Walk through any grocery store, and you’ll see aisle after aisle packed with every kind of processed food imaginable. From snacks to frozen meals to soda and everything in between. Convenient? Sure. Healthy? Not so much.
Most processed foods are chock-full with added sugar, unhealthy fats, chemicals, preservatives, and other funky ingredients you can’t even pronounce. And they often lack key nutrients our bodies need to function and feel good. No wonder so many people feel tired, achy, and generally “blah” all the time!
Shifting your diet to favor whole, natural food instead seriously upgrades your health, energy levels, body composition, and overall quality of life.
Natural Food = More Nutrients
Here’s a simple truth – the closer a food is to its natural state, the more nutritious it is.
Why? Because nutrients begin to degrade over time when produce is harvested, shipped long distances, and simply sits on trucks and shelves. Processed foods endure even MORE manipulation, stripping away many of the original vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Fruits/veggies fresh from the farm or backyard garden offer superior nutrition than weeks-old wilty options trucked from halfway around the world.
- Whole grains like oats, brown rice, and quinoa pack way more nutrients than their refined counterparts, like white bread or instant rice.
- Grass-fed beef and wild-caught salmon provide more belly-filling protein and healthy fats than hot dogs and fish sticks loaded down with chemicals and additives.
Eating primarily natural foods means you effortlessly consume far more of the good stuff your body craves. Skipping out on health-harming additives is an added bonus. Win-win!
Disease Protection
Study after study shows diets focused on natural plant foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and whole grains significantly reduce risk for nearly ALL major diseases, including:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Cognitive decline diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia
Why the big impact? Along with more nutrients, natural foods deliver tons of protective compounds like antioxidants, polyphenols, fiber, and healthy fats lacking in highly processed options.
For instance, the antioxidant flavonoids in berries fight inflammation and cell damage, leading to disease. Soluble fiber from oats and nuts helps regulate cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Healthy monounsaturated fats in avocados, olive oil, and nuts benefit heart health.
When the majority of what lands on your plate comes straight from nature, you reap all those compounded disease-fighting benefits with every delicious bite!
Lasting Energy Boost
Ever scarf down a bag of chips or chocolate bar only to crash hard shortly after? That blood sugar rollercoaster is no joke. Processed junk foods spike insulin fast and then leave you running on fumes. No lasting energy there!
Whole, natural foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains break down slower, providing sustained fuel. Their fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels so you avoid energy-zapping crashes.
Protein and healthy fats from seafood, poultry, eggs, nuts, and seeds also maintain steady energy since they take longer to digest. Winning combo!
Who couldn’t use more even, consistent energy sans a 3 pm desk nap? Besides, plenty of natural foods cost the same or less than heavily processed stuff: beans, rice, eggs, frozen fruits/veggies, cabbage, carrots, citrus fruits, and bananas. Ditch the vending machine snacks and hit up the veggie trays and nut jars instead for productivity power!
Healthy Body Composition
If one of your goals is dropping excess body fat and building more lean muscle, emphasize those natural foods! Their nutrients and fiber keep your metabolism humming.
Replacing simple carbs and sweets with more protein and fat helps satisfy appetite faster and for longer. One study found women eating 30% of calories from protein (meat, seafood, eggs, nuts) automatically reduced calorie intake by ~450 calories per day without trying. Bam!
Several vitamins and minerals found abundantly in fresh produce also play key roles in supporting muscle synthesis, energy production, and exercise recovery. All are super helpful for maintaining calorie burn and shedding body fat.
Really wanna kick body comp changes into high gear? Combine a foundation of natural foods with regular strength training!
Start Shifting Your Diet Today
Hopefully, learning all these sweet benefits motivates you to gradually shift toward more natural, real foods as the foundation of your diet.
It doesn’t mean you can NEVER have treats like pizza, baked goods, or ice cream again. Those indulgences can totally still fit into an 80/20 style plan. Just aim to make the bulk of your choices come straight from the ground, trees, and water like nature intended.
Your energy, body, mood, and overall health with thank you! Take it one meal at a time. Meal prep makes nutritious natural foods more convenient. Invest in some glass food storage and get prepping!
What’s one swap you can start with today? Trading out candy for fruit? Soda for tea? White bread for whole grain? Granola bars for nuts and seeds? Action leads to progress!
