What is clean eating? Eating clean is a good way to refresh your eating habits: it's about eating more of the best and healthiest options in each of the food groups—and eating less of the not-so-healthy ones. That means embracing whole foods like vegetables, fruits and healthy proteins and fats
Whether you're hoping to lose weight or simply maintain your health as you age, eating clean makes up a key component of a healthful lifestyle. Loading up your diet with minimally processed, whole foods -- such as whole grains, veggies, fruits, nuts, legumes, fatty fish and lean meats -- not only provides nutrients to support healthy cell function but also helps fight chronic disease. Cutting unhealthy foods out of your diet offers benefits because compounds found in unhealthy, processed foods can increase your disease risk.
Feel more Energetic. A healthy diet that properly nourishes your body helps you feel energetic and productive. Several nutrients, including the B-complex vitamins and iron, help your cells access fuel so that they can function properly. Eating clean also helps regulate your blood sugar, helping you avoid fatigue-inducing blood sugar spikes, which can occur after you eat processed carbohydrates, such as sweets or refined grains. The Michigan State University Extension recommends jump-starting your energy levels with a breakfast that includes fibre-rich whole grains, which provide energy that lasts you through to lunch.
Improve Cardiovascular Health. Eat clean to support long-term health -- a healthful diet helps lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Fruits and vegetables, for example, come packed with vitamin C, a nutrient that helps maintain the strength of your blood vessels. A diet rich in fruits and veggies lowers coronary heart disease risk and also protects against stroke and high blood pressure. A clean diet rich in healthful fats -- the type found in nuts, avocados and olive oil -- lowers harmful cholesterol levels, which also fight cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, an unhealthy diet rich in saturated fat increases your blood cholesterol, which threatens your cardiovascular health.