As you must have heard, the consumption of a healthy diet allows our body to function properly. However, it also helps to prevent or reduce the risk of suffering from certain diseases. This means that you can extend your life and improve its quality.
In this regard, the Gerontological Institute ensures that 6 of the 10 leading causes of death are directly related to poor eating habits.
For this reason, as they explain, the most important thing is to know that through an adequate nutritional intervention we can reduce cancer mortality by 30%, mortality by cardiovascular diseases by 20% and anemia by almost 100%.
In this sense, in this article we are going to offer you details about the great amount of diseases and conditions that a healthy diet can help you to prevent. Or failing that, help control if you already suffer.
Problems related to not having a healthy diet
In general, an unbalanced diet results in a deficit of several minerals that are essential for the proper functioning of the body. On the other hand, a bad diet provides our body with an excess of several elements that are not beneficial.
Both circumstances, excess of bad elements (like fats) with deficit of good elements ( vitamins, iron) are united, generating metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
However, in addition to merely metabolic diseases. Excesses and deficits can also contribute to the development of other conditions such as cancer.
The obesity
Although it depends to a certain extent on a genetic factor. Obesity is a public health problem that is determined by excessive food intake, coupled with a lack of physical activity .
It is not unreasonable to say that obesity is recognized as a danger to health. This is because it significantly increases mortality, as it is related to the development of several diseases, some of which can be lethal. Obesity is determinant in:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Arterial hypertension
- Diabetes
- Arthritis, biliary lithiasis (accumulation of stones in the gallbladder)
- Gout disease (formation of salt crystals in tissues and joints)
- Mummy, uterus and prostate cancer
Diet and cardiovascular diseases
There is a direct relationship between healthy eating and cardiovascular diseases, of which the most frequent are arterial hypertension, arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis obliterans.
The influence of diet in the development of these diseases is motivated to bad eating habits lead to an increase in bad cholesterol, which affects cardiovascular and blood functioning.
Diet and diabetes
Diabetes is a disease characterized by an insufficient production of insulin or poor absorption of it. As a consequence of this insufficiency, blood sugar levels increase disproportionately. This is because insulin is responsible for the cells to absorb glucose.
Bad eating habits directly influence diabetes. The motives? For foods rich in fat, carbohydrates and sugar have effects that cause or worsen diabetes.
Diet and osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in bone density. This causes the bones to increase their fragility, which implies greater risks of fractures.
According to what the Gerontological Institute reveals, factors that determine the development of this bone condition have been identified. Among them is the insufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium.
That said, it can be said that an inadequate diet, in which calcium and vitamin D are scarce, influences the appearance of osteoporosis.
Diet and cancer
One of the most feared diseases in the world is cancer . According to specialized research, there is a relationship between a bad diet and its appearance. Particularly in breast, uterine and prostate cancer.
According to data offered by the Gerontological Institute, high fat consumption increases the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Likewise, diets rich in salty, smoked and spiced foods raise the risk factor for stomach and esophagus cancer.
Diseases that are prevented with a healthy diet
With regard to everything we have explained you before, we can give you, in conclusion, a list of several diseases and conditions that you can avoid if you maintain a healthy diet.
Many of these are the ones that we have already explained in detail. However, we will also include other conditions that, to some degree, are influenced by the food we eat or by food that we do not consume and generate deficits.
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Parkinson
- Anemias
- Arthritis
- Alzheimer’s
- Acne
Physical activity is another ally of health
In addition to the importance of diet to maintain good health, the prominent role played by physical activity must also be taken into account . Exercise favors:
- Cardiovascular function
- It facilitates the regulation of glycemia.
- Reduce “bad” elements, such as cholesterol and triglycerides.
- It helps the digestive process.
- Regulates the intestinal rhythm.
- Improves calcium retention.
- It reduces stress.