Eating a whole food diet is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Chances are you are already familiar with the term, but just what is a whole food diet?

Today's society eats such an overabundance of processed foods that the term really can be confusing. Some think whole foods must be organic or pesticide free. However, that's not necessarily the case.

It's really much simpler than that. Whole foods are basically foods that are unprocessed and in their natural state; the difference between a grape and grape juice, for example.

Whole foods are full of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants and fiber. A number of studies have concluded that whole foods like grains, fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables can have a profound and positive impact on your overall health and fight conditions such as cancer, heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

And, although the term usually pertains to fruits, grains and vegetables most dietitians won't deny that eating a chicken breast without the skin is far better than eating nuggets that have been processed.

Processed foods are typically void of the nutrients your body needs, they have simply been wiped out during the processing phase. But, it's not only what has been taken out that presents a problem, it's what's been added. Ingredients like sugar, trans fat and saturated fat and salt are the biggest health culprits. Eating processed foods is generally responsible for additional weight gain and overall poor health.

The benefits of eating whole foods are numerous. As your body begins to discard and eliminate all the toxins and replace it with proper nutrients it will be impossible not to notice a difference in your energy level, the look and feel of your skin, hair, the improvement of your digestive tract, the weight you've lost and the strength of your nails.

There is little doubt that you are what you eat. Eating a daily diet of foods that are full of grease, preservatives or chemicals will rob your body of the vital minerals and nutrients that make it all work perfectly.

Your skin loses that healthy glow, collagen production is reduced or eliminated all together, fine lines and wrinkles appear, nails become brittle and split and your hair dries out and begins to look lifeless and dull.

As you switch to a whole foods diet and toxins are eliminated your skin will look clearer and your hair will look shinier. The problems of eating a diet full of processed and chemically laden foods is wide ranging, but the nutrients that whole foods contains are precisely what is needed to create healthy skin, hair, nails and give you the energy you need to get through the day.