School Papers, #2

You Are What You Eat

     Whether young or old, understanding nutrition is difficult. Knowing what to eat or not to eat can be a daily challenge. So much so, that most people tend to ignore it. Do you ignore it? A balanced diet is extremely important in maintaining a healthy life, a healthy weight, and longevity of life. According to cbsnews.com, the National Institutes of Health lists that 66% of Americans are overweight (Brooking, 2011). It is probably safe to say that the majority of these people do not consume a balanced diet. According to the National Cancer Institute serious diseases are linked to, you guessed it, what you eat; killing an estimated three out of four Americans each year (n.a, 2004). Processed foods as well as fast foods have become the standard in the American diet. Both convenience and taste play a part in the lifestyle most have come to enjoy.

     Maintaining a healthy life is imperative. Without a healthy life you lose “you”, plain and simple. In one way or another, you will either shorten your life or make it unlivable. A healthy life means finding a balance between a proportioned diet, regular exercise, and things you enjoy. A Big Mac is fine, as long as it is not a daily menu option. A daily walk for 20 minutes can help work your muscles. Reducing stress can decrease your chances of illness. “An apple a day”…..including fresh fruit and vegetables can give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to be well rounded and fine tuned. Poor nutrition equals a poor you. Poor nutrition leads to fatigue and moodiness. Eat right and you can energize and boost your mood.

      Maintaining your weight is also extremely important. Having excessive weight can cause degenerative joint disease, can cause increased risk of heart attack, increases your chance of diabetes, causes high blood pressure; to name a few. One way to help control your weight is through a balanced diet. Eating the proper balance of fruit and vegetables, grains, dairy, proteins, and “healthy fats” is a great way to give your body the fuel it needs to work. The USDA recommends that you eat a certain percentage from all these groups (n.a, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2011). Whereas once upon a time the “food pyramid” was standard and the same for everyone, it is now individualized. Going to www.USDA.gov, you can use their interactive tools to get a personalized eating plan. There are a plethora of sites that can offer help finding a well rounded diet that works for you and your lifestyle.

     What, you want to live until you are 100? Well then EAT A BALANCED DIET! Eating well can increase your chance of a long, happy life and decrease your chance of a sick, unhappy life. Everyone wants to live as long as they can. To get married, have a family, raise the kids, see them get married, have grandkids, see the grandkids get married. You get the point. And what about retirement? You work so hard and you know there is a light at the end…it’s called retirement. It is a time when you can hone your hobbies, travel, read, and enjoy the warm summer days without being trapped in an office or car for work. How will you enjoy that time in your life? Will you have made good decisions with your daily menu? People who reduce sodium intake live 7 years longer than people with a high sodium intake. Will your body be thanking you in years to come for having fruit instead of donuts, a glass of water instead of Pepsi? Make good choices now and your body will thank you now and later with strength and vitality.

     The message is simple. Eat what you know you need to eat, enjoy treats now and then, and listen to your body. If you are not a healthy eater you can learn to make small changes. Eating 5-9 servings of fruit a day is a basic change that can decrease your risk of disease. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will help your organs absorb more nutrients. Put down the salt shaker to reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Hold the mayo to reduce your fat and calories. All these reap benefits. Most importantly, get to know YOUR body and what it needs. Guidelines are just that, guides. No two people are alike and no two lifestyles are the same. If you run daily you need more protein, if you are a busy mom you need a mix of complex and simple carbohydrates, which boost energy. Finding a happy balance will give you a healthy long life.

 

Works Cited
Brooking, K. (2011, 01 12). The Early Show. Retrieved 02 22, 2011, from
CBSNews.com:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/12/earlyshow/health/main6086647.shtml
n.a. (2011, 02 09). Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved 02 22, 2011, from
Dietaryguidelines.gov: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DietaryGuidelines.htm
n.a. (2004, 02 26). National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 02 22, 2011, from
www.cancer.gov: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/entertainment/tipsheet/diet-related-diseases