YOU SHOULD EAT REAL FOODS: HERE’S WHY.

The best food? Real food!

Real foods (or whole foods) are foods that consist of a single ingredient.

Real foods are mostly free of artificial ingredients and chemical additives. In addition, they are also abounding in nutrients because they are not processed.

In simple words, real foods are the ones that humans consume exclusively for centuries.

Unfortunately, processed foods made their way to the scene in the 20th century. Since then, the Western diet came to love ready-to-eat or “processed” meals.

There is no doubt that processed foods are easy and delicious. However, they are not very good for the health. As a matter of fact, consuming a diet consisting of real food is the best choice. It helps maintain good health and avoid various diseases.

If you are not convinced yet, here are 20 reasons why you should start eating real foods.

Rich in essential nutrients

Plant and animal foods that aren’t processed offer the minerals and vitamins needed for a healthy body.

For example, chicken liver and eggs contain high amounts of choline, an essential nutrient for optimal brain function.

Instead of consuming various foods for your selenium needs, all you need is a piece of Brazil nut! That’s how powerful real foods are.

As a matter of fact, most real foods are also packed with other minerals, vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients.

SUMMARY:
You should eat real foods on a regular basis because they are rich in essential nutrients! Rest assured, you will receive your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
 

Low in sugar

Luckily, real foods contain low amounts of sugar in comparison to most processed foods. Despite the fact that fruits contain sugar, keep in mind that they are also rich in fiber and water.

SUMMARY:
Eating real foods is the best choice because they are low in sugar. Sugary foods are known to be the main reason behind the increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease.
 

A regular diet that contains real foods can also assist in the reduction and treatment of inflammation, which is known to be one of the leading markers of heart disease.

SUMMARY:
A diet enriched with real foods is good for the heart. It can also help reduce inflammation, which is a leading marker of heart disease.
 

Good for the environment

The global world population is growing tremendously year after year. At the same time, global food demand increases as well.

Did you know that producing food for billions of people comes with an environmental toll? Partly, this is all because of the destruction of rain forests, greater fuel needs, use of pesticides, and even food packaging that are ending up daily in landfills.

If we develop maintainable agriculture built on a sustainable diet of real foods, we can improve the health of our planet as we reduce the energy needs and lessen the non-biodegradable waste we produce.

SUMMARY:
You should eat real foods on a regular basis because they are not just good for your health, but also good for the environment.
 

Rich in fiber

Fiber must not be taken lightly. It provides tons of health benefits, such as promoting digestive health, supporting metabolic health, and providing satiety.

Real foods like blackberries, avocados, flax seeds, and chia seeds are all high in good fiber, together with legumes and beans.

Keep in mind that instead of taking fiber supplements, consuming fiber through healthy food sources is the best choice.

SUMMARY:
Eating real foods regularly provides your daily fiber needs! Fiber is helpful in promoting digestive health and metabolic health.
 

Helps manage blood sugar levels

The International Diabetes Federation declares that about 425 million people suffer from diabetes all over the world. It is also expected that in the next 25 years, that number could go up to 600 million.

The good news is that consuming a high fiber diet can lower the risk of diabetes. It even helps in the reduction of blood sugar levels for patients who already have it.

SUMMARY:
A diet enriched with real foods is beneficial for those who want to properly manage their blood sugar levels.
 

Promotes healthy skin

Real food doesn’t just support general health, it provides skin nourishment and protection too.

A few examples are avocados and dark chocolate. Both are proven effective in protecting skin against the harmful rays of the sun.

Research also suggests that consuming fish, veggies, beans and olive oil assists in the reduction of wrinkles and prevention of different skin changes that come from aging.

In addition, swapping your love for processed foods to love for real foods may help in preventing or treating acne problems. What's more, switching from a Western diet high in processed foods to one based on real food may help prevent or reduce acne.
 

SUMMARY:
Real foods, such as dark chocolate, olive oil and avocados are able to nourish and protect the skin. Acne, wrinkles and aging skin could also be dealt with.
 

Assist in lowering triglycerides

Did you know that food consumption greatly impacts blood triglyceride levels? Whenever you eat refined carbs and artificial sugar, triglycerides levels increase. Cutting these type of foods in your diet can make a difference.

Aside from cutting out sugary foods, integrating real foods in your diet, such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats and fatty fish can help lower triglyceride levels.
 

SUMMARY:
Eating real foods regulary positively impacts blood triglycerides levels. Eating processed foods, on the other hand, will cause these levels to increase.
 

Abounding in healthy fats

Fats that occur naturally in real foods are healthy, unlike the trans and processed fats obtained in spreads and vegetable oils.

For instance, consuming extra virgin olive oil supports heart health due to it being an excellent source of oleic acid--a type of monounsaturated fat that is good for the health.

Fatty fish are also extremely healthy! Salmon and sardines contain long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that work powerfully in fighting inflammation and promoting heart health.

There are many other real foods that abound in healthy fats, including nuts, seeds, whole-milk dairy and yummy avocados.

SUMMARY:
Not all fats are bad for you. Real foods, such as olive oil, avocados, salmon, nuts, and seeds are abounding in healthy fats.
 

May lower the risk of disease

If you make it a habit to eat real food every day, you will lower your risk of having a disease.

Have you ever heard of the Mediterranean diet? It is a type of diet that incorporates the basic foods in a healthy diet, such as real foods and unprocessed foods. These are the type of food that prevent diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome.

That’s not all. There are numerous major observational research that associates a balanced diet rich in fruits and veggies to a lowered risk of heart disease and cancer.

SUMMARY:
You should eat real foods and unprocessed foods on a regular basis because they can lower the risk of various diseases.
 

Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are powerful compounds that help our bodies stand against free radicals. Free radicals are unsafe and unsteady molecules that might harm our bodies’ cells.

Real foods, especially plant foods, are abounding in antioxidants! Fruits and vegetables, together with whole grains and nuts are all rich in antioxidants and should be a regular part of our diet.

Even animal foods that aren’t processed contain antioxidants!

Do you love eggs? Egg yolks provide zeaxanthin and lutein which protects our eyes against diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

SUMMARY:
You should eat real foods on a regular basis because they are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that help the body stand against free radicals.
 

Gut-friendly

Do you want to achieve a healthy gut? Eating real foods is a great start because most of them act as prebiotics.

Prebiotics feed the good bacteria in the gut, causing optimal gut health. Some of the excellent prebiotic sources are asparagus, garlic and cocoa.

SUMMARY:
Most real foods act as prebioics, and prebiotics is good for the gut. If you want to achieve a healthy gut, make it a habit to eat real foods.
 

Help avoid overeating

Consuming too much processed foods is associated with overeating. According to Medical News Today, processed foods are designed to make us overeat!

On the other hand, consuming real food isn’t. Real foods are able to decrease hunger and help avoid overeating, especially in those that are overweight.

SUMMARY:
Real foods are designed to decrease hunger. For this reason, a diet enriched with real foods help you avoid overeating.
 

Supports healthy teeth

You may think that brushing regularly is the only thing you can do for your dental health. But did you know that healthy teeth could be another amazing benefit from eating real foods?

Refined carbs and sugary foods promote dental decay. For instance, combining the acid and sugar in your favorite can of soda feeds the plaque-causing bacteria inside your mouth.

On the other hand, eating real foods avoid various dental problems. For example, eating cheese may help avoid cavities due to its ability to harden tooth enamel. One research discovered the improvement of enamel strength in people who eat cheese regularly.

Another research discovered that rinsing regularly with green tea has a protective effect. It may lower the amount of erosion whenever people drink soda and brush their teeth with great vigor.

SUMMARY:
Even your dental health could benefit from eating real foods regulary. Processed and sugary foods promote dental decay, unlike real foods.
 

Offers a variety of foods

Including diverse foods in your regular diet is healthier than consuming the same foods again and again.

Did you know that there are countless real foods existing today? There is a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, and dairy.

If you make it a habit to try new foods, you will be amazed at all the options out there. Try organ meats, chayote squash, or quinoa!

SUMMARY:
A diet enriched with real foods offers a variety of foods and nutrients. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, and dairy available to us for consumption.
 

Help you save money eventually

Processed foods are known to be cheaper than real foods. Somehow, this is true. A systematic review shows that eating a healthier diet costs more than eating processed food.

However, the cost is minimal if you will compare it to the possible cost of managing health problems. Chronic lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, and diabetes, are much costly to treat in the long run.

One research declared that patients suffering from diabetes spend 2.3 times more on healthcare compared to those who don’t have diabetes.

For this reason, eating a diet consisting of real foods will cost you less because it will minimize your healthcare needs in the future.

SUMMARY:
Eating real foods regulary help you save money in the long run. Chronic lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, and diabetes, are much costly to treat in the future.
 

Help deal with sugar cravings

Do you love candies, cookies, and cakes? Consuming a real food-based diet may reduce your sugar cravings in no time.

Adjusting to a real food-diet will cause your cravings for unhealthy foods to go away. It may not happen immediately, but it surely will. Once your taste buds become used to real foods, it won’t request for fast foods anymore!

SUMMARY:
A real food-based diet can help reduce your sugar cravings. Once you become used to real foods, you won’t find yourself craving for unhealthy sweets anymore.
 

Influence others to do the same

Aside from caring for your own health, eating real foods also help send a message to the people you love.

If you set a good example, you can encourage your families and friends to adjust and switch to a healthier diet. After all, good nutrition is priceless.

SUMMARY:
As you adjust to a real food diet, you can influence others to make the switch too. If you set a good example, even your loved ones could benefit.
 

Avoid a dieting mentality

Real foods help you enjoy eating and take the focus off dieting. Unfortunately, people who want to lose weight focus on their weight, and not on their food.

But good nutrition is more than just losing weight. It’s about receiving enough energy and nutrition that your body needs to stay healthy. As you focus on enjoying real food, your weight problems will eventually be a natural side effect.

SUMMARY:
A diet enriched with real foods avoid a dieting mentality. Instead, it will help you enjoy your food more.
 

Support local farmers in your community

We should thank our local farmers more than words. Let us show our gratitude by supporting them through purchasing their produce.

After all, local farmers usually offer fresher food in comparison to your local supermarkets!

SUMMARY:
Supporting real foods also mean supporting local farmers in your community.
 

Offers delicious and fresh flavors

If you are used to eating processed foods, your taste buds will always crave for them. But once you adjust to a real food-based diet, you will find out that the amazing fresh flavors are incomparable. After all, real foods are what we are really meant to eat.

SUMMARY:
Real foods offer delicious and fresh flavors that processed foods cannot give you!
 

In Summary

One important aspect of achieving a healthy lifestyle is eating real foods. Aside from that, it is best to exercise regularly, manage stress, and have adequate sleep.

If you are used to eating processed and fast foods, now is the time to say goodbye. Say hello to real foods--the best type of food nature has to offer!