Keeping your balance...

  We always hear the words "diet" and "exercise" being used together, but do we really need to think of both at once?

YES!

To achieve optimal health and body weight, you need to exercise well and eat well. These two components, in addition to sleep, go hand in hand i.e. neither one is more important than the other. 

If you eat well but lack in exercise activity your metabolism will inevitably slow down- especially as you age. Muscles will ache and joints will pain; ultimately, diminishing your ability to complete basic functional tasks like lifting weighted objects or pushing heavy doors. Adhering to a well balanced diet but neglecting physical activity still leaves us vulnerable to developing heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, weight gain, and depression etc. 

On the other hand, participating in physical activity while having a poor diet also carries a wide range of negative health consequences.  A poor diet is usually high in bad fats such as trans fats and saturated fats which gradually build up in your arteries; eventually, leading to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart diseases and heart attacks etc. A deficient diet, which is high in calories, can also affect your energy levels when exercising causing you to feel “sluggish”. 

This sluggish feeling results in suboptimal energy exerted, less calories burned, and ultimately weight gain which poses health risks such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. 

It doesn't have to be a complicated balance - let your healthy diet energize you to get active, and when you feel good about your physical activity, fuel your body with nutrition!