9781422269879

Better Health: Mental, Physical, and Dental The good nutrition that comes from increasing the number of whole foods in the diet is vital to living well, now and as you grow up. It affects your health today in many ways. A person’s mental health and emotional well-being depend on good nutrition in order to process emotions and information effectively. Eating whole foods can also affect the body’s ability to build and maintain healthy cells, organs, and systems, and to function optimally. That’s because whole foods are nutrient-dense. They contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, and healthy fats, plus nutrients that science might not yet have discovered. The body needs these nutrients to build and repair tissues. Without them, it breaks down over time. In terms of dental health, eating real foods not only helps the body build strong teeth, because they contain calcium, vitamin D, and other important nutrients, but also reduces the risk of developing cavities associated with consuming excessive sugar. Q: What is nutrient-dense food? A: A nutrient-dense food contains a lot of naturally occurring nutrition in relation to its calorie content, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, healthy plant oil fats, and nutrients that science might not yet have discovered. These foods are more filling, so people eat less without feeling hungry. They also don’t contain added substances that make people feel hungry and overeat. Eating more of these foods increases health, while eating too few causes the body to break down.

Chapter 1: Why Eat Whole Foods?

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