6 Ways Eating Whole Foods Serves Your Health

If you’re looking for a way to stay healthy, decrease the risk of suffering from some serious diseases, and slow down the process of aging, then you should eat more whole foods. Whole foods are the foods closest to their natural state, which means that they contain much more nutrients than processed foods. Of course, it’s incredibly hard to make your diet consist of whole foods only, but you should strive to make them the majority of the food you consume.
Whole foods can include unprocessed vegetable, fruits, beans, seeds, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. Now, most people know that whole foods are healthier, there is the misconception that they are more expensive which simply is not true.
Just take a moment to think about how health is important and if you truly need all the processed snacks and sweets that you buy on a regular basis that can add up in cost very quickly. It’s a much better idea to simply visit your local farmers’ market and buy the nutrient-packed whole foods.
In case you need to be convinced to start eating whole foods, here are 5 ways they contribute to your well-being.

Lower Risk Of Diabetes
According to Mercola.com, a diet that involves a lot of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits significantly lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In case you are already suffering from this disease, know that you too will feel better if you follow a diet based on whole foods.

A Stop To Nutrient Shortages
WebMD notes that a survey about eating habits was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, and the results they found were shocking. A huge amount of people didn’t have proper nutrient intake. In fact, 92-97% of the population that participated in the survey didn’t consume enough potassium and fiber, while a third of the people didn’t consume a sufficient amount of vitamin C.
However, these nutrients help reduce the risk of some serious diseases and are very important for your overall health. So, what should people do when they simply don’t get enough nutrients from the food they eat? Start consuming whole foods. All of these nutrient shortages can be fixed by following a diet filled with healthy, whole foods.

Fiber
Most whole plant-based foods are extremely rich in fiber, while processed and junk foods aren’t. Fiber is a very important nutrient that improves your health in numerous ways. For example, it helps you fight diabetes, heart disease, it helps you feel full faster, and it keeps the GI tract moving.
Whole foods are a much better way to increase your fiber intake, since they contain both types of it (insoluble and soluble). Eating foods that are rich in fiber will also help control your weight, blood fats, and blood sugar.

Weight Management
If you want to keep your weight under control, but don’t feel like going on some extreme diet, then you’ll be pleased to hear that eating whole foods promotes healthy weight management, especially if you choose to eat mostly whole vegetables and fruits. These foods contain very little calories, so you won’t have to worry about counting them.

More Energy
There is a simple explanation why whole foods will provide you with more energy. When you eat something, your body has to break down that food. However, processed foods are difficult to break down, so a lot of the energy they have to offer will actually go into the processing of breaking it down. On the other hand, it’s not a challenge for your body to break down whole foods, so you will be left with a lot of unused energy.

Healthy Skin
I can personally attest to this point because I used to suffer from eczema on my hands and legs which would itch terribly in cold or hot temperatures. Since I have become vegan I have not had a flare up in almost 3 years and the dry patches are gone on my hands and feet.
Nuts and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, so eating a whole food and preferably plant based diet will usually result in good skin health. Many people who switch to a vegan oe whole food plant based diet will notice a remarkable reduction in blemishes as well.

Final Thoughts
Consider what you are eating every day and that diet is your best chance for living a longer and healthier life. 

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