How To (Really) Eat Clean

No, it doesn’t mean just crunching on celery sticks.

- Joyce Chua

“Clean” eating is trendy, but what is it exactly? At its simplest, it’s eating more of the healthiest options in each food group and less of the unhealthy ones. More specifically, it means choosing whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, and cutting down on processed foods such as refined grains, preservatives, and unhealthy fats. Here are some great ways to do it right:

1 Load Up on Fresh Produce

Hitting your recommended five-a-day servings of fruit and vegetables can significantly reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and cancer. Plus, the fibre found in whole produce keeps the good bacteria in your gut thriving, reducing your risk of autoimmune diseases by fighting off infections.

Try to “eat the rainbow” each day, too – opt for a naturally colourful range of vegetables, fruits, and spices, such as bell peppers, sweet potatoes, berries, greens, and turmeric. They all contain plant compounds and nutrients that keep cells healthy.

Tip: Have a salad of mixed fruits and vegetables per day, and dress it with olive oil, apple cider or turmeric for extra nutrition. And, throw some dark, leafy greens – which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – into meals throughout the day, from sauteed spinach with your morning omelette to kale in that after-workout smoothie.