Eating Natural For Better Health
Perhaps no health topic is subject to more controversy than dieting. There are raw diets, organic diets, and countless others, all available to any health-conscious person.
Many consumers today are working to make the transition to a natural diet. While "natural" is a word that gets tossed recklessly alongside "organic" and "low-fat," a truly natural diet with fewer processed foods, higher levels of vegetables and cleaner cooking methods benefits every aspect of the body.
The Skeletal System
Healthy bones are critical to both long term and short term health. In the short term, we are less likely to experience fractures or reduced flexibility because our bones are strong and able to sustain movement. In the long term, we can keep good posture and mobility as we age because healthy bones fed by adequate dietary calcium and phosphorous are less susceptible to osteoporosis.
A natural diet not only includes critical minerals that help our teeth and bones, it also eliminates ingredients that undermine bone health. Every time we drink soda instead of milk or water, we introduce sugar that erodes the enamel of our teeth. The effects of sugar on dental health are seen every day at cosmetic dentistry centers that help patients with the often-lifelong process of repairing cavities caused by poor diets. Healthy diets without refined sugars and with proper levels of nutrients increase overall bone and dental health.
Our bones are more than just a framework that holds our bodies up. They also manufacture our red blood cells, so keeping our bones healthy is vital to overall health. And don't forget the smallest bones in the body: our teeth. A natural diet supports their health as well.
The Digestive System
A wide variety of helpful products claim to improve weight loss and overall health by conducting cleansing in the colon. But the very best cleansing is keeping the digestive system clean to begin with. The man-made ingredients in processed foods can interfere with the natural bacteria in the digestive tract, slowing the movement of nutrients into the bloodstream and escorting waste products out of the body.
A natural diet that features adequate levels of fiber and water will keep the entire digestive tract clean. These diets reduce heartburn, indigestion, and constipation by supplying the body's nutrients in the way that the body was designed to receive them: through natural products without chemical ingredients.
The Circulatory System
Our hearts and blood vessels work around the clock throughout our lives to keep us oxygenated and nourished. Eating naturally is a reliable way to care for these critical body parts. A diet that undermines their effectiveness is a recipe for poor health and premature death.
Bad diets affect the circulatory system in two main ways. First, they introduce substances like bad cholesterol, which contributes to congestion of blood vessels and can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Excess salt in the diet also leads to hypertension, which carries its own set of risks to the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Second, a poor diet adds weight to the body. The more fat a person is carrying around, the harder his or her heart must work to circulate blood. Because overweight people are more sedentary, there is less cardiovascular activity in their lives to help condition the heart and lungs for this added burden.
For people who want a long, healthy life, there is no recipe for success quite like a natural diet. When we eat processed foods with harmful ingredients, we expend considerable effort and expense trying to counteract these effects. Why not just eat right to begin with?
Ashley Andrews blogs about health, lifestyle and personal wellness.
See also:
Healthy Eating: Basic Techniques For Cooking Success
For Optimal Health And Weight, Eat Real Food
