Spring Clean Your Nutrition!
We’ve all heard the term “clean eating” but what does that really mean and how can it jump-start your health journey?
Essentially, eating clean is eating the way that nature intended by reducing your intake of highly processed foods. This lifestyle is principally based on eating whole foods (fruits, veggies, meat, fish, eggs, etc) and avoiding an excessive amount of foods that are pre-packaged and shelf-stable.
The reason that a clean-eating approach is recommended by many healthcare professionals is that processed foods contain preservatives and other additives that can cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism against toxins. Inflammation can lead to a surprising array of health issues, the most obvious of which include: obesity, diabetes, constipation, chronic sinus issues, asthma, acne, etc. Other less obvious side effects of inflammation include irritability, bloating, anxiety, depression, etc.
Some practical tips for eating clean:
- When grocery shopping, focus on the outermost sections of the store: produce, meat, eggs, etc. Avoid those tempting chip and soda aisles!
- If you can’t pronounce an ingredient listed on an item…AVOID IT!
- Focus on preparing food with simple, whole ingredients
- Pay attention to the types of food that make you feel sluggish, bloated, or irritable.
- Drink LOT of water which helps to satiate those nagging cravings for unhealthy snacks.