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How important is it to "eat clean"

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Replies

  • shadesof66
    shadesof66 Posts: 75 Member
    For people who want to "eat clean", I'm sure it's very important.

    For people who don't, I'm not sure its important at all.

    Hope that answers your question.


    ^^^ this is spot on....

    on any weight loss plan - just stick with -15 to -20 % TDEE and you will lose weight regardless of what form the calories come in...Big Mac and fries and a beer and as long as you are below your TDEE you will lose weight....however, most people on MFP don't just want to lose weight they want to become more healthy too to reduce body fat, gain lean muscle, so they cut out the junk, the food additives, the processed carbs etc...but its all about what your goals are...

    Hope this helps...:smile:
  • smittybuilt19
    smittybuilt19 Posts: 955 Member
    Not very.
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    Personally, if I eat a 300 calorie meal of brocolli, carrots, peas and beans, - you get the idea - then I'm full for longer and I don't crave to eat again until the next meal is due.

    If I eat 300 calories of millionaire shortbread, then I'm craving to eat another 300 calories of millionaire shortbread in the next 20 minutes.

    Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and salt with fat which are all addictive and in combination even more so, whereas "clean" foods do not trigger such acute cravings.
    Are fruits clean? Cause they trigger my hunger more than any "junk" food ever could. I guess fruit is addictive.

    If you find it addictive then yes, I guess - for you - maybe.

    See...If I ate broccoli, carrots and beans, I'd be hungry again within an hour because I'd need fat and protein to stay sated.

    - well apart from the carrots these are reasonable sources of protein but I've got enough fat around my middle to not need any for quite a while!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Personally, if I eat a 300 calorie meal of brocolli, carrots, peas and beans, - you get the idea - then I'm full for longer and I don't crave to eat again until the next meal is due.

    If I eat 300 calories of millionaire shortbread, then I'm craving to eat another 300 calories of millionaire shortbread in the next 20 minutes.

    Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and salt with fat which are all addictive and in combination even more so, whereas "clean" foods do not trigger such acute cravings.
    Are fruits clean? Cause they trigger my hunger more than any "junk" food ever could. I guess fruit is addictive.

    If you find it addictive then yes, I guess - for you - maybe.

    See...If I ate broccoli, carrots and beans, I'd be hungry again within an hour because I'd need fat and protein to stay sated.

    - well apart from the carrots these are reasonable sources of protein but I've got enough fat around my middle to not need any for quite a while!

    Nice try, but beans and broccoli aren't a complete protein and dietary fat is not the same thing as body fat :wink:
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Okay, acronym: How about OFY

    Optimal For You

    Then of course every individual has to do the work of adding and subtracting foods to figure out what that is.

    Nope, definitely won't be selling any diet books off it.

    But I like it. Think I'll use it. I'll just look at people if they ask me what my plan was and say OH-FEE!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Okay, acronym: How about OFY

    Optimal For You

    Then of course every individual has to do the work of adding and subtracting foods to figure out what that is.

    Nope, definitely won't be selling any diet books off it.

    But I like it. Think I'll use it. I'll just look at people if they ask me what my plan was and say OH-FEE!

    I say "If it fits your macros" but OH-FEE! works too.
  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
    The definition of "clean eating" can mean anything you want it to. I eat clean myself, I wash all of my food before I eat it and I buy it from a local grocery store. I also use the 10 second rule if I drop something, which is totally legit.

    Doesn't matter what your definition of clean eating is, if you eat at a calorie surplus you will gain weight, if it's a deficit you'll lose weight. It's as simple as that. You don't have to eat like a caveman did in the Paleolithic era to lose weight.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Okay, acronym: How about OFY

    Optimal For You

    Then of course every individual has to do the work of adding and subtracting foods to figure out what that is.

    Nope, definitely won't be selling any diet books off it.

    But I like it. Think I'll use it. I'll just look at people if they ask me what my plan was and say OH-FEE!

    I say "If it fits your macros" but OH-FEE! works too.

    Haha yeah, I was slow on the uptake with IIFYM. The I realized what you meant. I think a lot of people are confused by that, thinking there is one set of ideal macros everyone 'in the know' uses instead of realizing it's good to find your own best settings. Or at best there are 'low carb' ones and 'regular ones' and ones recommended by MFP or this or that diet book.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Okay, acronym: How about OFY

    Optimal For You

    Then of course every individual has to do the work of adding and subtracting foods to figure out what that is.

    Nope, definitely won't be selling any diet books off it.

    But I like it. Think I'll use it. I'll just look at people if they ask me what my plan was and say OH-FEE!

    I say "If it fits your macros" but OH-FEE! works too.

    Haha yeah, I was slow on the uptake with IIFYM. The I realized what you meant. I think a lot of people are confused by that, thinking there is one set of ideal macros everyone 'in the know' uses instead of realizing it's good to find your own best settings. Or at best there are 'low carb' ones and 'regular ones' and ones recommended by MFP or this or that diet book.

    There's protein and fat minimums, natch.

    And there's also suggested carb intake depending on goals and based on research, which is more complicated than I'll ever get with this.

    And it doesn't describe micronutrients because -geez- RDA and we're allegedly intelligent adults.

    But yeah, goals/satiety/compliance is part of the original description.

    And O-FEE! does have a certain ring to it, especially with a Spanish flair.
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    Personally, if I eat a 300 calorie meal of brocolli, carrots, peas and beans, - you get the idea - then I'm full for longer and I don't crave to eat again until the next meal is due.

    If I eat 300 calories of millionaire shortbread, then I'm craving to eat another 300 calories of millionaire shortbread in the next 20 minutes.

    Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and salt with fat which are all addictive and in combination even more so, whereas "clean" foods do not trigger such acute cravings.
    Are fruits clean? Cause they trigger my hunger more than any "junk" food ever could. I guess fruit is addictive.

    If you find it addictive then yes, I guess - for you - maybe.

    See...If I ate broccoli, carrots and beans, I'd be hungry again within an hour because I'd need fat and protein to stay sated.

    - well apart from the carrots these are reasonable sources of protein but I've got enough fat around my middle to not need any for quite a while!

    Nice try, but beans and broccoli aren't a complete protein and dietary fat is not the same thing as body fat :wink:

    - its off-topic I know but just to say that "complete protein" thing is old science and body fat is a legitimate source of energy or none of us would lose weight or bodyfat.

    (I don't only eat broccoli and beans - I eat tofu and nuts as well)
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Personally, if I eat a 300 calorie meal of brocolli, carrots, peas and beans, - you get the idea - then I'm full for longer and I don't crave to eat again until the next meal is due.

    If I eat 300 calories of millionaire shortbread, then I'm craving to eat another 300 calories of millionaire shortbread in the next 20 minutes.

    Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and salt with fat which are all addictive and in combination even more so, whereas "clean" foods do not trigger such acute cravings.
    Are fruits clean? Cause they trigger my hunger more than any "junk" food ever could. I guess fruit is addictive.

    If you find it addictive then yes, I guess - for you - maybe.

    See...If I ate broccoli, carrots and beans, I'd be hungry again within an hour because I'd need fat and protein to stay sated.

    - well apart from the carrots these are reasonable sources of protein but I've got enough fat around my middle to not need any for quite a while!

    Nice try, but beans and broccoli aren't a complete protein and dietary fat is not the same thing as body fat :wink:

    - its off-topic I know but just to say that "complete protein" thing is old science and body fat is a legitimate source of energy or none of us would lose weight or bodyfat.

    (I don't only eat broccoli and beans - I eat tofu and nuts as well)

    Didn't know that about the complete protein. This is a zombie thread anyway. Thanks!

    Body fat is a source of energy, but not of dietary fat. You still need the dietary fat for quite a few functions.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Okay, acronym: How about OFY

    Optimal For You

    Then of course every individual has to do the work of adding and subtracting foods to figure out what that is.

    Nope, definitely won't be selling any diet books off it.

    But I like it. Think I'll use it. I'll just look at people if they ask me what my plan was and say OH-FEE!

    I say "If it fits your macros" but OH-FEE! works too.

    Haha yeah, I was slow on the uptake with IIFYM. The I realized what you meant. I think a lot of people are confused by that, thinking there is one set of ideal macros everyone 'in the know' uses instead of realizing it's good to find your own best settings. Or at best there are 'low carb' ones and 'regular ones' and ones recommended by MFP or this or that diet book.

    There's protein and fat minimums, natch.

    And there's also suggested carb intake depending on goals and based on research, which is more complicated than I'll ever get with this.

    And it doesn't describe micronutrients because -geez- RDA and we're allegedly intelligent adults.

    But yeah, goals/satiety/compliance is part of the original description.

    And O-FEE! does have a certain ring to it, especially with a Spanish flair.

    :laugh: O-FAY! I just want an excuse to walk around saying O-FEE and O-FAY now. I'm easily amused.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Personally, if I eat a 300 calorie meal of brocolli, carrots, peas and beans, - you get the idea - then I'm full for longer and I don't crave to eat again until the next meal is due.

    If I eat 300 calories of millionaire shortbread, then I'm craving to eat another 300 calories of millionaire shortbread in the next 20 minutes.

    Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and salt with fat which are all addictive and in combination even more so, whereas "clean" foods do not trigger such acute cravings.

    Hmm. My breakfast this morning involved processed and unprocessed foods (none "junk" IMO), and I think both played a role in being satiating. If someone is eating meals that don't keep them full, yes, they should work on the balance. That's no good reason to say that one must eliminate all non-processed foods, however, especially because a lot of them (see my lists in the post above) may well play a role in keeping one full or meeting one's nutrition goals.

    I'm not sure how you are defining "junk," but the definition of "clean" (an unnecessary, silly term) is generally much narrower than "not junk."

    Also, even if one chooses to eat food one considers junk on occasion (I'm not much offended by the term "junk food" and I do eat it on occasion, although I probably use it more narrowly than you do) that clearly does not mean that one is basing one's diet on it. When I was a kid we got to go to McD's or Long John Silvers once a month or so, and while I don't personally eat fast food now unless I'm on a road trip, I don't think that the fact that we occasionally had fast food meant that my childhood was spent eating a non-nutritious, unclean diet.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    We need a new definition of food. Instead of clean or junk or whatever, we need a nice shiny word that means compatible with a particular person's health, calorie goals, and satiety signals. Someone invent a new term!

    Individually Optimal?

    Nah, sounds silly and too many syllables. Humans don't like too many syllables.

    Healthy works for me. I try to eat a healthy diet. I try to eat in a way that meets my health goals. (I'd say "healthy and balanced," but some people can intentionally eat unbalanced (i.e., low carb, 80/10/10) and still be healthy and meet their goals, so I'll leave it out.

    What everyone means by that will be individual, but that's fine.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    We need a new definition of food. Instead of clean or junk or whatever, we need a nice shiny word that means compatible with a particular person's health, calorie goals, and satiety signals. Someone invent a new term!

    Individually Optimal?

    Nah, sounds silly and too many syllables. Humans don't like too many syllables.

    Healthy works for me. I try to eat a healthy diet. I try to eat in a way that meets my health goals. (I'd say "healthy and balanced," but some people can intentionally eat unbalanced (i.e., low carb, 80/10/10) and still be healthy and meet their goals, so I'll leave it out.

    What everyone means by that will be individual, but that's fine.

    I use the term "healthy and balanced" to mean "nutritionally adequate," not "equal macro ratios."
  • annaskiski
    annaskiski Posts: 1,212 Member
    Here's a recent article on Otzi, the 5,000 year old Ice Man.

    He clearly didn't eat any processed food, but surprised scientists with his predisposition to heart disease (hardened arteries).

    "Initially, the atherosclerosis was a bit of a surprise, because much research has linked heart disease to the couch-potato lifestyle and calorie-rich foods of the modern world, Zink said. But in recent research, as scientists conducted CT scans on mummies from the Aleutian Islands to ancient Egypt, they realized that heart disease and atherosclerosis were prevalent throughout antiquity, in people who had dramatically different diets and lifestyles, he said. "

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/otzi-heart-disease-mummy_n_5637352.html
  • JenniferIsLosingIt
    JenniferIsLosingIt Posts: 595 Member
    calories in vs calories out = weightloss or gain
    macros and micros can have a large effect on your overall heath and fitness goals as well
    if weight loss is your only goal and you want to keep things simple then just worry about the calries. If you have other goals in mind then do some research on that.


    Unless you have PCOS or other hormonal issues, in which case losing weight is incredibly hard. There is so much crap you have to go throughin order to get to a point where you can actually lose weight..
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Here's a recent article on Otzi, the 5,000 year old Ice Man.

    He clearly didn't eat any processed food, but surprised scientists with his predisposition to heart disease (hardened arteries).

    "Initially, the atherosclerosis was a bit of a surprise, because much research has linked heart disease to the couch-potato lifestyle and calorie-rich foods of the modern world, Zink said. But in recent research, as scientists conducted CT scans on mummies from the Aleutian Islands to ancient Egypt, they realized that heart disease and atherosclerosis were prevalent throughout antiquity, in people who had dramatically different diets and lifestyles, he said. "

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/otzi-heart-disease-mummy_n_5637352.html

    Oooh. Interesting. I wonder if stress had anything to do with it? Had to be a hard life, trying to get enough to eat while not getting eaten. And though our stressors are different now, in my particular society at least, we have them, and constantly.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    It's important for health.
  • stephe1987
    stephe1987 Posts: 406 Member
    I think it depends.

    How often are you eating out? Once to a few times a week is fine. But I was reading an article about a girl who only ate pizza, McDonald's, soda, etc. and at 22 her doctor told her she had the heart of a 90-year-old. There has to be a healthy balance between never eating out (which can make you crave it more and more likely to binge down the road) and eating out most or all of the time.

    Does it fit into your sodium and sugar macros? If not, try not to go over too often or it could lead to long-term health problems (heart issues, type 2 diabetes, etc.)

    Do you have a health condition that requires a special diet? If so, you need to do what your doctor tells you.