Poor nutrition is easily a leading cause in many health problems people suffer from today. Specific nutrition facts include that if people were to improve their dietary habits, they would be able to reduce death and serious illness from 25 to 50 percent or more. This includes diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular problems. A proper diet and exercise contributes greatly to your overall quality of health, and a few improvements in your lifestyle now can literally mean the difference between life and death.

There are many specific diseases related to improper nutrition, and these diseases can easily be prevented with a few changes in your diet. For example, coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and it can easily be prevented by a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and less saturated fat and cholesterol. Regular physical activity can also help lower your risk of diseases such as diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease. What's more, it doesn't take much to improve your diet and begin exercising. Just a few days a week to start with will make major improvements in the overall quality of your health.

These nutrition facts may seem scary, but they don't have to be. Even if you've never eaten healthy before, it's easy to start. Begin by replacing one meal a day with healthy alternatives, and work your way up from there. Eventually, add moderate exercise to the routine and keep at it regularly. Pretty soon, you'll be well on your way to maintaining your optimum health levels.