Illness and disease can break down your body, causing it to not function as efficiently as it should.
When the recovery process starts, you have two options.
- You can continue with your current eating habits and regain your health and well-being gradually
- You can take control of your health by altering your diet and eating clean.
For many, the choice to eat clean is a drastic step. If you start when you are recovering from an illness or disease, your body is already experiencing a healing crisis. Eating clean will flush out toxins that will leave the body during the recovery phase. When true healing starts, a clean diet nourishes the body. It doesn’t slow down its progress.
What Does It Mean to Eat Clean?
Eating clean is a simple concept. It means eating foods in their freshest, most natural states with as little preparation as possible.
Eating clean eliminates the introduction of any additives or preservatives into the body. It allows the body to gain all of the nutrients available from the foods you consume without any substance or process that will hinder the way they are absorbed into the body. Eating clean isn’t just about the foods you eat. It’s also about how you prepare them.
Related: Clean Eating Plan
Fresh Is Best
Eating foods in their freshest state means you get the maximum amount of nutrients available. Fruits and vegetables, for example, begin to lose their nutritional value as soon as they are harvested. Any type of cooking or processing also depletes nutrients.
If you live in an area where local farmers sell produce from roadside stands, take advantage of it. Buying your fruits and vegetables locally means they are fresh from the field and full of nature’s goodness. The next best thing is to visit your local grocery store’s produce section every couple of days to ensure you are getting the freshest produce possible.
Include Whole Foods
To keep your body clean and running efficiently, you need to eat the foods that work as “cleaners”. This includes whole grains, seeds, and nuts. Including as many whole foods as possible in your diet will help you get the fiber you need to keep your digestive tract moving smoothly. The fiber you gain from whole foods will also help to keep your cholesterol under control. Fewer fats in your bloodstream mean more usable oxygen for your brain and cells to use.
Avoid Processed Foods
Foods that are heavily processed don’t break down like natural foods. They slow down the body’s ability to function efficiently. They also slow down the healing process.
Processed foods normally contain an excessive amount of additives and preservatives that can prevent your body from absorbing the nutrients it needs. They are full of empty calories and have very little nutritive value. When you are recovering from an illness, consuming processed foods can slow down your recovery.
Know the Best Way to Prepare Your Food
Eating fresh, whole food is the key to eating clean. Even if your produce is organic, you should still wash it thoroughly to eliminate any dirt or debris. Cooking your vegetables will destroy nutrients, but you can salvage some of them if you steam them. Avoid frying your food. Baking or broiling will allow your foods to be cooked without the use of unhealthy oils or fats. It will also prevent the loss of important nutrients.
Juicing Helps to Rebuild
Juicing is one of the quickest ways to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to rebuild. Whether you choose to use a juicer or to make a smoothie, you are able to use as much of the food as possible with little to no heat processing.
You get all of the nutrients in a delicious beverage that will help you rebuild your health and boost your immune system. Because the foods are fresh, the calories you receive will burn quickly, giving your body the energy it needs as it heals.
You Get to Truly Enjoy Your Food
Clean eating gives you an opportunity to enjoy your food. Fresh foods are full of natural flavors that are unchanged by additives and preservatives. Slow down when you eat. Chew slowly and enjoy the flavors you may have missed before. You will be surprised at the many colors, textures, and tastes you may not have realized were hiding under the surface.
Alcohol and Illness
Drinking alcohol can have many adverse effects on the body. Long-term use can damage the liver and hinder its ability to aid in the digestive process. Clean eating helps to improve liver function. Whether you are in an alcohol recovery program or are healing after an illness, clean eating will allow your body to regain its strength and begin to function more efficiently.
Sources
mayoclinichealthsystem.org/ – Clean Eating: What Does That Mean?
vitamix.com/ – What Is Clean Eating and Why Is It Important?
cleaneatingmag.com/ – 10 Reasons to Eat Clean
cleanfoodcrush.com/ – 20 Clean Eating Benefits
thecleaneatingcouple.com/ – Healthy Meal Prep Ideas
www.nuffieldhealth.com/ – What to Eat to Recover From Illness
trifectanutrition.com/ – Clean Eating Food List: What to Eat and What to Avoid
sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/ – Luxury Rehab in Austin, Texas
