The Dirty & Dark Side of “Clean Eating”
When Health Obsession Becomes Harmful
In recent years, the concept of clean eating has become increasingly popular as people seek to improve their health and well-being.
Clean eating involves consuming whole, minimally processed foods and avoiding processed and refined foods, artificial ingredients, and additives.
While this dietary approach can have numerous benefits, such as weight loss, improved digestion, and increased energy, it can also have a dark side when taken to an extreme.
Clean eating can quickly turn into an obsession when individuals become overly fixated on the purity of their food choices. This can lead to orthorexia, a condition characterized by an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.
Individuals with orthorexia become consumed by the quality and purity of their food choices, to the point where it affects their daily life and relationships.
One of the main dangers of clean eating is the potential for nutritional deficiencies. When individuals limit their food choices and eliminate entire food groups, they can miss out on essential nutrients that their body needs to function properly.
For example, individuals who follow a strict vegan diet may not get enough vitamin B12, which is primarily found in animal products. This deficiency can lead to anaemia, fatigue, and nerve damage.
Another danger of clean eating is the potential for disordered eating patterns. Individuals with orthorexia may become so fixated on eating only “clean” foods that they become fearful of eating anything else, even in moderation.
This can lead to a restrictive eating pattern and, in some cases, an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
Additionally, clean eating can hurt mental health. Individuals with orthorexia may become socially isolated due to their strict dietary restrictions, and they may experience feelings of guilt or anxiety when they eat something that does not fit into their clean eating regimen. This can lead to a diminished quality of life and even depression.
It is important to note that clean eating, in moderation, can be a healthy and beneficial dietary approach. However, when taken to an extreme, it can become harmful to both physical and mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating, it is important to seek professional help from a qualified healthcare provider.
