Clean Eating?

I would bet that most of you have heard the term “clean eating” by now, right? Whether you have a friend who is trying to lose weight or heard it from a celebrity in their latest interview, the term is all the buzz these days. But, what does it really mean?

Basically, eating clean is a way of eating healthier. With so many processed foods (with tons of added sugar, sodium and fats) on the market today, many people are choosing to limit their intake of these overly processed items. When you “eat clean”, you look to eliminate foods that have unhealthy fats or have been excessively processed, choosing instead to consume items like fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, nuts, eggs, dairy and whole grains. A good general rule of thumb is to avoid chemical based-preservatives, food coloring, Trans fats, and any artificial sweeteners.

One of the more popular items in a clean eating diet is whole nuts. They are an easy source for snacking, easily transportable yet still pack the nutrition sourced wholly by nature. Nuts are considered a “raw” food (also included in this category are dried fruits, sun dried vegetables and beans). Raw foods are often sought after because they contain more natural energy due to the fact that they retain all of their nutrients that are often lost during cooking.

Raw foods have higher water content and fiber so you feel fuller longer upon consumption. Snacking on nuts can save you from choosing an unhealthy snack between meals. Because of this fact, raw foods- like nuts –can help you lose weight while gaining energy. Check out www.nuts.com for a wealth of information on this great snack!

One of the sections on the nuts.com website that you will want to check out is the info on Spirulina Spirulina is one of the most nutritionally dense foods in the world! It is packed with iron and is a complete protein that provides high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

What exactly is  Spirulina, you ask? (Well, you wouldn’t be the first!)

Spirulina is a blue-green microalgae that grows in freshwater lakes and ponds. Incredibly, it is one of the oldest life forms on earth! Because of its exceptional nutrient content, spirulina is today considered a “super food”. It is available in powder form so it is easy to incorporate in to your daily diet. One of the easiest ways to use this powder is to mix it in a smoothie. Check out the nuts.com page to access great ideas on how you can incorporate spirulina into your healthy diet plan

Keep in mind that by simply adding spirulina into your daily diet, you could replace your current iron supplement if you are on one! A one ounce serving provides over 40 percent of the daily recommended value of iron. In addition to iron, spirulina is a detoxifying agent and provides many other vitamins and minerals.

Check out nuts.com for more info.