Does what we eat, really affect our health?

What we eat really does affect our Health. What we eat has an effect on our heart, blood pressure, bone health, and the possibility of getting cancer. People who eat excessive amounts of high saturated fat, sugar, and sodium are more likely to fall victim to heart disease, hypertension, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and many other life threatening disorders.

Too much saturated fat and trans-fat in your diet can contribute to high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease. There are two types of cholesterol in foods. Low density lipoprotein which is the bad cholesterol that clogs arteries and impedes blood flow to the heart. And there is high density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol which is beneficial because of its ability to carry out the bad cholesterol from your body. If too much bad cholesterol is accumulated in the arteries, a heart attack can occur. Lean cuts of beef, chicken breasts, skim milk, fish, and cottage cheese are foods with low amounts of cholesterol in them.

Bone thinning or osteoporosis not only affects senior citizens, but people who do not receive enough calcium in their diet. Calcium is essential for bone growth and repair. Without calcium people's bones would break, and in females the possibility of not having the bone strength to bare children is possible as well. Calcium is many found in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Other non dairy foods with calcium include seaweed, nuts, beans, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, and orange juice.

Hypertension or elevated blood pressure can happen to a person with too much salt intake. Salt is composed of sodium, and chloride. Salt helps in maintaining proper fluid balance between water and cells in your body. A normal person needs about 1000 milligrams of sodium per day. But unfortunately many people get seven times that amount daily. There are many ways to reduce salt consumption. Reducing your intake of ham, bacon, potato chips, deli meats, catsup, mustard, and random seasons all can lower your sodium levels.

Two out of every five Americans will get cancer in their life. There are however ways to reduce the likeliness of dieing as a direct result of cancer. Various nutrients found in certain foods have the anti-oxidatives to help fight and repair damage done to the body through free radicals. Free radicals are compounds that tear down, and damage cell structures in our bodies. Carotenoids, Vitamin C, and E are all nutrients found in the body and certain foods. Good sources of food high in nutrients are mixed nuts, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, soy milk, flax seed, and fruit.

So to answer the question, HELL YES! The right foods can heal us as well as promote muscle growth and healthy life style. While the bad foods can diminish our health, injure our bodies, and in some cases cause death.