If you are at a healthy weight and in good physical condition, you may think that you do not need to focus on healthy eating habits. You may be one of the lucky ones who instinctively choose the right foods and don’t need to be too conscious about what you put in your mouth. Or you may be one of the lucky ones who have no problem eating whatever you want.
But if you are like us, you have to be very careful about what you eat. Planning a healthy diet may not be something you consciously think about, but it should be. Most people try to make healthy choices every time they eat something, and they may immediately think about what they ate that day or week before eating the next. However, we do not have a complete picture of our eating habits.
For example, we often do not know how much fat we are eating. We may also be eating too much sugar without even knowing it. Usually, we only try to eat healthy when we need to lose weight or when our doctors tell us that our cholesterol, blood sugar, or blood pressure is too high. Worse yet, the doctor may tell you that you need to improve on all of those items.
At that point, many people suddenly think that they need a healthy eating plan. However, if they had a healthy diet, they may not have had health and weight problems in the first place. It is never too early to start making a healthy eating plan, not only to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if necessary, but also to avoid problems that many people face, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you have a family member with diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, it is a good idea to start a healthy diet. If you start taking care of your health now, you are less likely to get the same disease. Moreover, it is not too late to start.
You may think that since you have been eating whatever you want for over 40 years, you are already on your way to getting sick, and you are right. However, if you start eating healthy today, lose the excess weight, and make conscious choices about what you eat and how much exercise you get, your risk of developing these diseases will automatically go down.
Eating a healthy diet is especially important not only for yourself, but for your children and family as well. Children see what you do and act accordingly. If you show them the importance of nutrition and health, they will be more likely to grow up with an interest in health. And they will have a better chance of avoiding similar diseases. By following a healthy diet, you can give your children the right start.
