Improves mood
8. Sharpens memory and increases mental focus
9. Improves and protects the digestive system
10. Protects from sleep disorders and promotes restful sleep
References:
[1] Healthline
[2] Medical News Today
[3] Cleveland Clinic
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