Clean Eating: Here’s What You Should Know

Different people's definitions of "clean eating" may vary. Some may regard this dietary strategy as a little more stringent, focusing primarily on unprocessed foods, while for some it simply means avoiding fast food. Regardless of how you define "clean eating," this philosophy encourages the consumption of foods with little to no processing, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins, while limiting the consumption of pre-packaged foods that are made with ingredients typically found in processed foods. 

Clean eating has many variations, but it essentially means consuming foods that are as close to their natural condition as is feasible. This motivates us to prepare our meals from scratch so that they are as "clean" as possible. 

The health advantages of eating foods high in nutrients that come straight from the ground and are not overly processed are the main motivation for adopting a clean eating lifestyle. The majority of people consume a diet heavy in foods that have undergone extensive processing, are created from synthetic substances, and are loaded with fat, sugar, sodium, chemicals, preservatives, food colours, and other additives that your body is ill-equipped to handle. These extras could be harmful to your general health and wellbeing. 

Your body receives nourishment from clean eating in the form of nutritious foods. Clean meals provide your body with an abundance of vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, and healthy fats, all of which boost heart and brain health, help you lose weight, strengthen your immune system, and give you more energy. Foods that have been prepared naturally have more flavour. 

It could be intimidating to consider adopting a clean diet, but the advantages might surpass any worries you might have. 

There are so many diets and food challenges to attempt when thinking about improving your approach to nutrition, whether for weight reduction, to enhance health metrics, or just to change your eating habits. Structure is one advantage of taking on a clean eating challenge. It can be motivating and make a challenging activity seem more manageable to have a precise description of what to eat and what not to eat, as well as a timeframe from beginning to end. We have a few excellent ideas for you to think about if joining a clean eating challenge is one of your 2023 objectives. 

There are a few things to consider while choosing the ideal clean eating challenge for you. An effective dietary plan shouldn't be overly restrictive. Clean eating may mean fewer baked goods and drive-throughs, but overall, it should enable you to achieve your daily nutrient requirements. It should also feel attainable to sustain. Choosing a strategy that works for you over the long run is one of the best methods to change your eating habits. Last but not least, even a temporary task should fit with your lifestyle. The perfect clean eating challenge for you will depend on a variety of factors, including your daily activities, food sensitivities and preferences, and the amount of time you have available for food preparation. 

Examples of foods that could be included in a clean diet include the following: 

Fruits: Fruit juice made from only fruit. Whole fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries, grapes, oranges, strawberries 

Vegetables: tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, lettuce, onions, peppers, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and salsa. 

Lean meats/protein: dried beans, fresh salmon, grass-fed chickens' eggs, plain nut butters (without sugar added), and unflavored almonds. 

Grains: those produced from whole grains, air-popped popcorn, oats, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta. 

Dairy products: Plain yoghurt, cheese, milk, and unsweetened non-dairy milks