The Health Box Magazine April 2014 | Page 4

HEALTY EATING 4 WARNING SIGNS OF A BAD DIET YOU MAY BE IGNORING H ow many rows of chocolate have you eaten this week? Well, you’re not alone. One in four Australians eats chocolate every second day! What you eat does make a difference to your health. The World Health Organisation attributes 19% of gastrointestinal cancers, one in three heart attacks and one in ten strokes directly to people not meeting their fruit and vegetable requirements. With this in mind, I’d like to encourage you to stop making excuses. If your diet isn’t what it could be, it’s time to do something about it. 4 clear signs that your diet is not as healthy as it could be 1. You’ve caught a cold more than once over the past year – Although you can expect to catch at least one cold each year, if you need to be wearing a surgical mask to protect you from every bug your immune system is probably not working as well as it should be. 2. You would rather sit home with a block of chocolate than go out with friends – a nutritious diet is also essential to guard against depression. Research shows those who don’t meet their folate, omega 3 or vitamin D requirements are more likely to be depressed. 3. Your gums bleed when you brush your teeth – bleeding gums may be an indication of a vitamin C or riboflavin deficiency. 4. You spend more than 10 minutes on the toilet – if you need to strain to open your bowels, or spend ages on the