If you struggle with your energy level, weight loss, or sleeplessness, it may be time to consider a lifestyle change to help you live your best life! Your body functions and health depend on the nutrients you are putting into it, so if your diet is not the healthiest, then you may have found the reason behind your low energy! Having low energy also lowers your motivation to exercise, but exercise can help you lose weight and sharpen your mental focus.
Eating “clean” has become a popular term in the nutrition and fitness world and can refer to a short-term cleanse or a long-term lifestyle change. While there is no strict definition, clean eating generally refers to consuming foods that are unprocessed and in their natural state. No one food group is typically eliminated, you can eat any foods you like as long as they are whole and unrefined.
Most people who are choosing to eat clean avoid sodas, sports drinks, baked goods, candy, and pre-packaged food like chips, frozen dinners, and canned soup. White bread, white rice, and other foods prepared with white flour are excluded from a clean diet since the grain has been refined, losing much of its nutritional value.
Clean eating offers many benefits, including fat loss, weight loss, increased energy, clearer skin, better sleep, and a sharper mental focus. When you are not consuming sodas and processed foods, you will need to replace those items with water and lots of fruit and vegetables, which are naturally better for your body than other types of food. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins, which play a key role in your body’s metabolic processes. They are also high in fiber, which keeps your digestive system functioning well. A slow-moving digestive tract can make you feel sluggish and bloated, so you should notice the benefits of increasing your produce intake. Fruits and vegetables are also complex carbohydrates, helping sustain your energy for longer periods without the energy ups and downs that come from consuming processed foods made with sugar.
Clean eating has been around for a long time, but it may take some time to get used to making this lifestyle change since our hectic ways of life often have us relying on pre-packaged foods. You can go big and begin eating 100% clean right away, or you could plan to start small, choosing to eat clean for dinner every day while you learn to pack yourself clean lunches and grab a quick breakfast that is not processed food.
Clean eating can help you feel better and live your best life! Consider other lifestyle changes that have a positive effect, like taking more time for self-care activities such as getting a massage or visiting with friends. Try it out to see how it works for you!