The Thin Line Between Healthy And Unhealthy Eating

Food is the most fundamental resource for survival, but it can become dangerous if it's consumed excessively or in wrong proportions. Having sufficient amount of food for sustenance is essential for psychological stability, but it can open the door to over-consumption. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your meal, at least not until you start indulging your senses to the point of damaging your health. Overeating can be just as dangerous as malnourishment, especially when high-fat foods are consumed in large quantities over a prolonged period of time and with no regard to organic equilibrium.

The internet is full of theories about magical food programs that can be beneficial for a wide range of health conditions. Such claims are difficult to prove, so it's probably enough to stick to principles that have been proven in practice.

Individualized Diet for Every Person

The reason why it's impossible to find an exact formula how to eat properly is that every individual has different needs. Depending on person's weight, metabolism and activity level, sufficient daily intake could wildly vary, with factors such as age, climate or medical history complicating the picture even further.

The best way to eat healthy is to have a personal nutritionist help you to determine the optimal menu for each day, accounting for all individual factors that might affect how the body works and how much energy it requires. If you can't afford professional advice on a regular basis, you should make a long-term plan with a doctor and try to execute it on your own.

Maintaining Biochemical Balance

Our bodies are complex machines and they need a constant influx of essential chemical particles to function optimally. Over countless generations, our diet evolved to provide the right mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals based on available food sources.

Today, when we can easily obtain practically any food type, it is inexcusable to be ignorant about the composition of our meals. Having a monotonous diet can disrupt the natural balance of our bodies, even if the food consumed doesn't contain any toxins.

For example, vegetarians and vegans must be careful to include a source of proteins into their regular diet in order to avoid deterioration of muscle tissues.

When Food Becomes a Problem 

Going off the script and gorging on junk food for a few days, or skipping a meal when you are busy won't create any immediate problems, but if such behavior becomes a pattern it could lead to serious health concerns. Eating disorders are not to be taken lightly, since severe cases typically require professional assistance to resolve and could have permanent consequences.

It is much better to adopt healthy eating habits before any symptoms appear, since this will increase the likelihood of a successful intervention and minimize physical and psychological damage.

Being honest with oneself is very hard in this respect and it sometimes takes a blunt action from friends and family to become aware of a growing problem or some other form of self-destructive behavior.  Balance is key!