Eating clean involves eating unprocessed, whole-foods as often as possible and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains and lean proteins.
Researchers conducted an experiment to explore perceptions of healthy eating among U.S.-based undergraduates by showing them fictional diet vignettes that seemed “clean and healthy”, rating each one on how “clean” or unhealthy they appeared and filling out questionnaires on clinical phenomena.
It’s not a diet
Clean eating is more of a lifestyle than an eating regimen; it involves prioritizing whole food items while restricting unhealthy processed items, while encouraging variety in menu options and exploring new cuisines. Clean eating should promote both health and well-being while eliminating toxic chemicals.
Participants generally characterized their eating practices as clean; some were more restrictive. For example, one story’s protagonist shunned packaged foods in favor of home-cooked meals prepared at home; she followed a diet free of sugar, salt, gluten and preservatives but still including plenty of vegetables and protein sources.
This approach resembles orthorexia nervosa (ON), an eating disorder not yet included in DSM-5 but which involves an intense preoccupation with healthy eating and an intolerance for certain food groups. Dietary restrictions associated with ON can lead to emotional distress as well as insufficient nutrition requirements being met; though avoiding processed food is beneficial goal, taking too far will only cause unnecessary distress and nutritional deprivation.
It’s not a fad
“Clear eating” has become an increasingly trendy trend, yet the definitions, opinions and perceptions regarding its healthiness vary widely. Part of its appeal may lie in perceived health benefits like cutting down on unhealthy foods while reducing processed items with added sugar or salt content. Furthermore, clean eating often refers to whole food options, organic alternatives or gluten-free options as part of its vocabulary.
However, this fad can promote unhealthy eating patterns, including overeating, food preoccupation and guilt feelings; restrictions on certain foods that lead to nutrient deficiencies; difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle when you’re constantly on and off a diet; difficulty with maintaining an effective workout program while going off diet regularly – these issues all increase with strict clean diets! To enhance your diet in healthier ways other ways exist such as adding colorful vegetables and spices into meals which not only add flavor but provide essential vitamins and minerals that could otherwise go unnoticed on clean diets!
It’s not a rigid plan
Eating clean is part of a healthy lifestyle, but should also include activities like exercise, socializing with friends, developing skills and talents, emotional wellbeing and spiritual wellbeing. A diet focused solely on food can lead to stress, isolation and critical thoughts; furthermore it may cause nutritional deficiencies. Therefore it’s essential that fresh nutritious foods such as berries, greens and spices be included into meals planned ahead. Planning meals ahead also ensures you always have what’s needed when on the move.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that some interpretations of clean eating may result in restrictive, rule-driven diets which lead to an unhealthy obsession with healthy food – leading to issues like anorexia and orthorexia nervosa. Therefore, finding a diet tailored specifically for you with your preferences and goals in mind is of the utmost importance; especially if you have had prior history with an eating disorder.
It’s not a religion
Clean eating generally refers to choosing healthful, unprocessed and raw foods over processed ones, or selecting those with fewest additives, preservatives, refined sugar and unhealthy fats.
While adopting a clean eating lifestyle is generally good, excessive dedication to healthy eating can become problematic when taken too far. An extreme emphasis on healthful diet can lead to orthorexia nervosa (ON), an eating disorder only recently being investigated by scientists.
Obsessive-compulsive eating disorder (ON) is characterized by an unhealthy preoccupation with health eating and an obsession with restricting certain types of food, leading to distress, anxiety and depression as well as nutritional deficiencies and social isolation. One recent study discovered that women following the clean eating movement are at greater risk of ON because they often restrict their entire diet without considering its overall impact on energy intake.
