The Advantages of Eating Healthy, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Certainly, should anyone ask, what are the advantages of eating healthy, the tendency would be to begin reciting a number of previously learnt benefits that impact our daily lives? Definitely, they may also be unscientific and lack true evidence of why people ought to daily eat healthy. It is for this very reason that a research project emerged attempting to clarify assumptions related to the value of eating healthy. It is this researcher’s intention to conduct sound investigations into scientific proof obtained from previously researched studies relating evidence based practices and results of eating healthy consistently.

Scientists have discovered numerous benefits of eating healthy. Gómez-Pinilla (2008) realized that eating healthy improves brain function. It was explained using previous research studies that many gut hormones enter the brain; even those which are produced in that region of the body contribute to cognitive ability. Also, regulators that have been well established offer synaptic plasticity as brain-derived neurotrophic factors. In turn they function as metabolic modulators reacting to peripheral signals. As such, when a person takes in a healthy diet rich in the required nutrients the brain’s capacity to perform better improves. The person can think with more clarity (Gómez-Pinilla (2008). Herein lays the scientific evidence that eating healthy really is useful to bodily functions. This is the kind of intelligent response required if a question, ‘what are the benefits of eating healthy’ is posed to a student seeking to act and speak from a higher academic learning perspective.

Therefore, this research embraces a thorough evaluation using literature from authentic sources; review of studies of renowned scientists; analysis of key concept related to the issue and compilation of data pertaining to why people ought to eat healthy and how they will benefit from doing so. It is my proposition that people benefit immensely from eating healthy, but ignore eating healthy because they do not have any scientific proof of them.

Review of Literature

This literature review embraces a number of research studies and opinions of experts regarding eating healthy. Eating a healthy diet is very important to everyone’s bodily function and little attention is given to eating simple foods that offer numerous essential nutrients. Foods that contain large quantities of fat and sugars add substance to the body in the form of cellulite, which is essentially stored fat. There are many natural foods available at affordable prices which can be eaten as substitutes.

For example, studies show where soy protein which is derived from comes from soybeans offers immense health benefits. Scientists are now researching and discovering that soy products are, especially, very useful in women and children’s health. Dr. Kristen Montgomery (2003) admits that currently there are very few research studies supportive of the effects soy has on perinatal health. However, she referenced a study from Europe, which found that health conscious individuals who refrained from eating chicken, beef, mutton or any wild meat consumed soy foods in more quantities as a replacement than a meat eating person. During pregnancy and lactation soy milk was discovered to behave increased benefits for the fetus and infant (Montgomery, 2003).

As cardiac support the study showed where consuming soy products as a replacement for animal protein reduced cholesterol serum concentrations produced low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and trigylcerides. While the mechanisms of how this occurs cannot yet be proven from research the evidence does exist after sampling 35,955 persons, between the ages 35–74 years. They completed a 24-hour dietary recall interview. A total of 195 men and 486 women reported consuming soy products in the last 24 hours and consistently over a period of time. When the serum levels were measured it was considerably lower than the rest of the sample (Montgomery, 2003).

This just shows how these simple foods contribute immensely to a person’s health, but the benefits are often ignored. Just think about the amount of people who struggle with obesity for various reasons. There are natural foods that stimulate and promote health throughout the entire body. Some say exercise is substantial as long as they are matching the intake. Health is important for many reasons as most are familiar and have common knowledge concerning ways to eat properly as to not allow our bodies to store unnecessary fat cells.

Good health contributes to every aspect of a person’s being; from their physical well-being to the intellectual stabilities. However, good health requires work and diligent understanding of bodily process and how food consumption is key. Nutrition, Dieting, and Exercise are proven our best ally but also we have Natural foods that many say contribute equally or more. While common food delivers nutrients and does sustain the body, there are still medical risks, but natural foods lower health related issues.

Commonsense benefits of healthy eating

Nutrition consists of a process that defines our body’s need in order to function efficiently and each has specific function in our body’s mechanism. Common nutritional elements are; proteins, sugars, salts, and many more at which we consume in the form of food, water, or vitamins. Each have a purpose, but also need each other. Provided a proper diet is implemented, sustaining health is not that complex. Diet simply means adequate balancing consumption of foods and activity in common terms. Most know and recognize the term because it is commonly associated with obesity, thus one must refrain from large intakes of food and may even have to exercise more in order to shed a few pounds. However, there are other ways one can take advantage of health by eating additional consumable things that are all natural. Naturals are foods that do not have added chemicals or preservatives and many believe they add in areas some nutritional foods simply cannot. Comparing advantages of healthy eating, one may understand from several perspectives according to professional viewpoints afore here mentioned.

Scientific evidence of healthy eating benefits

Hormones enter the brain even those which are produced there contribute to cognitive ability and, regulators which have been well established offer synaptic plasticity as brain-derived neurotropic factors. In turn they function as metabolic modulators reacting to peripheral signals. As such, when a person takes in a healthy diet rich in the required nutrients the brain’s capacity to perform better improves. The person can think with more clarity and decision making process is facilitated according to (Gómez-Pinilla, 2008).

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer rank high in most causes of death among Americans. From recent studies it was discovered that eating healthy I valuable in reducing incidences of these deadly conditions. For example, eating fresh fruits and vegetables have been associated with reduction in the causes of these cancer and heart disease. In some case it has resolved the symptoms completely (Liu, R. (2003). However, the key is fresh fruits and vegetables since studies show where purified photochemical do not have the same effects as naturals one found in the fresh product.

Healthy Eating

Benefits of eating a healthy diet were explored by Dr. Klonoff in a study of patients with diabetes mellitus. For this researcher a Paleolithic diet can be considered healthy. Many nutritionist consider it the caveman, Stone Age and hunter–gatherer diet. It contains food for which humans had access before agriculture became a science. This period began some 2.5 million years ago and ended when agriculture science replaced natural cultivation of human food some 10,000 years ago. Main components of this diet were ‘wild-animal source and uncultivated-plant source foods, such as lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, roots, eggs, and nuts ……There were no grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils according to (Klonoff. D. (2009).

Tree nuts and peanuts are actually nutrient dense foods. In fact they contain complex matrices which are rich in unsaturated fatty and other bioactive compound. Besides they are ‘high-quality vegetable protein, fiber, minerals, tocopherols, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds (Ros, 2010, p 652). Ultimately, these characteristics give nuts their unique place in the health food pyramid. Definitely they impact health outcomes to be considered a health food component. Essentially, epidemiologists have linked eating nuts to reduction in coronary heart disease and gallstones incidence irrespective of the gender. It has proven very useful in people with diabetes mellitus. Hypertension control and cancer resolution has been associated with nuts consumption.

Findings of researchers from Florida State University, which revealed that eating plums daily is a way of prevention fractures in post-menopausal women. While the study was conducted primarily on post-menopausal women researcher have recommended the food as being beneficial for women of all ages. They also contend that all fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on a person’s health, but some offer more significant responses. Dried plum is one such fruit since it is valuable in maintaining bone integrity. Specifically, researchers found when comparing two groups of women the group that was fed with dried plums over a period of 12 months contained more bone density than those who were not fed the plums (Arjmandi. H (2011).

Conclusion

Clearly, this literature review demonstrates natural foods that stimulate and promote health throughout the entire body. Some say exercise is substantial as long as they are matching the intake. Health is important for many reasons as most are familiar and most have common knowledge concerning ways to eat properly as to not allow our bodies to store unnecessary fat cells.

Healthy Eating Chart ( Google Images, 2013)

Good health contributes to every aspect of a person’s being; from their physical well-being to the intellectual stabilities. However, good health requires work and diligent understanding of bodily process and how food consumption is key.

Reference

Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 9(7): 568–568.

Healthy Eating Chart (2013). Google Images. Retrieved on September 3^rd, 2013 from https://www.google.com/search?q=healthy+food+charts&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51495398,d.eWU,pv.xj

Klonoff. D. (2009). The Beneficial Effects of a Paleolithic Diet on Type 2 Diabetes and Other Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 3(6); 1229–1232

Liu, R. (2003). Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals1,2,3,4. American Society for Clinical Nutrition.78(3); 5175-5205.

Montgomery, K. (2003). Soy Protein. J Perinat Educ. 12(3): 42–45.

Ros, E. (2010). Health Benefits of Nut Consumption. Nutrients. 2(7): 652–682

Shirin,H, Sheau, C., Raz, L. Saadat, Mark E. Payton, Brummel-Smith, K., Arjmandi. H (2011) Comparative effects of dried plum and dried apple on bone in postmenopausal women. British Journal of Nutrition,12(11); 14-18