10 Pillars of Eating Clean
Introduction
On your journey to optimal physical and mental health, you need several pillars to give you the structure and support you need. Being healthy requires exercise, breathing, sleep, stress management, attitude, lifestyle, and diet. The last one, diet, is the most important of all. What we eat can change everything for the better or, if your diet is filled with processed junk food, for the worse. But remember, you have the power to make the right choices and transform your health.
10 Pillars of Eating Clean
Developing an attitude toward food, seeing it as a way of fueling our bodies and as something to be craved and worshipped, will lessen the power food has over you.
Follow these ten pillars to adopt a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle and enjoy a positive relationship with food.
Go Whole
Eliminate processed and junk food from your diet and choose whole foods with every meal and snack. Whole food is unprocessed and eaten in its natural state. It is highly nutrient-dense and should be the center of every meal. Decrease the amounts of salt, oils, unhealthy fats, and sugars in each meal or avoid using them altogether by replacing them with healthier substitutes, such as herbs and spices instead of salt, olive oil instead of butter, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of refined sugar.
Moderation is key
Too much or too little of anything is unhealthy, even with foods that are good for you. Moderation is what’s important. Keeping a food diary helps you be mindful of what types of food you usually eat. Then, after a week, you’ll be able to recognize which foods keep you full longer and which spike up your blood sugar levels, leaving you sluggish and unable to focus.
Food is Nutrition
Everything we eat provides some form of nutrition, depending on its nutrient composition and the amount consumed. Looking at food as a way to fuel our bodies and minds rather than just something that fills our stomachs will give you more clarity. It will also allow you to start respecting your body and what you put into it. Remember, your body is a temple, and it deserves the best.
Stop Counting
You are not just a series of calories, nutritional values, or a number on a scale. You are so much more than that. Learn to value yourself and boost your self-esteem by establishing healthy eating habits. Instead of beating yourself up for eating something you shouldn’t have, adopt the following attitude: ‘Today, I paid attention to what my body needed, so I ate when I felt hungry and stopped before I felt full. I had a healthy lunch, followed by a couple of cookies and a glass of milk for dessert.’
Love your Fat
Fat is an essential macronutrient that we can’t live without. The key is choosing the right fats in the right amounts. Whole foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, and olive oil are all great fat choices.
Say Bye To Diets
To enjoy a healthy lifestyle, you must be smart about your choices. Don’t follow a ‘diet’ for several weeks only to regain your lost weight. Instead, choose to follow a clean-eating lifestyle, not another diet.
Make A Good Start
Start each meal with low-calorie foods, such as salads, soups, and fruit. It will encourage you to eat fewer foods that are higher in calories.
Eat from the 5 Major Food Groups
Remember to eat from the five major food groups:
– Dairy
– Fruit
– Grains
– Lean meats (poultry, beans, fish, eggs, tofu, seeds, and nuts)
– Vegetables
Maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle involves consuming various whole foods from each group.
Be mindful of each bite.
Eating in a rush usually means eating far more than we should. So, focus on your food, how it tastes, smells, and makes you feel.
Enjoy it.
Revel in healthy eating. Be aware of how good it feels to treat your body right and fill it only with natural, whole, and highly nutritious food. Enjoy the journey to a healthier you.
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Conclusion
Adopting a clean-eating lifestyle involves embracing ten essential pillars, including choosing whole foods, practicing moderation, viewing food as nutrition, and being mindful of each bite. By prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods, respecting our bodies, and enjoying nourishing ourselves, we can cultivate a positive relationship with food and pave the way for optimal physical and mental well-being.
