Healthy and unhealthy foods

WHAT MAKES FOOD HEALTHY?

Healthy food can be hard to define - a diet one person deems healthy, another may think is an entirely unhealthy diet. 
Take a look at nutrition first before we make things a little more complicated. Nutritionally healthy foods are things like fresh fruits, colorful vegetables, and whole grains. 
A healthy food choice tends to be:

• 
  Rich in nutrients like vitamins and minerals, and full of fiber
  
• 
  Unprocessed and as "whole" as possible
  
• 
  Low in added sugar and added salt
  
• 
  Good for your energy levels
  

EFFECTS OF EATING HEALTHY FOOD

The most important reason to eat a healthy diet is to feel better in your day-to-day and improve your overall quality of life. 
At its core, a healthy diet should help you to:

• 
  Maintain a healthy weight
  
• 
  Build strong muscles, bones, and cells
  
• 
  Function optimally and feel better physically
  
• 
  Maintain balanced energy levels throughout the day
  
• 
  Feel mentally clear and happy
  
• 
  Prevent chronic illness and heart disease
  

WHAT MAKES FOOD UNHEALTHY?

Unhealthy foods are often delicious but usually deliver very low on nutrition. Examples of unhealthy food are sugary candies, extra salty chips, and anything breaded and deep-fried. 
An unhealthy food choice tends to be:

• 
  Minimal in nutritional value
  
• 
  Highly processed 
  
• 
  High in added sugars and salt
  
• 
  High in saturated fats
  
• 
  Added artificial flavors and chemical compounds
  

EFFECTS OF EATING UNHEALTHY FOOD

Eating too many types of unhealthy food too often can lead to some adverse health effects. 
Too much unhealthy eating can lead to:

• 
  Sugar sensitivity and abnormal peaks and valleys in blood sugar levels
  
• 
  Moodiness and irritability
  
• 
  Low energy levels and quick energy drops
  
• 
  Weight gain and dangerous fat accumulation around the organs
  
• 
  Increased risk of disease