Take Charge of Your Future With Clean Eating

At this point in your life, you have probably witnessed the rise and fall of fifty different popular diets. Low carb, low fat, mysterious green shakes—each of these philosophies of eating have had their time in the spotlight.

However, as you may have found, the actual results of these fads are often far different from the alleged benefits. Restrictive diets are difficult to maintain and often neglect important nutrition groups. So, what are you to do if you want to eat right but are sick of hype?

Midlife Boulevard is please to work with Hampton Creek to bring you this helpful sponsored post!

Freshen Your Menu

Clean eating is emerging as a new way of conceptualizing and consuming food. Unlike fad diets of the past, clean eating does not require you to count calories or buy TV dinners from a certain company. This is because it is a lifestyle, not a crash diet.

According to proponents of this movement, the path to eating healthfully lies not in vilifying certain food groups, but in taking nutritious ingredients and turning them into balanced meals.

Clean menus consist largely of fruits and vegetables, but still incorporate the delicious flavors of lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy types and amounts of fats and sugars. Rather than using prepackaged meals or mixes, you put together your own recipes using fresh ingredients. The natural result of eating this way is that it maximizes the nutritional value of the foods you eat while minimizing your intake of excessive preservatives and other additives. This in turn lowers your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and numerous other health problems.

Cozy up to Your Kitchen…

There is no doubt that in order to reap the benefits of clean eating, you will have to cook the majority of your meals. There are hundreds of resources online that can help you get started with this undertaking. If you have been eating prepackaged foods for years, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much better your own creations taste.

While you want to minimize your intake of processed foods, you are not doomed to a lifetime of grinding your own mustard seeds by hand. Some companies have come to recognize the importance of rehabilitating the way people eat, and they have found ways to make staple condiments into more healthful options.

For example, HamptonCreek is a company whose focus is on finding new ways to use the natural properties of plants to serve some of the functions of artificial food additives. The resulting product lines of mayonnaise spreads, salad dressings, and even cookies are more nutritious than their conventional counterparts.

As commitment to mindful eating has increased in popularity, Hampton Creek has become one of the fastest growing food companies in the world. Thanks to their efforts, you can enhance the flavor of your meals without cloaking their nutritional values in excess sugars and fats.

…Then Get on Your Feet

A diet of clean, whole foods is critical, but to get the most out of clean eating you should pair it with an active lifestyle. The benefits of exercise have been touted to the moon and back, but for many people, the concept of “fitness” conjures up images of perfectly sculpted youths in neon spandex.

This image is intimidating, especially if you can remember a time before the Internet.

In reality, getting exercise is not about looking good in a sports bra. It is about recognizing that your body is capable of doing so much more than sitting on your office chair, driver’s seat, and couch.

There are thousands of exercise routines in existence that you can try out in a gym or in your living room. Even if dumbbells and lunges are not your thing, there are many ways that you can incorporate activity into your daily life.

Walk your dog for ten minutes longer each day, do some sit-ups and stretches before your morning shower, or ride your bike to the convenience store instead of driving. The important thing is just to get moving.

You will find that when you are eating well, your body will be much better equipped to handle increased levels of activity.

Plant Seeds Now to Make Your Golden Years Shine

In midlife, it is important to set yourself up for success in your golden years. Everyone has heard of financial retirement plans, but you need a physical retirement plan as well. Multiple studies have found links between clean eating and longer, healthier lifespans. Taking the right measures now can extend not just your life, but also your youth.

If your later years are healthy years, then you will be able to enjoy such pleasures as playing tag with your grandkids, going on a safari with your spouse, or going for a solo backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.

Food Is Fuel

As you begin adopting a clean eating lifestyle, it is helpful to think of your body like a car. If you do not pay attention to maintaining it properly, its lifetime performance will be stunted and shortened. On the other hand, if you fill it with good fuel, drive it well, and maintain it properly, it has every chance of meeting its fullest potential.

By paying attention to what you put into your body and using it for all that you can, you can enjoy the perks of good health for years to come.