Clean Eating...

This is what I am challenging myself with the next few weeks. Day 1 - yesterday, not bad at all. We'll see if I can keep it up.

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The origin of "eating clean" comes from...well...the beginning of time, really. Because it is so common sense and back-to-basics no one can really take credit for this movement. Let me explain what it means to "eat clean" and the benefits that come from it.

The Basics:

◦Eat a wide-variety of whole, unrefined and unprocessed foods in a form that’s as close as possible to how the foods appear in nature
◦Avoid processed sugars, especially sugary beverages like soda
◦Avoid saturated fat and trans fats, and instead substitute healthy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
◦Always combine complex carbohydrates with lean protein and some healthy fats at every meal
◦Spread your food out over 5-6 smaller meals, consumed every 2-3 hours
◦Eat for maximum nutrient density. In other words, avoid “empty” calories found in fast food, soda, snacks, cakes and cookies, and substitute in nutrient-dense snacks.
◦Pay attention to proper portions and practice portion control
◦Drink lots of water (at least 8 cups a day.)

The Benefits:

◦Decreased body fat
◦Increased lean tissue (muscle)
◦Improved energy
◦General improvements in overall health and immunity
◦Decreased risk of certain types of diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancers
◦Less consumption of pesticides, artificial food additives and preservatives, sodium and sugar
◦Less impact on the environment, since Eating Clean is also Eating Green; the foods you preference in a Clean Eating diet are minimally processed, and thus use less energy and produce less waste than highly-processed foods
◦Less expensive. Contrary to what you might believe, Clean Eating is actually more cost-effective and less expensive than eating pre-packaged food or fast food. For instance, for the price of a Super-Sized Big Mac Meal Deal, you could prepare an entire pot of healthy soup that would make more than a half dozen meals that are healthier, more satisfying and more nutritionally-dense.
◦Sustainable. Unlike fad diets, Clean Eating is a holistic approach to eating that a person can practice for their entire life. You don’t “go on” a Clean Eating diet — you’re always clean eating.