What is Clean Eating and How to Get Started

If you follow popular media, you’ll undoubtedly have heard references to clean eating. But what is it? Fortunately, there’s little mystery to clean eating. Its simplest definition is eating foods close to their natural forms — an apple should look like a fruit, not a piece of taffy. However, the term often refers to making choices that avoid some natural substances, like salt and sugar — too much of which adversely impacts your health. Such a meal plan offers considerable health benefits, including weight loss and decreasing your risk of developing various diseases. Here’s your introduction to how to get started with clean eating. 1. Get a Healthier Balance of Fats One issue with processed foods in the western diet is they often rely on…

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Categories: Wellness & Personal Growth

Tags: self-care, wellness

Mia Barnes

How to Give Your Immune System a Boost Through Healthy Eating

With parties, barbecues, and playdates, it can be difficult to avoid the germs escaping coughs and sneezes from your peers, colleagues or family members. However, there are several ways you can build up your immune system to combat sickness and sniffles. One method is to incorporate healthy eating habits into your routine. The Importance of Nutrition for the Immune System Your immune system works hard to protect your body from harmful viruses, bacteria and parasites. It uses innate immunity as the first line of defense, including barriers like skin, mucus, stomach acid and enzymes. However, if a microbe slips through, your body will use its adaptive immunity to target the substance and zap it out of your system. The adaptive immune system will then remember…

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Mia Barnes

Can You Lose Weight by Eating Chocolate?

Imagine a world where you can lose weight by eating chocolate. It sounds like a fantasy, right? Well, maybe not. Some research indicates that consuming chocolate every day, at specific times, may help our body burn fat and decrease blood sugar levels. Before you file this under “too good to be true,” let’s explore how chocolate may not be the enemy to our waistline after all. How Blood Sugar Affects Your Weight If your doctor has indicated that you are diabetic or even pre-diabetic, you may be paying closer attention to your sugar intake. However, if your annual physical indicates that all is normal, then you may not think about sugar intake as much as you should. The connection between blood sugar, belly fat, and…

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Institute Editorial Team

Eating for Energy: 7 Foods That Battle Fatigue

Not all foods are equal — some can boost energy to fight fatigue, while others make you feel drowsy and exhausted. Be aware of the good and bad options for your health, especially if you have sensitivities. Here are seven foods to eat to make you feel energetic. 1. Water Water is carb and calorie-free, so it doesn’t satiate your hunger to overcome fatigue. However, drinking initiates the body’s energy process, preventing dehydration that causes fatigue and mood swings. Hydrate with water to flush out toxins and feel better. 2. Bananas Gym-goers eat a banana before they leave home. It gives them a spurt of energy enough to lift weights and run on a treadmill. One small banana has 23 grams of carbohydrates, equivalent to…

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Mia Barnes

fruits and vegetables representing calories and micronutrients

Calories vs. Micronutrients & Why We Need Both

Calories and Micronutrients are critical to understand for our health; but most of us don’t know the difference. Ever wonder why it is so hard to maintain a healthy weight, especially as we get older? You are not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, 42.4% of Americans are obese, with many elements coming into play. Among these elements are biological factors, like our genes; environmental factors, including those people we interact with; and modifiable components, like the food choices we make. I like to use the analogy of a car when I’m explaining nutrition. The gasoline we put into our car is what makes the car run. The car’s fuel is analogous to macronutrients that make our body’s run. Macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins…

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Lynn Ulatowski

Quit Aimlessly Snacking With These 6 Tips

Aimless snacking can have serious implications for your health and well-being. As such, it’s essential to nip bad habits in the bud.

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Mia Barnes

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