Why is a balanced diet important for our health and managing distress? What happens if we don’t have a healthy diet?
One of the most important factors that determines our health is the type of food we eat. A healthy diet consists of a balance of all the nutrients that our body requires; carbohydrates, fats, proteins and micro-nutrients. Too much or too little of any of these nutrients harms our body and prevents it from carrying out its functions and weakens our immunity. In fact, many diseases that human beings experience are as a result of either eating too less or eating too much. In addition, what and when we eat also affects our mood and, thus, influences our ability to deal with distress. For example when someone is hungry then they often become irritable, tired and unable to focus on their work. Thus, maintaining a balanced diet is extremely important for holistic wellness.
When we are experiencing distress then our diet is one of the first things which is affected. Some people, when experiencing distressed, may lose their appetite and stop eating. Others start eating some types of food (sugary and junk foods) in order to cope with their distress. While this behavior can provide relief in the short run, in the long run it can further worsen distress since an unhealthy diet has a negative impact on our health.
That is why, even when we are distressed we must make an effort to ensure we have a balanced diet so we can manage it better.