You may or may not have heard the term eating clean before. It’s a technique that’s used by many bodybuilders and fitness competitors. However, you may wonder what this means in your own life.
Eating clean refers to a way of eating that involves little to no processed foods, such as packaged crackers, cookies, sugary cereals, etc., and eating a variety of foods that come from nature lean meats including beef, chicken, and fish, fruits and vegetables, eggs and nuts, and milk or soy-milk.
Processed foods are often high in saturated or trans fat, or simple sugars that will make you crash mid-afternoon, and make your appetite spike throughout the day. This type of food also has additives, food dyes and chemicals that our body doesn’t know how to process.
There is some evidence that a diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, and sugars and simple carbs like white bread can lead to insulin resistance a condition where our bodies don’t adequately process glucose – type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and even stroke or heart attack. Eating clean can cut these risks down significantly.
It promotes fat loss and immunity to disease. You will sleep better, have more energy, and won’t get hungry as often (clean eating usually involves eating six small meals a day, or a meal every 2 to 3 hours).
But the price is high. Do you really want to give up doughnuts, potato chips, creamy sauces and all fried and processed food? Only you can answer this question. It may mean the difference between a high percentage of body fat and the lean, muscular physique you’ve always wanted. Nothing worth acquiring comes without effort.
