The Whole Food Diet – Clean Eating for Healthy Living

When it comes to eating healthy, it is always the best plan to stick with whole, natural foods. As much as we want to believe that we are more advanced than our ancestors, they had the right idea when it came to their diets. Locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and meats were dietary staples for centuries, which gave way to highly processed and refined foods such as fast food and ready-made meals to cater to our increasingly industrialized and busy lifestyles.

These convenience foods are often stripped of their nutritional value with over-processing, leaving them inadequate to support our daily nutrient requirements. Beyond their lack of essential nutrients, processed foods are often packed with high levels unhealthy fats, food additives and preservatives in order to enhance their flavour profile or extend their shelf life. Food companies have recently started to come full circle and offer processed foods with enhanced nutrient contents – it is easy to find foods touting enhanced fibre, vitamin, mineral, antioxidant or omega-3 fat content. While these foods are a better option from a nutritional standpoint, they are often more expensive and have the same or less nutrient content as their whole food equivalents. If this isn`t enough reason to eat a ``clean`` diet, here are a few more reasons why diets based on whole foods are the best way to keep your health on track.

1. Lower glycemic – The term low glycemic describes foods that digest more slowly and prevent spikes in your blood sugar levels, due to their fibre and nutrient content. Whole fruits, vegetables and whole grains are lower glycemic choices than their refined food counterparts, fruit juices and white breads and pastas. Low glycemic foods provide more sustained energy throughout the day as well as decrease your risk for type-2 diabetes and heart disease.

2. Lower your risk - Diets based on refined and processed foods put us at risk of nutritional deficiencies as well as a suite of chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Whole foods contain essential nutrients such as proteins, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, as well as antioxidant and detoxifying phytonutrients that work in concert to maintain optimal health.

3. Weight control – Diets based on whole foods usually contain fewer calories than those based on processed convenience foods. Fast foods and snack foods often have high calorie counts and contain excessive amounts of unhealthy saturated...

Source:http://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy-living/nutrition/the-whole-food-diet--clean-eating-for-healthy-living