Nutrition balance is essential for good health at any age. Fueling your body through a healthy diet and engaging in outdoor activities have an impact on your general health, both for your physical and emotional condition. While most foods contain calories, which are the basic building blocks of energy, not all calories are made equal — as the secret lies in the daily intake of nutrients you consume.

Starting to perceive food as fuel might seem difficult, but when you commit to taking care of your body, you will understand that this is your tool for living a longer life and will try to do your best. Having a balanced nutrition plan and fueling your body in the right way is the new way of eating and thinking about food — a step that will make you commit to every meal, every single day.

There is a difference between filling your body with food and using food as fuel for your body. When eating, your need to give your body the nourishment it needs, instead of just trying to eat. Let’s look at it this way: a fast food restaurant meal can fill your needs, but it does not contain all the nutrients of a home-cooked meal.

So, let’s break down the healthy diet benefits from your daily water intake and nutritious food and learn how you can fuel your body the right way!

The Basis of Nutrition: Healthy Diet Benefits

Your body works like a machine. And, like all machines, it needs fuel to function. You might be shocked at how many busy people disregard the necessity of nutrition basics — only to run out of vital nutrients later on. These nutrients include amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins, minerals, and everything in between. A good nutrition balance refers to eating practices that supply your body with the resources it requires to function.

Here are the main benefits of a healthy diet:

• Nutritious food gets you through the day and gives you energy. Research shows that more than 80% of Americans’ diets are deficient in vegetables, fruits, and dairy, meaning that their current meal plans lack the necessary vitamins for a person to feel energized and perform their daily tasks. Moreover, you should not forget about carbs — our primary energy source, which is essential for fueling the body and brain, protecting our muscles, and nourishing the flora in our stomach.
• A healthy diet reduces your chance of illnesses and diseases. Nutritional deficiencies can diminish muscle mass and bone density, and cause fatigue. This raises your chance of injury and sickness, lengthens your healing time, and causes hormone disorders, and menstrual problems. In addition, the lack of some critical minerals, such as vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as zinc, iron, and selenium, will weaken your immune system.
• The right nutrients can help you lose weight and maintain a balance. Maintaining a healthy weight can lower the risk of diseases. The right nutrition balance can help you stay within your daily calorie limits without having to count calories. Following a fiber-rich and lean protein-rich diet is proven to help you maintain your weight and assist you in fueling your body.

Although it might seem that it’s hard to start, changing your mindset in order to fuel your body will be very beneficial for you in the long run. Let’s take a look at some methods that will help you in the process!

Training Yourself to Fuel Your Body: A Few Keypoints

One of the most important steps in fueling your body instead of filling it with food is to become conscious of the food you are eating and the reason behind your eating habits. Start by asking yourself these questions:

• Do I really need to eat?
• Why am I reaching for food?

Everything, including the food you eat, affects your energy, emotions, and personality. Most people tend to eat based on their emotions or because they need to fill a void. Looking at food as fuel can help you stay healthy and also get all the nutrition intake your body needs while staying healthy. You get to pick how wonderful you feel, and by learning which nutrients work best for your body type, you get to pick how wonderful you feel every day.

Although some meals are labeled as healthy, in reality, they can deplete your energy, cause you to gain weight, and drain your body. Many foods, such as those based on sugar and carbohydrates, have addictive characteristics, leading to self-destructive eating patterns. Autumn Calabrese’s and Ilana Muhlstein’s nutrition plans are two of the packages you can check out to balance your eating habits.

Creating a Nutrition Plan and Balancing Your Meal Plans

Image source: Gundrymd.com

To get a healthy balance, you should make an effort to create a nutrition plan full of fiber, healthy fat, and protein. Some suggestions from the World Health Organization include:

• at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables;
• less than 30% daily intake of fats, both saturated and unsaturated;
• less than 10% daily intake of sugars;
• less than 5 grams of salt per day.

Another well-known expert, Dr. Gundry, recommends eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, healthy fats, and whole-grain carbohydrates, and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. Fiber can be obtained from a variety of vegetables, protein from sources such as sustainably reared meats, organic eggs, nuts, and seeds, and healthy fats from avocado oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.

Moreover, you can even create a meal plan with nutritious food that you can follow every day to start fueling your body. Websites such as Balanced Health Through Nutritionoffer you a set of plans with recipes that can then be easily adjusted to the number of meal servings you want to prepare. There are also numerous programs available to match your dietary requirements.

Focusing on Your Daily Water Intake

Water makes up over 60% of the human body. All of the body’s cells and organs require it to function properly. Drinking adequate quantities of water keeps the body’s fluid balance in check, which aids in the delivery of nutrients, the regulation of body temperature, the lubrication of joints, the production of saliva, and the digestion of meals.

Most experts recommend a daily water intake of 2 liters, but it depends on one adult to another, based on health conditions and activity levels. Some negative effects of not drinking enough water include constant fatigue and headaches, weight gain, dry skin, and mouth, as well as kidney deficiencies. Water is required for the kidneys to operate properly because they require sufficient fluids to filter waste and carry urine to the bladder.

Some Tips and Recommendations

Although fueling your body is not a complicated process, you need to start making some changes in your daily routine. Here are some of our tips:

• Avoid skipping your meals.
• Pack your lunch for school or work, and focus on including all the nutrients.
• Relax and enjoy your meal, and don’t eat too fast.
• Drink enough water and don’t replace it with high-sugar drinks.
• Find and follow a healthy meal plan.

Join Our Program to Start the Change Today!

Learning all about healthy diet benefits is part of your happiness journey that you can embark on by joining our program today. Tailored to fit your needs and help you improve all aspects of your life, The Happiness Journey Program will cover all the basics you need to know: from your habits to native talents, a daily routine, and following your goals. There’s no better time to begin your journey than today!