To think about what healthy eating is, we can consider that the nutrients in the food we eat supply our cells and make up our body. Therefore, our diet impacts our ability to concentrate, our sense of well-being, our ability to deal with adversity and much more.
Diet directly influences employee productivity and can cause a series of problems. When eating habits are nutritionally unbalanced, there are consequences such as: malaise, fatigue and poor digestion. In addition, it can cause serious damage to mental and physical health , such as high blood pressure .
In the corporate environment, the relationship between healthy eating and professional performance is very strong — the effects are easily seen in an employee’s performance and productivity.
What does it mean to have a healthy diet?
Gastronomy, useful foods, fitness and a large wide variety of different phrases and expressions, each with their very personal reasons, are worried with regards to meals. But, in all this, what would possibly absolutely be a healthful weight loss program and now not only a satisfying one?
A healthy weight loss plan is one which gives all the nutrients the frame wants to be well and balanced. At the equal time, to be actually healthy it ought to no longer be accompanied through method of factors which are overseas to right vitamins, such as preservatives, colorings and distinctive products from the food industry.
In this sense, in order to contain the necessary nutrients, the diet must be varied, but as balanced as possible. And, to be healthy, it must be safe or free from biological contaminants such as fungi and bacteria and chemicals of any origin.
Healthy eating and productivity
The relationship between healthy eating and productivity has already been the subject of studies, including by the International Labor Organization, which has shown that inadequate nutrition in the workplace can reduce employee productivity and efficiency by up to 20%.
A healthy and balanced diet, with the possibility of nutritional monitoring , is the basis for maintaining our body and providing the nutrients necessary to carry out our daily activities efficiently.
If the digestive system is compromised by a lack or excess of nutrients, other systems of the human body will be affected, such as memory, reasoning and concentration — brain processes that are essential for the development of any activity.
The importance of healthy eating
High rates of absence due to illness or difficulties in performing a function are often triggered by disorders such as obesity, insomnia and chronic diseases. In addition to affecting a large proportion of professionals, poor nutrition contributes greatly to the development of these factors.
People who have a balanced and healthy diet are more energetic and ready to complete their workday, even on those days that seem longer and more tiring.
Maintaining nutritional education at work is important to prevent diseases such as anemia, hypertension, diabetes, among many others that can contribute to increased absenteeism rates.
In a healthy diet, certain nutrients, such as omega 3, help to build the so-called myelin sheath, a membrane that surrounds neurons and optimizes brain function. This improves reasoning, memory and concentration.
This is why the corporate world has increasingly adopted the promotion of healthy eating as a strategy for quality of life at work . And the result is very satisfactory, as is the return on investment.
Not only do career plans and benefits create an environment conducive to greater productivity. Food plays a fundamental role and, when ignored, can compromise results.
What are the benefits of a healthy diet?
A healthy and nutritious meal brings many benefits to human beings, whether in the workplace or outside it. Therefore, eating well is a true personal investment — in longevity, vitality and the willingness to carry out all activities in professional and personal life.
Eating vegetables, legumes, carbohydrates and proteins, controlling alcohol consumption and exercising are some good practices to improve in this regard. See below some of the main benefits of a healthy diet.
Performance improvement
The fatigue caused by overeating and eating fatty foods, which leaves a person with a slow metabolism, seriously compromises performance in daily activities. This is a notable impact when an employee does not eat well and is evidenced by productivity indicators.
On the contrary, when an employee eats a balanced and adequate diet, the post-meal depression disappears and he or she returns to work with energy and determination, which leads to an increase in the level of deliveries.
Quality of life
The set of factors — sleep, immune system, stress, mood — that provide quality of life to human beings can be harmonized by an enriched and balanced diet.
A balanced diet, at set times and in tune with each person’s needs, keeps the body functioning well and prevents the development of opportunistic diseases waiting for a drop in immunity to take hold.
Obesity is a major concern these days. In addition to the huge supply of fatty foods, a sedentary lifestyle is a reality for many people, which harms their physical and mental well-being.
Therefore, investing in good nutrition and encouraging the adoption of healthy habits is the guarantee of a willing and engaged team , with greater performance and quality of life.
Reduction of work accidents
Inadequate nutrition makes employees distracted and apathetic and, in certain roles, attention is vital to avoid accidents that cause serious damage to the employee and the company.
Therefore, work accidents can also be avoided through good nutrition, which ensures employees are more willing and aware of the risks involved in their work.
Reducing costs of illness
Absenteeism affects the company and its development. An absent employee, in addition to compromising productivity due to the lack of available labor, also impacts the company’s costs.
The company will not always be able to replace an employee on long-term sick leave, which leaves a gap in the production process. The best strategy is to take preventive care of the employee’s health, offering them the means to maintain good habits and quality of life.
Investing in good nutrition is a big step towards avoiding these setbacks, both for the employee and the company, which will certainly reduce the company’s costs in the long term.
Improved mood, satisfaction with the company and reduced turnover
It is important for the company to demonstrate that it cares about the well-being of its team , as employee satisfaction is an essential factor for the success of both parties — loyalty is born from the feeling of mutual care.
By encouraging better habits, such as eating habits, employees notice this care, even reducing turnover.
A healthy diet can also help prevent bad moods by releasing hormones that intensify feelings of happiness and tranquility. A motivated team is synonymous with collective collaboration and commitment.
Better concentration and memory
By consuming nutrients that are good for the body, in the right quantities, employees can increase their level of concentration and achieve success in their activities. There are even nutrients that are beneficial for improving concentration and memory — it is essential to include them in your diet.
How to have a balanced diet
In general, a healthy diet should include aspects such as:
- peaceful environment;
- unhurried intake;
- absence of drinks;
- variety of components;
- rich in necessary nutrients;
- proper hygiene;
- low sugar, salt and fat content;
- free of preservatives or with minimal levels.
These and other aspects of this characterization of a healthy diet are detailed in a publication by the Virtual Health Library ( BVS ), also from the Ministry of Health, and are summarized below:
- respect and appreciation for culturally identified eating practices;
- guaranteed access, flavor and affordable cost;
- promoting the consumption of a varied, harmonious and colorful diet;
- guarantee of safe food.
Unhealthy eating
A food regimen is considered dangerous while it’s miles unable to offer the frame with the nutrients it desires, inside the proper amount and first rate, to feature nicely. This circumstance can stop end result from the type of meals, similarly to the situations below which it’s miles ingested.
In this sense, unhealthy foods should not be consumed regularly. These foods have characteristics, among others, such as:
- very intense industrial processing (ultra-processed);
- high sodium, sugar and fat content;
- presence of chemical preservatives;
- production from fried foods.