How Clean Is Your Eating?

 

By: Nikki Nies

I’m not talking about upgrading to a high tech sanitizing routine or purchasing all organic.  The term

Clean eating is all about consuming only whole foods (think: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), while avoiding processed and fast foods at all costs.

The premise behind clean eating is to make people more aware of what they’re eating on a regular basis.  Many people are favoring this kind of lifestyle of since there aren’t many strict rules and allows people to feel they have an individual choice in what foods to eat and not.  To explain, some choose to eliminate all processed foods from their daily habits , including meats, dairy and grains, while others will focus more on eating whole foods.

Quick Tips:

• Opt for fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned
• Choose whole fruits and vegetables instead of the juice form
• If you don’t have the option of fresh, opt for frozen instead of canned
• Have a balance of complex carbs and lean meats
• When possible, choose organic meats as they have less pesticides and hormones
• Grill, broil or steam foods instead of frying
• Skip the soda and sports drinks.  If you need some flavor to your water, spritz a little fresh lemon in your drink or grab some tea
• Eat healthy fats, such as fatty fish and nuts
• Eat small, frequent meals to limit chances of overeating and to keep blood sugar levels stable

The intended goal is not weight loss, like many of it’s competitors, but to live an overall healthier life.  Cutting processed foods out of one’s diet can make a dramatic decrease in one’s intake of trans fat.  It’s been found 80% of trans fat come from processed food, while 20% come from dairy and meat. By eating more healthifully, one will inadvertently be able to control weight gain as well as reduce risk of chronic diseases.

Adapting this lifestyle doesn’t have to be overnight.  With gradual changes over the next couple weeks can have a positive impact on all aspects of your life.

Sources:

http://greatist.com/health/wtfis-clean-eating

http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/

http://thefithousewife.com/2013/08/clean-eating.html/

http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/livestrongcom/clean-eating-5-simple-ste_b_632545.html