Staying healthy is more than just going to the gym. If you plan on staying fit, a gym may not be the best option. They say abs are built in the kitchen, you can’t train them with a bad diet. These statements tell a very hard truth, and here’s why.
First, it’s important to understand what it means to be healthy. For men, staying fit means keeping your body fat between 10% and 15% year-round. For women, ideally, your body fat percentage should be between 15% and 20%. Maintaining these low body fat levels is achieved by eating no more than maintenance calories.
Having a low body fat percentage also has a downside.
Less than 10% in men and less than 15% in women may cause hormonal imbalance.
While low body fat is only one aspect of being healthy, the quality of the food we eat is just as important. Of course, if you don’t exceed your maintenance calories, you can lose fat and maintain low body fat levels while eating junk food. However, a poor diet can lead to nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. In the long run, these deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems that may be difficult to correct.
All in all, staying healthy is all about eating. If you want to stay healthy year-round, you need to focus on eating a balanced diet that contains a healthy mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, but shouldn’t exceed your maintenance calories. Counting calories is easier than ever these days. However, you can indulge yourself once in a while without compromising your goal of staying healthy. Calorie counts matter, and food quality matters if you want to stay healthy.