Food that is as close to its natural state as possible is considered real food.
It mostly consists of:
- Unprocessed
- Without any chemical ingredients
- Rich in nutrients
However, given the popularity of processed foods in the twentieth century, the Western diet has turned increasingly toward ready-to-eat meals.
While processed meals are handy, they may be harmful to your health. So eating real food may be one of the most important things you can do to help maintain your health.
Here are 21 compelling reasons to eat real food.
1.Loaded with important nutrients
Unprocessed animal and plant foods can help offer the vitamins and minerals your body requires.
1 cup (149 grammes) of red bell peppers, kiwi (180mg), or orange slices (165 grammes), for example, contains more than 100% of the RDI for vitamin C.
Choline, a vitamin required for normal brain function, is abundant in eggs and liver.
A single Brazil nut contains enough selenium for a whole day.
In fact, most entire foods are high in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
2.Low in sugar
Sugary foods may increase your risk of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease, according to some research.
In general, genuine foods contain less added sugar than many processed foods.
Despite the fact that fruit includes sugar, it is also high in water and fibre, making it a much better alternative to soda and processed foods.
3.Heart healthy
Real food contains antioxidants and nutrients that promote heart health, such as magnesium and healthy fats.
Eating a nutritious, unprocessed diet may also help reduce inflammation, which is thought to be one of the major causes of heart disease.
4.Better for the environment
The world’s population is rapidly increasing, and with it, so is the demand for food.
Producing food for billions of people, on the other hand, might have a negative impact on the environment.
This is due, in part, to the destruction of rainforests for agricultural land, increased fuel requirements, pesticide use, greenhouse gas emissions, and packaging that ends up in landfills.
Developing sustainable agriculture based on genuine food may assist improve global health by reducing energy consumption and the quantity of nonbiodegradable trash produced by humans.
5.High in fiber
Fiber has numerous health benefits, including improved digestion, metabolic health, and sensations of fullness.
Avocados, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and blackberries, as well as beans and legumes, are high in beneficial fibre.
Consuming fibre from whole meals is preferable than taking a supplement since it keeps you satiated for longer and provides additional nutrients from the fruit or vegetable.
6.Helps manage blood sugar
Diabetes affects around 450 million people globally, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
By 2045, that figure is predicted to climb to 700 million.
A diet high in fibre vegetables and unprocessed animal foods may assist persons with or at risk of diabetes lower their blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes or prediabetes in one 12-week research followed a palaeolithic diet that included fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and nuts. Their blood sugar levels were reduced by 26%.
7.Good for your skin
Real food can nourish and protect your skin in addition to improving your general health.
Dark chocolate and avocados, for example, have been demonstrated to protect skin from UV damage.
Eating more vegetables, fish, beans, and olive oil may help minimise wrinkling, elasticity loss, and other age-related skin changes, according to research.
Furthermore, shifting from a Western diet strong in processed foods to one based on whole foods may aid in the prevention or reduction of acne.
8.Helps lower triglycerides
Food consumption has a significant impact on blood triglyceride levels.
Because sugar and refined carbs might raise your triglyceride levels, it’s advisable to limit your intake of these meals.
Furthermore, unprocessed meals such as fatty fish, lean meats, veggies, and nuts have been demonstrated to drastically lower triglyceride levels.
9.Provides variety
Diverse foods, such as trying vegetables you’ve never tried before, can help keep your diet interesting.
There are hundreds of different genuine food options available, including meat, fish, dairy, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and seeds.
Make it a point to explore new foods on a regular basis. Chayote squash, chia seeds, organ meats, kefir, and quinoa are some unusual possibilities.
10.Costs less in the long run
Real food is thought to be more expensive than processed food.
An study of 27 studies from ten nations discovered that consuming healthy food costs roughly $1.56 more per 2,000 calories than processed food.
However, when compared to the expense of controlling chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, this difference may be negligible.
According to one study, those with diabetes spend 2.3 times more on medical supplies and other healthcare costs than those without the condition.
Thus, genuine food is less expensive in the long term because it is more likely to keep you healthy, lowering your medical bills.
11.High in healthy fats
Most naturally occurring fats are preferable to trans and processed fats found in vegetable oils and some spreads.
Extra virgin olive oil, for example, is high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated lipid that improves heart health.
Seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and promote heart health, and fatty fish like salmon, herring, and sardines are high in them.
Avocados and almonds are two other actual foods strong in healthful fats.
12.May reduce disease risk
Making genuine food a part of your daily routine may help lower your risk of disease.
Eating patterns focused on whole, unprocessed foods, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been demonstrated to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Furthermore, several large observational studies link a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables to a lower risk of cancer and heart disease.
13.Contains antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that aid in the battle against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause cell damage in your body.
They are present in all natural foods, particularly plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and legumes. Fresh, unprocessed animal meals contain antioxidants as well, albeit in considerably lower concentrations.
Egg yolks, for example, contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which can help protect against eye illnesses such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
14.Good for your gut
Eating genuine food may benefit your gut microbiome, or the bacteria that live in your digestive tract.
Many genuine meals, in fact, serve as prebiotics, or foods that your gut bacteria convert into short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids may assist blood sugar regulation in addition to boosting intestinal health.
Garlic, asparagus, and cocoa are all natural sources of prebiotics.
15.May help prevent overeating
According to research, a high intake of processed and fast foods is associated with a higher rate of overeating, particularly in those who are overweight versus those who are not.
Real food, on the other hand, does not contain the sweets and flavourings found in processed foods, which can lead to overeating.
16.Promotes dental health
Another advantage of eating genuine foods may be healthier teeth.
Sugar and refined carbohydrates in the Western diet can contribute to dental damage by feeding the plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth. The mix of sugar and acid in soda is particularly prone to deterioration.
Furthermore, cheese appears to help prevent cavities by raising pH and hardening tooth enamel. According to one study, consuming cheese significantly increased enamel strength in persons with low saliva production.
Green tea has also been demonstrated to protect the enamel of the teeth. According to one study, rinsing with green tea considerably reduced the amount of erosion that happened when people drank soda and vigorously brushed their teeth.
17.May help reduce sugar cravings
A real-food diet may also help lessen cravings for sweets such as cakes, cookies, and candies.
Cravings for sugary foods may become less frequent as your body adjusts to consuming complete, unprocessed meals.
18.Sets a good example
Eating real food can assist the people you care about stay well, in addition to enhancing your own health and well-being.
Leading by example may inspire your friends and family to embrace a nutrient-dense diet. It’s also an excellent approach to teach your children about proper nutrition.
19.Gets the focus off dieting
A dieting mindset might be damaging since it focuses your attention solely on your weight.
In reality, excellent nutrition is about far more than just losing weight. It is also important to have enough energy and to feel healthy.
Instead of dieting, focusing on eating balanced meals rich in fruits and vegetables can be a far more sustainable and joyful way to live. Instead of making weight loss the primary goal, make it a natural byproduct of a nutrient-dense diet and enhanced metabolic health.
20.Helps support local farmers
Buying produce, meat, and dairy at farmers markets benefits the people who grow food in your neighbourhood.
Furthermore, small farms frequently supply fresher and less processed food than stores.
21.Delicious
Aside from that, genuine food tastes fantastic.
The incredible flavour of fresh, unrefined food cannot be denied.
Processed junk food just cannot compete after your taste senses have acclimated to real food.
The bottom line
A healthy lifestyle includes more than just eating real food.
It is also essential to:
- Exercise as often as possible
- Reduce your stress levels
- Keep healthy nutrition
However, there is little doubt that consuming more genuine food will help you improve your health.
