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There are tons of articles right now on healthy living, and it’s great that we are all focusing on our bodies and our health, but, with so much advice coming from so many different angles, it can be difficult to discern what diet is right for you. Clean eating is a simple way to approach wellness. But what is it exactly, and how can it benefit you?

Clean eating is a lifestyle—not a diet. Rather than restricting your intake and counting calories, which can be difficult to maintain, clean eating requires you to manage your health and wellness by focusing on whole grains, vegetables, and fruit; and cutting out things like sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats. Eating clean is a way to revitalize your health on a sustainable basis. It’s a great way to get back on track if you’ve been eating poorly, and to build healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Here are some tips on eating clean:

Cut out the Bad Stuff  

Sugar
You can still indulge once in a while, and natural sugars found in fresh fruit are definitely okay, but cutting down your added sugar intake can prevent tooth decay, heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain. The American Heart Association recommends no more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day for women and about nine teaspoons per day for men.

Salt
Excessive salt intake can increase blood pressure. The problem? Salt is hiding everywhere, especially in processed foods. A good first step to avoiding salt is to avoid packaged foods. Reading labels is key here. Some packaged foods aren’t harmful, like whole grain pasta, for example, so just keep an eye out for sodium levels. The recommended sodium intake per day is 2,300 mg, which is around one teaspoon of salt.

Saturated Fats
Not all fats are bad, but eliminating saturated fats from your diet will lower your risk of increased cholesterol and heart disease. Saturated fats are found in foods like butter, cheese, and meat. The best way to avoid these “bad” fats is to swap them out for “good” fats, like avocados, nuts, and peanut butter.

Add in the Good Stuff

Whole grains
Whole grains, as opposed to refined grains, lower your risk of a number of chronic diseases, including stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. They also have been found to support better weight maintenance. Look for the word “whole” on packaging, and try to eat about three servings of whole grains per day.

Vegetables
Vegetables are full of healthy vitamins, like vitamins A and K, which are essential for healthy vision and immune function. They’re high in fiber, low in calories, and unprocessed. The recommended daily intake for adults in about three cups of vegetables per day.

Fruits
Fresh fruits are naturally low in fats, calories, and sodium, so they’re a clean eating must. They host a number of essential nutrients, like potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid). Eating fresh fruit can help reduce the risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer, as well as lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of kidney stones, and decrease bone loss. The recommended intake for fruits is about 2 ½ cups per day.

Try out these clean eating tips and get on your way to better health and wellness. While you’re at it, get active! Check out https://www.athletebeyond.com/ for athletic apparel to get you motivated.

Many people overlook the many benefits to yoga and shrug it off as a boring activity, however, yoga can be beneficial to men and women alike and can provide people with some life changing rewards. Not only can yoga benefit your body while trying to get in shape, but also it can benefit your mind and quality of life. Here are just a few of yoga’s many beneficial factors.

1. Reduces Stress 

Yoga can reduce stress by giving you a calming routine to escape to each day. Once yoga becomes a part of your routine, it will be something you look forward to in order to release your mind from the many stresses of the day and relax. 

2. Increases Flexibility 

Yoga can be a difficult activity for many at first, because it focuses so much on flexibility. But if you stick to it, yoga will increase your flexibility and be a great way to stretch out your muscles. If you add yoga to your regular workout routine, it can help you feel less sore after lifting weights. 

3. Increases Strength and Tone 

Yoga will increase your strength and tone as well as flexibility by forcing you to hold difficult positions and engage your core muscles. Accompanied by a cardio and strength training workout plan, yoga can help you see results faster and keep you from getting stiff and pulling muscles.

4. Increases Energy

By getting your heart pumping and your body moving, yoga will increase your energy throughout the day. The lazier you are, the more tired you become. By getting up and getting active, your body will thank you and in turn, will be more energized and ready to take on the day. Consider doing yoga as a part of your morning routine in order to wake up and start the day. 

5. Better Sleep Quality

Another benefit of getting active in general is better quality of sleep. An active lifestyle provides you more energy during the day and then trains your body to rest at night when you are sleeping. Being active and doing yoga will provide you will deeper sleep at night for your muscles and mind to recover.

Yoga is not an activity for the lazy. Yoga can be difficult and provide great strength training and cardio benefits. Incorporate yoga into your current exercise routine in order to improve not only your fitness level, but also your quality of life as a whole.

These leggings are THE perfect accessory to supplement your exercise routine in any season or workout setting. These leggings will provide you with a better workout when it comes to comfort, muscle support, and style. They can be worn at the gym, outdoors, under your shorts, or in your everyday routine. You cannot go wrong with this product and here’s why.

1. Compression for Increased Blood Flow

These leggings by ATHLETE provide the perfect amount of compression for your legs to aid in your workout. Compression clothing increases blood flow to your heart and prevents your muscles from getting sore or being injured. Behind the style of these lightweight, base layer tights comes a physical benefit for your health!

2. Comfortable

The comfort of these lightweight leggings is a huge benefit to them. There are many leggings out there that are not comfortable. Maybe the waist is too tight or causes bulge. The fabric might be too thin and revealing. But with these leggings by ATHLETE, you can be assured that your sweat will not show and neither will your underwear. They have a thick waistband and a lightweight, yet sturdy fabric that will resist sweat and be comfortable and flexible both for your workout and your daily clothing needs.

3. Stylish 

While it may not be the most important thing on the list, style is definitely a plus to these amazing tights by ATHLETE. They are sleek, tight, and will fit your shape perfectly. They are subtle enough that you can wear them with any outfit and no one will know they are made for working out! Also, at the gym, you will be able to show of your curves without feeling too revealing.

4. Odor-Free

Anti-odor technology included in these leggings is a great feature, because you can wear them to the gym, and then keep them on as you go about your day. They dry quickly and will not leave you feeling gross and sweaty after your workout no matter how hard you decide to go in the gym. They also prevent chafing with smooth flat lock seams.

While black leggings seem to be a very common accessory, it is important to find the perfect pair that will last no matter how often you wear them. These leggings are timeless and perfect for exercise as well as any outfit. Don’t let this item pass you by. For a great price of $22.99, you can buy them by clicking here.

Spring is in the air and it is time for everyone to come out of hibernation and get moving. Thankfully, the awesome weather puts us in a better mood and will hopefully give people the motivation to improve their fitness game. In order to make your experience the best this spring, here are some must-have items!

    1.Tight, Sweat Resistant Headband

The perfect workout headband will make your workout more productive, because it will keep those fly away hairs out of your face. It can be really annoying to go on a run and constantly try to get hair out of your face! This is an affordable workout accessory that can make a huge difference.

2. Running Shoes

Everyone has a pair of tennis shoes that they wear to the gym, but if you are deciding to start running this spring, make sure you invest in a good pair of outdoor running shoes. The science behind shoes is hard to understand, but trust the experts, because there is definitely a difference in each pair. Lightweight shoes with good arch support will help you run faster and longer. 

3. Fruit Infusion Water Bottle

Fruit infused water has become a new trend, because it makes your water tasty and provides detox benefits. Get yourself a fruit infusion water bottle that allows you to put fruit in the center compartment. This will allow the fruit to slowly seep into the water for the perfect balance of flavor. There are many combinations of fruit you can try. This will keep you from getting bored with your water and make hydrating yourself more enjoyable. 

4. Comfortable Workout Gear

Lightweight, comfortable workout gear is essential all year around. Having high-quality gear will not only add some style to your routine, it will also motivate you to get up and get active. Athlete Women’s drawstring casual shorts are perfect for a stroll or jog in the park; they come in black or a Spring-friendly pink. Or for males, check out Athlete Men’s compression base layer sleeveless top. 

5. Outdoor Yoga Mat

Yoga is a super relaxing way to get fit this spring. Doing yoga outside on a pretty day will be a great addition to your fitness routine. Invest in an outdoor yoga mat so you can enjoy the outdoor air without worrying about bugs or grass. 

6. Headphones and Armband for iPod

Both headphones and an armband to hold your phone or iPod will come in handy this spring no matter how you choose to exercise. Whether you are riding a bike, going for a run, or lifting weights in the gym, you will want music to keep you moving. An armband will keep your iPod in place without you needing to hold it.

These are some inexpensive accessories that will make your fitness regime much easier and more enjoyable this spring. With the weather to motivate you and these items to enhance your workout, you will find that getting fit for summer is easier than ever!