Clean Eating Tips

Tray of Food
Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Melissa Burch Harton has a background in nonprofit administration and holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Melissa Harton enjoys many hobbies including horseback riding and hiking, as well as cooking with an emphasis on clean eating.

Clean eating emphasizes consuming foods that are as close to their natural form as possible, with minimal processing. These foods tend to provide maximal nutritional benefits and are usually produced in ethical and sustainable ways.

Beginning a clean eating diet is simple. First of all, begin incorporating more fruits and vegetables, which are naturally loaded with vitamins and minerals and can often be consumed raw after washing. When buying food at the store, start reading the labels and avoid foods that contain preservatives, added sugars, or unhealthy fats. It is also good to avoid adding sugar to foods.

Additionally, avoid foods that contain refined carbs, which are split into two categories. Sugars encompass sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and agave syrup and refined grains refer to grains that have had the most nutritious parts removed, such as white flour. Refined carbs can lead to inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity, while whole grains provide more fiber and nutrients.