When it comes to eating clean, there are 2 simple guidelines to follow:

1.  In a world where we want to have it all, when it comes to what we eat, less is actually more. The fewer ingredients a food product has on its label, generally speaking, the "cleaner" it is going to be for you.

2.  If you cannot say it, then you probably should not eat it.  When it comes to reading that ingredient list, whether short or long, if you cannot pronounce the word, then it is something your body probably cannot process.

6 Ingredients to Avoid /Limit in Your Diet.

1. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This is corn syrup that has been treated with enzymes to make it sweeter. It is about one and a half times sweeter than sugar is. It does have calories, and it’s used in beverages, candy, bread, cookies, salad dressings, tomato soup, yogurt, frozen desserts, dairy drinks, canned fruits, processed ham, hamburgers, ice cream, luncheon meat, sausage, pickles, ketchup, and syrups. The debate is still ongoing about the health hazards of this one. One side of the fence says that HFCS contributes to weight gain and negatively affects one’s appetite control. However, many medical professionals dispute this claim and say that HFCS is very similar to regular table sugar and is not linked to a rise in obesity. From a "clean eating" perspective, HFCS is found in packaged and processed foods –not fresh fruits and vegetables or whole grains; therefore, I recommend trying to eliminate it or at least reduce the amount of of high fructose corn syrup in your diet. And if you are going to consume sugar, do so with more natural sources (These will be listed below).

2. MSG (Monosodium glutamate). MSG is also known as glutamic acid, free glutamate, and monopotassium glutamate. It’s naturally occurring in seaweed, soybeans, and sugar beets.  However, in our modern world it is most often used as a food additive and labeled as a flavor enhancer. MSG is used in some meat and in spice flavorings in meats, condiments, pickles, soups, candies, baked goods, stocks, bouillon cubes, salad dressings, canned, oriental snack foods, mixed nuts, salted nuts, soybeans, yeast extract, maltodextrin, whey protein, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, frozen or dried foods, jerky, and flavored potato chips – just to name a few foods.

3. Bovine growth hormone (BGH, also known as rbGH and rbST). Bovine growth hormone is a protein produced by the pituitary glands of all cattle; through technology, scientists have figured out how to convert BGH into another protein called Bovine somatotropin (BST).  Supplementing cattle with additional BST results in an increase in milk production. The hormone was introduced to the marketplace in 1994 – and that’s when it started to get into our food supply. There is a lot of controversy regarding this hormone because of the potential side effects for both cows and humans. The sale of the hormone is prohibited in Canada because of the potential negative side effects for the cows, and the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand have all banned rbST. However, here in the US, the FDA has approved the use of rBST. In the pursuit of eating cleaner, I suggest you consume dairy products without rbGH or rbST. The good news is that you can find both organic and non-organic dairy without this hormone.

4. Hydrogenated oils. If you see the word "hydrogenated" before the name of an oil, then it is one you probably want to steer clear of. Hydrogenating oil is the process of converting a liquid oil to a partially solid fat. Food manufacturers like to "hydrogenate" because a higher amount of hydrogenation means the product is less likely to go bad fast. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life of products, plain and simple. Other reasons you want to avoid these: hydrogenation has a negative effect on our cholesterol levels and is also linked to colon cancer.

5. Artificial sweeteners. These include the yellow, blue, and pink. Sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal and NutraSweet), and saccharin (Sweet’N Low) are all artificial sweeteners that should be eliminated or at least REDUCED in our diets. To date, these artificial sweeteners are approved by the FDA. However, more and more is coming out on the potential side effects, and since there are so many GREAT natural sweeteners available, the switch should be pretty easy. Try substituting Stevia, Truvia, or Xylitol.

6. Refined sugar. In our American diets we consume too much sugar. Too much refined sugar is associated with diabetes, heart disease, cancers, weight gain, energy crashes, and cavities. I believe sweet stuff should be allowed and enjoyed in moderation. I also think if you are going to have sugar, you want to be able to enjoy it and have the good stuff. Cut out the refined and hidden sugar in your diet. When you are reading your food ingredient list, if sugar is one of the first five ingredients, then ditch that food!