What Is The Best Diet For Preventing Chronic Disease?

Sometimes, it's hard not to drool when we think of food. With the world's delicious cuisines available to enjoy year-round, the idea that food is a key component of our overall health is often overlooked. With the right diet, you could be preventing a slew of various chronic diseases from developing one day. 

There is an important connection between food and chronic diseases. "Of the ten leading causes of death in the United States, at least seven, including the top four, are directly related to diet choices," Michelle McMacken, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, told Healio. The conditions McMacken is referring to include heart disease, cancer, lung disease, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.

However, it's all too easy to make poor dietary choices. With so many events and stresses each day, it can be hard to keep your future health a top priority. Let's take a look at how to eat with your future in mind.

It may be time to conduct and compare dietary research from accredited sources

Medical News Today points out that cravings for sugary and fatty foods tend to spike under periods of stress. Before you cave in and take advantage of a two-for-one croissant deal, think about your future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that a steady diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products can be very effective in preventing, delaying, and managing chronic diseases. If you are overweight, for example, losing just 5-7% of your body weight through your diet can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that in order to find the best diet for a specific chronic disease, it is essential to conduct and compare dietary research to find one that aids in preventing conditions you are most at risk of developing. If you are seriously considering a diet overhaul, take the necessary time to conduct research from accredited sources. As a healthy first step, consider the CDC's recommendation of a balanced diet and save those pies for special occasions.