How Your Diet Affects More Than One Aspect of Your Health

When talking about diet, most people tend to think only about how the food you eat affects your body health, including weight. However, your diet can have an impact on multiple areas of your physical and mental health. Eating well has more benefits than you may have ever imagined.

Mental Health

What you eat fuels your body and your brain. In order to function well, your brain needs high-quality nutrients. Eating a lot of sugar or processed food can cause inflammation in the brain. This inflammation can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mood problems. Anxiety and depression can subsequently cause someone to over consume sugary foods to make themselves feel better, creating a vicious cycle. Interrupting this cycle with fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help your brain function better and improve your mood. 

Dental Health

Your diet can also have a positive or negative impact on your dental health. Eating a diet that contains sufficient nutrients is important to help your mouth tissues resist certain infections like gum disease. Consuming highly acidic drinks like coffee and soda, and eating sugary foods can lead to tooth decay. Taking certain vitamins in excess of the recommended dose can cause tooth discoloration. Choose healthy foods when you snack, and try to limit snacking. Eating meals versus constant snacking is better for your teeth because more saliva is released during meals, which helps move food out of your teeth. Even if you have a sugar-filled food day, good teeth brushing and flossing can remove built-up plaque and help prevent cavities.

Skin Health

What you eat can also have an impact on your skin health. Many skin conditions have been linked to poor diet, including acne and eczema. One nutrient your skin relies on is Vitamin A. Vitamin A can be found in good amounts in dairy products. Fruits that are high in antioxidants, like blueberries, blackberries, and plums also help you have healthier skin. Fatty acids found in foods contribute to healthy cell membranes, which make your skin look plumper. Healthy fatty acids are found in foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed.

Eating well can do more for you than just improve your physical health and weight. Your diet affects how you feel and how your skin and teeth look. A good diet can have a positive impact on many areas of your health, helping you feel good on the inside and the outside.

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