Dieting is becoming more and more popular, especially with the rise of social media. More and more people are paying attention to what they look like. However, in this article we are going to look at various other positives, apart from improved physique, which can stem from a healthy diet.
What you eat directly correlates to your mental health. Eating a diet that is well-rounded and nutrient-rich can help to improve mood, increase energy levels and help you think clearer. There are several elements at play here, from the amount of carbohydrate you eat to the way deficiencies in vitamins and minerals affect mental health. A recent study found that a Mediterranean-style diet (a diet high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil) supplemented with fish oil led to a reduction in depression among participants, which was sustained six months after the intervention. This diet is just one example of many which can improve your mental health.
All forms of food are extracted from the environment in one form or another. Therefore, we must track the food we eat to where it has come from and determine whether this is negatively affecting the environment. As a general rule, diets that contain more dairy, meat, eggs and fish will have a higher environmental impact than diets centered on plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables. A vegan diet is the optimal diet for the environment because, out of all the compared diets, its production results in the lowest level of GHG emissions. (In recent posts we took a look at the various health and environmental impacts a vegan diet entails). Once again, this diet is one example of many which can reduce your impact on the environment.
Dieting won’t just improve your physical appearance but certain diets will prolong your lifespan. Consuming a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans, may decrease disease risk and promote longevity. For the third year in a row, the Mediterranean diet has been named the best diet overall in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings. In 2018, the Mediterranean diet shared top honors with the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. Both focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
At Eco Giant we aim to promote healthy living. What you eat is so important for your body and our planet. Eat smart.
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