2023-05-14 15:31:42
A study found that eating a healthy diet can be just as beneficial as walking an extra 4,000 steps a day for maintaining physical fitness.
Scientists say adding “superfoods” to the diet boosts physical fitness without any real exercise, as well as improves overall health. They believe this is because a nutritious diet improves metabolism, helping the body process calories and absorb good foods.
It may be that some people who exercise are fitter than others (who also exercise) because they are more strict about what they eat.
More than 2,000 participants had to run on a treadmill while their oxygen levels were measured by Harvard researchers.
People who adhered closely to a Mediterranean-style diet consisting of plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains had the same level of fitness as people who took about 4,000 steps per day in the researchers’ previous studies.
Fruit and vegetables are high in fiber, which acts as a natural fat burner that can help boost your metabolism. It also contains a high percentage of antioxidants that protect against inflammation and other health problems.
“In middle-aged adults, healthy dietary patterns were strongly associated with physical fitness even after accounting for activity levels. The improvement in fitness was similar to the effect of taking an extra 4,000 steps,” said study author Dr. Michael May, of Harvard University’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. every day”.
It is known that healthy diets reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Dr. Mai’s study used data from 2,380 middle-aged Americans. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to assess consumption of 126 items over the past year. The study compared the participants’ physical fitness and diet quality.
The information was used to assess diet quality using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) on a scale of 1 to 110, and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) on a scale of 0 to 25, both of which are related to heart health.
The findings indicated that there are high-quality and highly rated “superfoods” that can boost your health, including:
– vegetables
– fruits
Whole grains (such as brown rice, quinoa, and oats)
Nuts (unsalted)
Legumes (such as beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas)
– fish
Healthy fats
Limit red meat and alcohol
The study found that every additional 13 points on the Healthy Eating Scale led to a 5% improvement in performance on the exercise bike.
Dr. Mai added: “There are actually many healthy reasons to consume a high-quality diet, and we offer another reason why it relates to physical fitness. A Mediterranean-style diet with whole, fresh foods and minimal processed foods, red meat, and alcohol is a great place to start.”
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