Free Eating Healthy Essay Sample

The United States is currently the second most obese nation in the world. Currently, more than one-third of US adults are considered obese, and the costs of fighting obesity is currently estimated at being around $147 billion (“Adult Obesity Facts”). One of the main causes of obesity is the American diet, and not eating healthy. There is a plethora of medical research that stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, and this is something that is even being stressed in schools today. The effects of eating healthy are an improved physical health, improved social outlook and mood, and longevity.
In order to eat healthy, there first need to be a desire to do so. There are many reasons why a person would want to transform their diet, but the most common reason is to improve their physical health. While diet alone is not the only way to do this, as exercising is also necessary, maintaining a healthy diet will help individuals control their weight. Seeing as obesity is a major health issue, this is something most Americans should be more informed about. A healthy diet will help control weight, especially if the amount of fat and carbohydrates are controlled. Typically, Americans eat too many calories and fat in their diet, which leads to an increase in weight. Therefore, paying attention to these factors is the first step of healthy eating. A related topic to controlling weight is to eat breakfast, as this helps avoid hunger spasms throughout the day, which leads to overeating (“5 Benefits of Healthy Habits”).
Furthermore, eating healthy will help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Eating healthy tends to include getting the proper amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals, which will prevent excess body fat and offset many chronic diseases. In fact, research has shown that 30 percent of cancers are actually linked to a poor diet. This was supported by a scientific study that found that women who ate the most cabbage, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale has a lower risk of developing breast cancer (Pratini 2014).
There are also social benefits towards eating healthy. Scientific studies on healthy diets have shown that those who do not eat healthy suffer a loss of 66 percent productivity loss. Therefore, by eating healthy, more will get accomplished throughout the day. Furthermore, research has shown that a healthy diet is linked to being happier and less stressed. Vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium have been shown to reduce stress levels, which is why these items should be in everyone’s diets (Pratini 2014).
If a person decides to eat a healthy diet, this will increase the chances of longevity. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been shown to help protect the skin, thus slowing the aging process. Many healthy foods are high in antioxidants which reduce aging. Other studies have shown that a diet including plentiful amounts of fruits and vegetables, couple with exercise, extended the life expectancy for women 70 years of age or older. There are also many studies that have shown correlations between vegetarian and low meat diets and living a longer life (Pratini 2014).
In conclusion, the effects of eating healthy are improved physical health, social health, and longevity. Of course, if all these effects are happening because of a change in diet, it will most likely also lead to improved self-confidence and personality. This is usually a result of an improved physical appearance, and the many sociological benefits of a healthy diet. Therefore, in the context of America’s obesity crisis, an increase in education about the benefits of healthy eating are necessary to increase the well-being of the country.

Works Cited

"Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html>.
"5 Benefits of Healthy Habits." Healthline, 1 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.healthline.com/health/5-benefits-healthy-habits>.
Pratini, Napala. "10 Benefits of Eating Healthy." 20 May 2014. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/2014/05/20/benefits-of-eating-healthy/>.