Clean eating is essentially a simple concept. 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.
It also means cutting back on refined grains, additives, preservatives, unhealthy fats and large amounts of added sugar and salt. You don't need to take drastic measures — to start off, look for foods without sugar as an ingredient, or make sure it's listed towards the bottom, which means less of it is used in the food.
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Realistically, eating clean doesn't mean you need to eat everything raw and straight from the ground. (I've heard this a lot before) it's more of consuming food in its most natural, unprocessed state.
Heres a little motivation to start eating your fruits and veggies today — Multiple studies have shown that diets heavy on fruits and veggies can curb or prevent certain life threatening conditions and diseases, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even breast cancer. Raw fruits and veggies, specifically, have also been linked to better mental health. Plus, you'll get that glowing skin and hair! I mean, come on.. Do I need to say more?
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Over the past few years, I became so obsessed with eating clean and practicing the perfect diet. I couldn’t eat something without wondering what negative effects it could potentially have on my body. The craziness took some time to get over but eventually I realized that what I was doing wasn’t actually healthy and I was unhappy.
I've come to a realization that there’s no sense in restricting yourself so much that you feel deprived and as a result, unhappy. You gotta nourish in order to flourish!
"Food isn't just fuel for your body, but for your mind, too."
I would never tell you to cut doughnuts, bagels, pastas or other soul foods out of your diet. Don't overthink it, it's ok to eat those things sometimes! You’ve heard it a million times before.. Simply keep everything in moderation.
Here is an insightful article from Healthline on simple ways to start your clean eating journey.