Most people think they know the importance of healthy eating. And if you ask them, they’ll claim to be eating a healthy diet.

But what is a healthy diet? And how many people really are eating healthy?

Studies show very few understand the importance of eating a healthy diet. If they really knew how healthy eating contributes to a happy healthy life, many more would be getting the results of eating healthy.

But instead, statistics make it absolutely clear that almost everyone is eating some version of the Standard American Diet – S.A.D. for short!

Just look around any gas station convenience store to see what people are eating. Junk! And our “health” statistics show the unhealthy results.

What is a Healthy Diet? And Who Decides?

Maybe you already know that every bite of food and drink you put into your mouth can make a major difference in your health – one way or another.

But what is a healthy diet? And who makes your eating decisions?

Advertisers, authors and even some doctors and dietitians consistently promote unhealthy eating by telling you, “don’t deprive yourself!”

“Deprive” yourself of what exactly?

Should you “deprive” yourself of living a long, happy, healthy, productive life in exchange for some fleeting moment of addictive eating gratification?

Statistics show two-thirds of our SAD modern diet consists of unhealthy bad fats and non-nutritious sugars from high glycemic foods. That’s a lot of self-destruction! Here’s how our diet has changed over the years.

As you can see, very few people are “depriving” themselves of cravings.

Over the past century, eating unhealthy fats and sugars has doubled, while eating healthy carbohydrates is now half. And these statistics have a clear relationship to the increase in heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Percentage of Foods Comparison

Food Categories	1900	2000
Complex Carbohydrates	48%	14%
Protein	20%	20%
Fat	22%	42% (mostly “bad”)
Simple Carbohydrates (sugars)	10%	24% (mostly refined)

The Importance of Healthy Eating

Here are the three major dietary changes that have taken place:

1. More and more fat, sugar and salt started showing up in food.
2. People became more sedentary, requiring less and less calories.
3. And environmental toxins, food processing and additives increased.

The negative side effects of just these few lifestyle examples can help you better understand the importance of eating a healthy diet.

• Caffeine robs your body of B vitamins.
• One cigarette destroys 25 mg. Of vitamin C.
• Aspirin interferes with use of vitamin C and folic acid.
• Milk with synthetic vitamin D robs your body of magnesium.
• High glycemic foods destroy B vitamins that help reduce stress.
• Alcohol depletes your body of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and folic acid, plus vitamins C and K, magnesium, zinc and potassium.
• Birth control pills interfere with vitamins C, B6, B12 and folic acid.
• Laxatives and mineral oils cause depletion of vitamins A, E and D.
• Many other over-the-counter remedies and prescription medications interfere with absorption and increase the excretion of nutrients.

Your Healthy Eating Diet for Eating Healthy

Eating a healthy diet can help you overcome obstacles in the way of living a vibrant, healthy lifestyle. Here are the basics of healthy eating:

Healthy Eating Guidelines	Percentages
Complex Carbohydrates	35-50% (fruit, veggies & whole grains)
Protein	20-30% (low fat sources)
Fat	20-25% (good fat sources)
Low Glycemic Carbohydrates	10% (mainly from fresh fruits)

Now that you know the importance of eating healthy, go to the list of healthy foods for healthy eating and start making more healthy choices.

Whenever possible, pick organic whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, wild fish and free-ranging poultry and meat. You also need to include the best quality nutritional health supplements you can get.

As you start to look better, feel better and have more vibrant energy, eating a healthy diet will become easier and more and more rewarding.