What is Clean Eating?
What is Clean Eating? Eating clean can help you stay healthy and fit. Learn the other benefits of clean eating in this video.
Expert: Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Transcript
Fitness experts and celebrities are praising the Clean Eating trend. But what IS Clean Eating and how can it help you?It’s almost self-explanatory: eat foods that are as “clean” – meaning, as un-processed and as close to their natural state, as you can get them.
The main principle is to eliminate ADDED chemicals, colorings, fats, sugars and sugar syrups found in processed foods. AND to eat only whole foods that come straight from nature–like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean meats.
While you don’t have to choose organic foods, certain ones may be the clean move. Dairy products and eggs without hormones or antibiotics make sense. And the most pesticide-heavy produce includes strawberries, apples, peaches, grapes, celery, peppers and potatoes.
But nature-made food isn’t the only focus of clean eating. You’ll also be thinking more about nutrients and how they work in your body. If you want to get enough protein, for example, you’ll need to think about how much you want from animal sources. Try adding more vegetable protein from foods such as beans and tofu. They’re heart-healthy thanks to their low saturated fat content.
I know that eliminating processed and packaged food isn’t always easy, but you will almost ALWAYS feel better as a result. So, if you use packaged foods, remember-always read the nutrition labels. Watch out for hydrogenated and trans fats, and added sugars. An organic apple-always clean; applesauce, not necessarily. An apple toaster pastry-that’s a NO.
Clean eating is all about what gives your body energy, makes it strong and keeps it disease free. For more information on how nutrition influences your health, watch other videos in this series.
Last Modified: 2014-04-09
Category: Health and Nutrition, Videos
