Clean Eating: What do studies report?

With the vast amount of information available at our fingertips and the increased purchased power within the last few decades, consumers are starting to make more educated decisions regarding their diets. This has result in myriad types of diets aimed to benefit different people with different needs. One of these diets would be a clean eating diet.

What is clean eating?

Over the last decade, the clean eating movement has exploded in popularity. There is no precise definition of clean eating, despite the fact that many individuals are committing to it in order to get healthy and reduce weight.

In general, clean eating entails selecting foods that are both natural and nutritious. Foods that are devoid of additives, preservatives, and refined or processed components fall under this category.

Although the word was probably coined with good intentions, the lack of clarity around it leaves it open to interpretation, which might lead to overuse. As a result, many people have misconceptions or misunderstandings about what clean eating is. Another result would be a large range of what is considered “clean eating”, a less restricted method would be to simply incorporate more whole fruits and vegetables, whereas a stricter version would be to completely foods containing dairy, gluten and even sugar.

How could I benefit from clean eating?

A clean diet can help you lose weight by reducing salt, sugary drinks, and ultra-processed foods. It is already well understood that foods high sugar or salt can cause problems like obesity, high blood pressure and even tooth decay. By adopting a clean eating diet, you can circumvent these problems as you steer clear of these types of foods.

Clean eating, which comprises a nutrient-dense diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy protein, can fully fuel the body while also promoting general health and weight management.

While there are no scientific studies linking clean eating to health advantages, there is evidence that eating a balanced diet, which clean eaters often shun, is linked to chronic illness.

What are some possible problems associated with clean eating?

Some research has shown that clean eating can lead to severe dietary restriction, vitamin deficits, and the loss of social interactions.

The lack of clarity regarding dietary guidelines in the clean eating movement can lead to people labelling certain foods as “bad” and others as “excellent” without adequate evidence to back up their claims.

Individuals are under pressure to eat a specific manner, which can lead to a dangerous fixation with healthy eating. In extreme case, those overly obsessed with a clean eating might end up developing disorders like orthorexia nervosa which is strict and often unhealthy avoidance of foods often perceived to be unhealthy such as food that contain additives of any sort.