If you have recently decided that you should start eating healthy to keep your body functioning and be a healthier version of yourself, then good for you and your new start.
It is hard to get off processed foods if you have been eating them constantly, but there are a lot of benefits when it comes to adopting a healthy diet and pushing unhealthy eating to the side.
For instance, did you know that when you start to consume more amino acids as well as fiber, and micronutrients, your body will go through a natural detoxification process that can make you feel healthy and offer you a huge range of benefits (but not before feeling worse as your body moves through this natural detox)?
If this is news to you, then you are not the only one.
It seems to make sense when you think about it as you are giving your body all the necessary nutrients it needs to function at its best level, but it has to get rid of the ‘bad stuff’ first through the detox process, which will make you feel worse.
Today, we will discuss what you should do when you start your healthy eating journey, and what will happen to your body once you begin with healthy food that incorporates clean eating.
What is Clean Eating?
When you start eating healthy and focus on eating clean, then you will notice some changes in your body that can go from uncomfortable to feeling great.
What is Included in Clean Eating?
Everyone has their own needs when it comes to nutrition, but on average, clean eating incorporates things such as –
- Foods that are not genetically modified
- Non-hydronated fats and oils
- A balance of Omega fats (3, 6, and 9)
- 25g of fiber a day and 25-35g of saturated fats
- Minimally processed foods or high-sugar foods
These are just a handful that people will deal with when they focus on eating healthy as well as clean.
As long as unhealthy foods are limited or out of their diet, they should be able to feel better in their bodies as well as stave off diseases such as heart disease, plus it will help them manage blood sugar fluctuations, and body weight (stopping them from gaining weight and/or helping them achieve weight loss).
How Should You Start Eating Healthy?
If you are unsure where to start on your healthy eating journey, then here are some ways that you can get this going to give you a better mindset and keep you away from junk food which can not only make you feel unwell but also cause poor sleep quality and brain fog.
Eat Whole Foods
It should go without saying, but eating whole foods will offer you a huge range of positives that can stop you from feeling dragged down and sick after you consume unhealthy foods.
Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains should be a staple in your diet, and foods that are highly processed should be kept out, especially when you are just starting to eat healthy, you want to detox your body from these foods, so if you keep having them, even mixed with healthy eating, you aren’t helping yourself.
Say No to White Sugar
Some say that white sugar is even more harmful than smoking. While the debate on which is more damaging continues, one thing is certain; artificial sugar offers no real benefits to your health. The more sugar you consume, the more likely you are to face health issues like diabetes, fatty liver, PCOS, obesity, high triglycerides, and more.
It doesn’t stop there; sugar can take a toll on your oral health too. Overindulging in sugar for extended periods can lead to tooth decay, which might mean frequent trips to the dentist and possibly needing procedures like dental root canals.
So how can you cut down on white sugar? You can start by reducing your intake of sugary treats like chocolates, cakes, cookies, packaged juices, and sodas. These are loaded with added sugars. Instead, switch to natural sources of sweetness, such as fruits, honey, stevia, or dates.
They can not only satisfy your sweet tooth but can also provide nutrients and fiber that are beneficial for your overall health. Small changes like these can go a long way in improving your health and well-being!
Avoid (Unhealthy) Snacks
Not all snacks are bad to have, in fact, eating a range of nuts and fresh fruit as a snack can help your energy levels and give you a pick-me-up in between meals, however, if you keep eating ‘health bars’ or crisps with low calories then you might actually be doing more harm than good.
Some of these health bars are actually filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners which are not going to be the best thing for your body.
If you don’t want to snack too much but are feeling a bit peckish, then opt for drinking more water or having a cup of green tea or peppermint tea, this may not be what you had in mind, but sometimes our hunger is hydration.
Keep Your Portions Small
Do not overfill your plate or your bowl when you are about to eat as all you are doing is putting calories into your body that you don’t actually need.
Get yourself a plate that is a normal size, maybe a little smaller, and put your food on there then walk away and sit down.
Don’t stand at the oven or the microwave and start putting things in your mouth, you will eat more than you are supposed to, and if you are really hungry, this will make you crave sugar so you may reach for something processed and not good for your eating regime.
What Will Happen When You Start to Eat Healthy?
You know how to start yourself off with healthy eating, now it is time to go through what will happen to your body once you put this into practice.
Any detox will cause you to go through some downtime as you are purging your body of bad things, so below are the positives that can happen with your food detox, just remember, that the discomfort won’t last and you will start to feel good about yourself.
One Day After Starting
This can be the hardest time when it comes to getting everything started, but once you do, you will notice a few things that will benefit you down the line.
- You will experience fewer food cravings.
- Your hunger stabilizes.
- You feel mentally more stable and are able to focus more.
- You might start to feel full, which may have not happened before.
One Week After Starting
If you are able to stick at it, your body will start to get used to you doing this, so you will begin to notice a few more benefits after that initial week.
- Your energy is much higher, so you may feel able to do more things during the day.
- You won’t feel as bloated as you normally do because the salt and fat aren’t bloating you up after eating.
- The food cravings are getting less and less.
- You may be sleeping a lot better without feeling lethargic during the day.
One Month After Starting
Moving on to the next big step, a few weeks to a month after you start eating healthy you will be able to see a big difference in not only how you feel but how you look as well.
- Your skin has a glow to it.
- You’ll notice more weight loss.
- Some health problems may feel better, e.g. headaches and back pain.
- It is more of a habit now, so you don’t reach for unhealthy foods much.
- You may be getting hungrier as your metabolism starts to speed up again.
Half a Year After Starting
This is a big one that will be a great achievement when you reach it. It is not easy for everyone to make it from the first week to six months with healthy eating, but once you make it, there is so much to look forward to.
- Your blood pressure may decrease.
- Your cholesterol levels will decrease.
- Daily life will be better and you will have likely lost more weight.
- Your bones will feel stronger.
- Your blood glucose levels will be more under control.
Conclusion
So, does your body detox when you start to eat healthy? Yes, it does, and your body will thank you a lot for it too.
It won’t be easy getting this going, but changing your lifestyle is never going to be easy if you have been used to a certain way for so long.
Just focus on yourself and your journey so you can be the best version of who you are.
