D.M.
Hi T.---I'd never heard of the clean diet so I looked it up on the web. I am taking a distance Wellness 101 class and it is very close to what is suggested there.
You will do well with this sort of diet, and we should all think of eating for health, rather than restricting calories or avoiding this or that food. That means we will focus on fruits and vegetables(7 to 13 servings every day, lots of different colors), whole grains and legumes as the biggest part of our meal. We need to minimize animal protein as it is the source of saturated fat and excess cholesterol and contains a high ratio of calories for the nutrients found in it. Think of meat as a condiment or as a flavoring for soups and stews. You'll get plenty of protein from plants. I've also learned that cows milk should be avoided completely. My family doesn't drink it any longer. This was a bummer for us, as we drank LOTS. But there is some great info at www.strongbones.org for you to make your own decision.
This wellness class doesn't suggest that we exclude and foods either. But we need to learn to distinguish between a treat, and food that fuels us and allows our body to protect itself from disease.
The class is offered by a Naturopath who has her PhD in nutrition, and Dr. Pam talks about the need to get more fiber into our diets, for many reasons. Fiber removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, as well as excess estrogens, which is thought to increase the risk of several cancers. If we eat close to 40 grams of fiber a day, we'll achieve and maintain an optimal weight as well. Can't possible eat too much food with that much fiber. That's why we need to concentrate on those 4 food groups.
I've also learned alot from the website www.pcrm.org. I think you'll enjoy exploring it. If you'd like more info on Wellness 101, just let me know. And I have lots of great recipes to share. What kinds of things do you like?
Congrats on your decision to lead a life with optimal diet and lifestyle habits (don't forget about exercise, drinking lots of filtered water, plenty of sleep and stress reduction as they are an important part of 'optimal' as well). Good luck and feel free to contact me if you'd like to talk more.
In health, D. ###-###-####