Over the years ‘Clean Eating’ has become a stigmatised term. The idea of certain foods being ‘clean’ and others being ‘dirty’ has sparked a lot of panic around refined and processed foods, preservatives, and added sugars and salts. While it is necessary to consider these things when deciding what to eat, you should be mindful that no diet is perfect and it all comes down to what works for you.
Processed foods like takeaway, cheese, sugary cakes and biscuits, and crisps, are all looked down upon in the ‘clean eating’ community. This is because they contain higher levels of salt, sugar, and fat, which can cause obesity and heart problems in the future. While it’s wise to avoid eating foods like these as much as possible, every once in a while is okay! A sweet treat here and there doesn’t mean that your diet isn’t clean enough.
The first step to a clean diet is to understand what nutrients the body needs and what foods are the best places to get these nutrients. The body needs a good variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains and carbs, and food with high levels of protein.
Typically, organically grown fruits and vegetables will be cleaner than those at the supermarket, and the same goes for homemade bread and pasta. This is because they are not as commercially produced in large quantities, and therefore don’t contain as many pesticides, chemicals, and preservatives that large companies use to maintain consistent quality. Going to your local farmer’s market or health food store is a great place to start if you’re wanting to start eating cleaner.
Eating clean is often associated with switching to a plant-based diet, as animal products contain more saturated fat, lactose, estrogens, and pathogenic microorganisms. All of which harm the body’s health. Going vegan is not 100% necessary when switching to clean eating, but it can help cut out some of those nasty hormones and chemicals discussed earlier that large commercial farms often use. If you know you can’t live without meat, try switching to organically farmed and free-range.
Another massive component of eating clean is drinking LOTS of water. You should be drinking roughly 10 cups of water a day.
It all starts with a few small changes. Your diet doesn’t need to be perfect to be clean. As long as you are committed to bettering your health and well-being, you have already taken the first step. Start with some simple changes: get up a couple of hours early every Saturday and head down to the local farmer’s market to pick up a few organic fruits and veggies. As a side note, this will also do wonders at supporting your local businesses and community. Good luck!