Yes! You are what you eat. This is a phrase we’re very familiar with. Then again, do we actually understand what it entails? This statement emphasizes the impact of our diet not on our physical health alone, but also on our mental and social health.

For instance, in bodybuilding, what you eat is equally as important as the type of training regime you embrace. While some depend on the best sarms for bulking, consuming the right diet can help you achieve the best result. This article aims at shedding more light on how our diet can affect our well-being. So, stay tuned.

Diet and Physical Health

It is no longer news that the quality and quantity of food we eat largely affects our physical health. With the rise in prevalence of noncommunicable diseases, there is an extra need to pay attention to the food we eat. Some of the common noncommunicable diseases include Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular diseases, certain malignancies, obesity, arthritis, etc.

First off, we would take a look at how the body handles the food we ingest.

How the Body Handles Food

Food serves as metabolic fuel for the body. However, taking the optimum quantity and quality is key.

1.    Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate is commonly referred to as energy-giving food. Its digestion begins from the mouth. After digestion, it is absorbed in the small intestine. It is broken down into its primary sugars i.e. glucose, fructose, and galactose. Following absorption, glucose is transported into adipose tissue and skeletal muscles in the presence of insulin and GLUT (Glucose Transporter. GLUT is also responsible for the uptake of glucose in other cells of the body.

Glucose is required for the formation of ATP, the body’s energy unit.

2.    Proteins

Popularly referred to as body-building food, the chemical digestion of proteins begins in the stomach and is broken down into amino acids. It is also absorbed in the small intestine. The amino acid serves as the backbone for important structures like enzymes, receptors, nucleic acids, etc

3.    Fats

There are three main pathways of lipid metabolism. They are exogenous, endogenous, and scavenger pathways.

High-fat diet has been associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis which has been implicated in stroke, myocardial infarction, etc

The most common type of fat implicated is trans-fat.

We all love a good pastry; unfortunately, baked goods are packed with this trans-fat. Therefore, its consumption should be limited.

Diet and Mental Health

It is a common saying that “a hungry man is an angry man”. However, as soothing as some meals can be, they can also be messing with your mental health. The type of food you eat can be impacting your mental health negatively and vice versa.

Research has shown that certain meals improve mood, depression, and anxiety.

Meals rich in fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants which are involved in fighting off free radicals to maintain sound health and mind.

Diet and Social Health

Social Health is usually characterized by the ability to mingle with people and also create significant relationships.

You cannot give what you do not have. A healthy body is commonly associated with a healthy mind. When you adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet, you also embrace improved confidence and mood which can also enhance your chances of mingling and forming meaningful relationships.

In conclusion, the rise in the incidence of noncommunicable diseases is often mirrored by the dramatic change in our diet and lifestyle over the years.

WHO defined health as ” a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity”. This implies that there’s an extra need to invest in a healthy diet as it has a lot of impact on all forms of health be it physical, mental, or social health. It is therefore imperative that we pay attention to what we eat because you are what you eat!