When you hear the phrases “eating nutritious foods,” “juicing,” or “drinking green smoothies,” the first thought that comes to mind is probably one related to weight loss. And truthfully, that is probably the primary reason that most women watch what they consume on a daily basis. However, there are many other health and beauty benefits to consuming foods high in nutritional content, and here are just a few to consider:

Reduced Disease Risk

Many health researchers indicate that eating a nutritious diet can help reduce your risk of various types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. This means that focusing on dietary nutrition can help you live a longer life that’s also higher in quality as you’re less likely to be bedridden with some life-threatening disease in your later years.

To decrease your risk, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that you simply follow a concept they call The New American Plate. Essentially this means filling your plate two-thirds with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans while the remaining one-third should contain some type of animal protein such as chicken or fish.

Clearer Skin

Many studies have found a connection between diet and skin issues, such as one published in Dermato Endocrinology that discusses how people who eat high glycemic foods (foods higher in sugar) tend to have more acne-related issues. Therefore, limiting these types of foods in your own diet can ultimately result in a clearer complexion.

Additionally, some women have found that eating nutritious foods and drinking vitamin-rich juices helps clear their skin in other ways. For instance, healthy-business owner Jil Larsen was diagnosed with a skin disorder that caused dark spots to appear, and it was all because of what she was eating. However, she was able to reverse it within a few months of changing her diet to one that involved eating more nutrients and juicing.

Fuller, Healthier Hair

Hair loss is a huge concern for a lot of women and rightfully so. Harvard Medical School has discovered that almost one in three women experience this unpleasant issue, typically referred to in the medical field as alopecia. This type of hair loss generally starts wherever you part your hair, with the top of the head showing the greatest effects.

Fortunately, diet can often help, especially if your hair loss is due to a lack of iron. This means that you can have fuller, healthier hair simply by eating more iron-rich foods like red meat, poultry, beans, dark leafy greens, and iron-fortified cereals.

Greater Mental Clarity

Did you know that the foods you eat on a regular basis can impact you mentally? Specifically, they can affect your moods and mood patterns, impact your ability to fight off depression and anxiety, and can even potentially help prevent mind-related disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.

That’s why the Mental Health Foundation suggests eating fewer processed foods or foods high in sugar. Instead, they recommend that you focus primarily on consuming wholegrain foods (think cereal, rice, pasta, and potatoes), fruit, and vegetables. Furthermore, eating some type of protein at every meal helps regulate your hormones so your brain function stays steady all day long. Fish is always a great option as it contains many good-for-you nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial to your heart.

Improving your diet certainly offers many different health and beauty benefits, and these are just a few. If you know any more, feel free to share them in the comment section below!

Shelly Stinson is a writer and foodie based out of Denver, Colo. In between trying new restaurants and writing her latest piece, Shelly enjoys traversing the elements of Colorado (and making her way through her Netflix backlog). Follow her on Twitter.

Guest feature by Shelly Stinson

Shelly Stinson is a writer and foodie based out of Denver, Colo. In between trying new restaurants and writing her latest piece, Shelly enjoys traversing the elements of Colorado (and making her way through her Netflix backlog). Follow her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/shellystins).