Just like a car runs on fuel, your body runs on fuel provided by the foods you eat. The premise of clean eating involves eating foods in their purest, form as intended by nature.
Foods in their natural state provide the essential nutrients that your body requires for overall good health. If you're interested in transitioning to clean eating there is some basic information you should know.
Clean Eating Basics
Clean eating—quite simply put—means avoiding processed junk in favour of eating unrefined, unprocessed whole foods.
Many of the foods we consume are full of chemicals—especially packaged foods. These foods come packaged for convenience but are full of trans-fats and other chemicals.
Some of the foods commonly consumed in most daily diets, such as potato chips, chocolate bars, cookies, cakes and pies are the biggest culprits of trans-fats.
While there’s no denying that these foods taste good in the moment, long-term consumption of them can have negative effects on your health.
Do your part to combat future health issues by banning refined, processed foods from your diet all together.
Alternatives
To switch over to a cleaner way of eating doesn't necessarily mean giving up the foods we now enjoy. Rather, it simply means opting for their alternatives. If white pasta, white bread and white rice are regular staples of your daily diet and you can't bear the thought of having to give them up, go for their whole alternatives.
Whole grain options like whole grain bread and brown rice are a far healthier choice than their refined counterparts.
Nutrition Labels
Get into the habit of reading labels. Those few extra minutes you spend at the grocery store reading nutrition labels are worth the knowledge gained about the foods you're consuming. When choosing whole grains options of bread and brown rice read the labels to make sure they are truly "whole" grains.
The beginning of the label should clearly state "whole grain". If you're choosing foods that consist of ingredients with names so complicated that you cannot pronounce them, chances are they aren’t good for your body either. Do your part to combat future health issues by switching to a whole foods-based diet
Ten Commandments of Clean Eating
- Thou shalt educate thyself on the values of clean eating
- Thou shalt consume whole foods in their purest forms, the way nature intended
- Thou shalt consume adequate amounts of proteins, healthy fats and clean carbohydrates
- Thou shalt not buy into the dogma that fats are bad for you - healthy fats are a good thing!
- Thou shalt liberally enjoy—sans guilt—nature’s desserts in the form of fruits and veggies
- Thou shalt not peruse the middle isles of the grocery store where processed, packaged foods dwell - doing so will only lead to temptation
- Thou shalt learn the importance of reading food nutrition labels
- Thou shalt not feel guilty for resisting cakes, cookies and donuts at social gatherings
- Thou shalt brown-bag your work lunches daily whilst resisting trans-fat-ridden snacks from the vending machines
- Thou shalt beam with pride for making healthy food choices whilst spreading the good news of clean eating to all!
Disclaimer:
The information stated in this article is solely for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a certified health professional.
Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should seek a doctor for advice.
References: Help Guide