What is Clean Eating?

And Can It Provide Relief for Menopause Symptoms?

Some people will say that clean eating is a diet. Others will say that it is a lifestyle choice separate from traditional dieting. Those who are unsure about the methods of clean eating may find that they have erroneously loaded their dishwasher with a dozen apples attempting to scrub as much invisible dirt and pesticide from their fruit as possible. Yes, I knew someone who did this. Let’s just say there were other issues going on besides her ignorance of the clean eating method.

Clean eating is actually a broader term with followers falling into several categories. Proponents of clean eating have different ideas about how to define the term. The division within the clean eating community is similar to the division in the vegetarian community. In the simplest terms, the ideology behind the manner of clean eating is that a person chooses foods that are as pure (without artificial preservatives, added sugars, etc.) as possible. The foods that clean eating proponents choose to put on their plates are as close to how nature intended them to be served.

Clean eating has grown in popularity over the past several years as consumers have become more concerned about the chemicals, conditions in which food is harvested and raised and the effects that artificial preservatives have on our bodies throughout the course of our life.  Celebrities have praised the benefits of detoxification. While physicians have celebrated the advantages of clean eating by seeing less patients with high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.

Some of the most popular ways that people have introduced this concept into their daily lives include: detoxification, dietary overhaul and a back to basics approach. Let’s take a few moments to break down what each of these methods entails. Keep in mind that I made-up the names for the last two methods. Sorry, everyone. My creativity faltered when labeling the last two methods.

Detoxification

In my opinion, detoxification is not clean eating in the truest sense of the notion. Generally, detoxification involves a period of fasting, eating or drinking simple teas and other concoctions for a specified timetable in order to rid the body of toxins. The reason I take issue with this method is that it seems extreme, less gentle and less welcoming for people who are scared to change their dietary ways.

But what do I know? If I could take a snapshot of my fridge right now (well, technically I could, but I don’t want to have any evidence of my eating habits), you would see that it is packed with a lot of pre-packaged foods and pizza. Maybe I do need a detox.

Dietary Overhaul

I think I may have chosen a label that is more intimidating than I intended for this method to sound. For people who choose the above detox method, this is step 2. However, this step will work without detoxification and you will probably be able to stick with it a little easier because you are not ravaged by hunger from the previous detox.

The majority of people who choose clean eating as their dietary lifestyle eat an overabundance of the following foods:

Plants – Anything that is grown on a vine; has a leaf, falls from a tree or harvested from a bush counts here.

Meats – Not the packaged meats that line the cold-cut displays at your local grocery store. We are talking about meats that are wrapped up straight from the butcher’s block. A misconception that many people have is that butcher meat is expensive. Not true. It is usually the same as what you would pay for the packaged meat that sometimes has preservatives in it to keep it from turning into pink slime.

Whole Grains – Anything brown works here; brown rice, wheat flour, bran, and flaxseed. These grains have less sugar, more fiber and are less processed than their white counterparts.

People who follow this method of clean eating actually eat a lot, but weigh less. Instead of eating three meals a day, finding themselves starving two hours before dinner and grabbing a candy bar to curb the hungers pains, these followers eat 5 -6 small daily meals that incorporate the whole food categories listed above. Eating frequently keeps your metabolism high and your body is less tempted to use stored fat to feed your hunger pains.

Back to Basics

This method follows the same dietary examples as above, but reverts back to the traditional three meals with a small, healthy snack included during the day. Eating three times a day is easier for a lot of people, especially those who find that their schedules do not allow time to make 5-6 healthy meal choices each day.

Clean Eating Helps Menopause Symptoms

While clean eating is beneficial to all people, it is especially beneficial for menopausal women. Clean eating boasts the following benefits:

• Increased energy
• Weight stabilization
• Improved concentration
• Happier feelings, less mood swings and irritability
• Regulated blood sugar that will lessen dizziness

Conclusion

I know this was a long clean eating lesson. Thank you for sticking with me to the end. I agree that changing ones eating patterns established over a lifetime of temptation and yummy Hershey Kisses can be a difficult task. Which is why I think the least painful, intimidating way to introduce clean eating into your lifestyle is to take baby steps. You don’t have to change everything about the way you eat overnight. One step at a time will do the trick!

Check out this recipe that will help you start your clean eating journey!