Clean Eating (Experience?)
Replies
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janejellyroll wrote: »I don't know why a simple term must cause such controversy. Seriously, its just a description and subject to opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. One person who feels they " eat clean" ( self boasting or subjecting to some criteria they feel they should) may not to another who thinks THIER diet is clean.
When rthis term is asked about, rather than go after it, say all kinds of negative comments, offer your way of being healthy without even quoting the term? 🤔
Getting back to the original question, what I do is aim for balance and keep calories in check. I prefer vegetables, healthy fats, adequate protein and am plant based. I think stating you want to eat healthier is probably a better analogy. If then, should you have a cookie its not a " deal breaker" on " eating clean" . It just means you had a cookie.
If "clean eating" and "eating healthier" are truly referring to the same thing, then why did we need to invent a new term at all? And why do so many "clean eaters" disparage the way that others eat, even when those others are meeting their nutritional requirements and feeling happy about the way they eat?
Exactly this.6 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »I don't know why a simple term must cause such controversy. Seriously, its just a description and subject to opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. One person who feels they " eat clean" ( self boasting or subjecting to some criteria they feel they should) may not to another who thinks THIER diet is clean.
When rthis term is asked about, rather than go after it, say all kinds of negative comments, offer your way of being healthy without even quoting the term? 🤔
Getting back to the original question, what I do is aim for balance and keep calories in check. I prefer vegetables, healthy fats, adequate protein and am plant based. I think stating you want to eat healthier is probably a better analogy. If then, should you have a cookie its not a " deal breaker" on " eating clean" . It just means you had a cookie.
If "clean eating" and "eating healthier" are truly referring to the same thing, then why did we need to invent a new term at all? And why do so many "clean eaters" disparage the way that others eat, even when those others are meeting their nutritional requirements and feeling happy about the way they eat?
Because it's the internet. New terms for the same thing are invented all the time. It's also just as common for "non-clean eaters" to knock "clean eaters" choices.
We eat the same foods "clean eaters" do, we just aren't limiting ourselves to them. Nobody is calling their food choices "garbage," "junk," and "trash," like we commonly see them describe foods they choose not to eat (or, in most cases, are temporarily restricting from their diet).
In my experience people who choose not to eat the "non-clean" items (doughnuts, cookies, cake, candy etc at work for example) get a lot more *kitten* than the "clean eaters" are giving the "non-clean" eaters.
Note, I'm a sample of 1, others experiences may vary.
From what you've said in the past, you aren't a clean eater, so no clue why you are attacking those pointing out that "eating clean" is not the same as focusing on nutrition. Not clean is way broader than you seem to think, btw.6 -
I was really STRICT on clean eating at the start of March. I tend to be really emotional, and have imbalanced hormones (which I'm really working on right now).
When I was eating well in March, AFTER JUST 9 DAY, I noticed a HUGE SHIFT in mental attitude!! My emotions were way more stable and my thinking was clearer.
I'm getting back into the swing of it again now. 7 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »I don't know why a simple term must cause such controversy. Seriously, its just a description and subject to opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. One person who feels they " eat clean" ( self boasting or subjecting to some criteria they feel they should) may not to another who thinks THIER diet is clean.
When rthis term is asked about, rather than go after it, say all kinds of negative comments, offer your way of being healthy without even quoting the term? 🤔
Getting back to the original question, what I do is aim for balance and keep calories in check. I prefer vegetables, healthy fats, adequate protein and am plant based. I think stating you want to eat healthier is probably a better analogy. If then, should you have a cookie its not a " deal breaker" on " eating clean" . It just means you had a cookie.
If "clean eating" and "eating healthier" are truly referring to the same thing, then why did we need to invent a new term at all? And why do so many "clean eaters" disparage the way that others eat, even when those others are meeting their nutritional requirements and feeling happy about the way they eat?
Because it's the internet. New terms for the same thing are invented all the time. It's also just as common for "non-clean eaters" to knock "clean eaters" choices.
We eat the same foods "clean eaters" do, we just aren't limiting ourselves to them. Nobody is calling their food choices "garbage," "junk," and "trash," like we commonly see them describe foods they choose not to eat (or, in most cases, are temporarily restricting from their diet).
In my experience people who choose not to eat the "non-clean" items (doughnuts, cookies, cake, candy etc at work for example) get a lot more *kitten* than the "clean eaters" are giving the "non-clean" eaters.
Note, I'm a sample of 1, others experiences may vary.
From what you've said in the past, you aren't a clean eater, so no clue why you are attacking those pointing out that "eating clean" is not the same as focusing on nutrition. Not clean is way broader than you seem to think, btw.
BTW, there is no common definition of clean eating lol.
MY DEFINTION of clean eating involves a minimal amount of low nutrient foods in the diet. This may not jive with others but that's fine. I think most will find that in many cases nutrient dense foods will have a minimal amount of processing, "frankenfood" ingredients so a fair amount of overlap between "nutrient dense" and common descriptions of "clean".8 -
It has no real meaning.
As part of my “plan of attack” on my weight, I stopped eating most pre-made items. It seemed more nutritious and calorie aware to substitute fruit, cottage cheese, air-popped popcorn, homemade beef jerky in lieu of a box of Oreos, a carton of donuts, or a sack of candy. Instead of bottled sauces, I reach for spice mixes.
If a product has a lot of unpronounceable chemicals or additives, I usually don’t put it in my shopping basket.
I often used to punish myself with food, so by the same token, it feels like I’ve rewarded myself when I eat something simple.
I’m beyond thrilled I’ve discovered a low calorie loaf bread that doesn’t have cellulose (? I get my ‘loses mixed up) in it. It’s 35 calories a slice and has ingredients I recognize. The calorie savings is because a slice is about 2/3 the weight of a regular loaf slice. I’m perfectly OK with that.
Having said all that, my new vice is Jordan’s sugar free Salted Caramel syrup in my chai.
Does feel like a snake biting its own tail sometimes, lol.3 -
Current clean eater here. For context, I've never been overweight and eating has always been about supporting my athletic hobbies so I might have a different relationship with food than others and see things with a different perspective.
Definition? I haven't seen a strict definition on the term but from what I have seen it basically encourages whole foods. Because of its vagueness I believe it allows flexibility and a personal/relative application.
Strictness? As strict as you want and can. Veganism is one of the strictest diets but even it allows exceptions based on ability - "as far as is possible and practicable".
Likes? My athletic performance and recovery is better. I also feel better in my body - i.e., less bloat and GI issues.
Health and feeling? I perform athletically best when my diet is clean. I suspect it is just about blood flow ease and recovery speed. I'm more likely to exercise and enjoy it when I eat clean so mentally I feel better (vs with a hangover and pizza baby I probably won't exercise and I'll feel bad). The only mental change I noticed based on diet was when I started meeting Vitamin D and B-12 goals - I believe it was the Vitamin D.
I think comparing it to veganism is pretty telling. Veganism is an ethical stance, it just happens that one of the most visible expressions is through food choices. If the point is that "clean eating" is perceived by adherents as an expression of ethical values, I'd have to agree based on some of the statements I've seen. There is a claim of virtue in a lot of the dialogue around it.12 -
IMO, part of the problem with "clean eating" as commonly** perceived, with the focus on individual foods that are "clean" so good to eat, vs. "not clean" so not good to eat, is that it's tangential to good nutrition.
A person can eat "clean" and get good overall nutrition, or get pretty poor overall nutrition. (FreeLee the banana girl as a symbol of the latter, anyone?
). Ditto for "non-clean" eaters: Some get good overall nutrition in the major ways, some don't.
From looking at diaries around here, it seems distressingly common among both the "clean" and "unclean" to get too little protein, and too little MUFAs/PUFA/O-3s. No matter who's doing that, it's not good nutrition, it's not really "eating healthfully". Admittedly, many (surprisingly not all) of the "clean eaters" plenty of veggies/fruits, which is good (but not sufficient).
In my mind, that's the problem with focusing on "clean eating" first and foremost: Nutrition is important. How you get there has relevance to health, but first simply getting enough calories, and decent nutrition (macros, micros, fiber, etc.), are both more important than whether the foods that get you that nutrition are "clean" "highly processed", etc.
Starting with "eat clean" (vs. "get good nutrition") isn't all that helpful. It can be a complete red herring.
Most of the foods that people would consider "clean" are foods that are, in fact, good to eat, of course: Nutrient dense, often more filling. Some (maybe many) of the foods that are "not clean" are not good candidates to make a majority of one's way of eating: Not nutrient dense, not filling, high calorie.
It's also false that people disputing the term "clean eating" are eating more poorly than the "clean" advocates, either in terms of nutrition, or in terms of what many "clean" banner-wavers would normally consider "clean". From looking at diaries here over several years, some of the "clean" banner-wavers don't eat all that "clean", even by their own definitions. Some of those who push back on "clean" are pretty pure, by those same definitions. It's weird.
Repeating the key point: Eating all and only "clean foods" doesn't necessarily get you good, balanced nutrition. It can potentially distract from that very important goal.
** Obviously not universal, since there's no standard universal definition.
P.S. I'm not saying all or even most "clean eaters" get poor nutrition. That would be a ridiculous misinterpretation of anything I actually wrote above.11 -
So... lol...
It's pretty safe to say that "clean eating" is exactly what it has been established at the beginning...
People with unclear definitions of what clean eating is because it's made up to what they think it should be, based on their own opinion.
As you can see OP... you've got a bunch of people who claim to be clean eaters but they all kind of have their own way of doing it..
Most "unclean" eaters eat all the same foods but dont limit themselves to a strict list because its unnecessary, and people only choose to clean eat based on their own belief, that's why the term has no solid definition, it's like religion... people believe in this or that and follow what suits them, not because it's an absolute. Which is fine, whatever floats your boat.
And like everything else, you have the hardcore believers who take it way too seriously like I said in my first post and use it as a podium to elevate themselves and make themselves seem better.
I can honestly say that besides the advice given of how unnecessary clean eating is, because most people asking about it or just starting it seem to be under the impression that its needed for weight loss or will be the solution to whatever they blame unclean food for, I've never really seen anyone give a clean eater slack over their choice of foods if they're just eating that way for their own choice.
It's only when someone comes to a thread and states that they are a clean eater so they dont eat that stuff because it's better for their health, to a person wondering if it's okay to eat a donut or whatever, that they probably do get slack, and that's because the "unclean" eaters dont want that person to over complicate their life for no real reason. That person should know that it's okay to have that donut. That person should know that clean eating is simply an individual belief and not a necessity.
I've never seen anyone just go after a clean eater because they posted that they ate something healthy today that didnt come from a box. Most of us already do that even if we dont eat clean.
Personal belief in anything is always a hot button for people.. that's why my first comment has all those disagrees lol cause how dare I say that..
Man.. if someone was going around preaching about how healthy they are eating compared to someone who wasnt eating healthy, I'd tell them they were making themselves sound better then they are too... you just dont usually get posts like that here because eating healthy and moderately is the goal, all foods are given a chance as long as you reach your nutritional requirements, it's better to start with everything on the table and neutral then to push persoal belief on to a stranger.10 -
Current clean eater here. For context, I've never been overweight and eating has always been about supporting my athletic hobbies so I might have a different relationship with food than others and see things with a different perspective.
Definition? I haven't seen a strict definition on the term but from what I have seen it basically encourages whole foods. Because of its vagueness I believe it allows flexibility and a personal/relative application.
Strictness? As strict as you want and can. Veganism is one of the strictest diets but even it allows exceptions based on ability - "as far as is possible and practicable".
Likes? My athletic performance and recovery is better. I also feel better in my body - i.e., less bloat and GI issues.
Health and feeling? I perform athletically best when my diet is clean. I suspect it is just about blood flow ease and recovery speed. I'm more likely to exercise and enjoy it when I eat clean so mentally I feel better (vs with a hangover and pizza baby I probably won't exercise and I'll feel bad). The only mental change I noticed based on diet was when I started meeting Vitamin D and B-12 goals - I believe it was the Vitamin D.
This was really insightful. I also find myself performing better mentally and with more energy when I eat the right things. The right things for me are often what clean eaters might consider "clean" versus "unclean". (However, I think when the term "unclean" is introduced, it brings some controversy. So maybe clean eating shouldn't be about avoiding the bad things but focusing on the things that are simple, energizing, and whole.) I would rather eat several fruits and veggies, eggs, ham, cheese, and let it all dictate my breakfast and lunch so that I can feel fresh and ready for an afternoon workout, rather than, like you said, after eating some pizza and maybe a sugary snack, then .. working out or playing a sport? Not with ease. I remember getting Jimmy John's before a wrestling meet... Bad idea to eat a cookie before hand even though I felt great with the just the apple. I think clean eating shouldn't be about degrading people who don't eat clean, but about eating for the personal feel-good mentally. Feeling like not just the food is "clean" but so am I.5 -
My breakfast this morning was protein pancakes made with organic unflavored whey, egg, locally made yogurt, baking powder and safflower oil. Served with organic maple syrup and locally grown blackberries. Clean eating or dirty??
I mean, it could go either way right? Protein powder is processed. So is flour. How about the baking powder??9 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »I don't know why a simple term must cause such controversy. Seriously, its just a description and subject to opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. One person who feels they " eat clean" ( self boasting or subjecting to some criteria they feel they should) may not to another who thinks THIER diet is clean.
When rthis term is asked about, rather than go after it, say all kinds of negative comments, offer your way of being healthy without even quoting the term? 🤔
Getting back to the original question, what I do is aim for balance and keep calories in check. I prefer vegetables, healthy fats, adequate protein and am plant based. I think stating you want to eat healthier is probably a better analogy. If then, should you have a cookie its not a " deal breaker" on " eating clean" . It just means you had a cookie.
If "clean eating" and "eating healthier" are truly referring to the same thing, then why did we need to invent a new term at all? And why do so many "clean eaters" disparage the way that others eat, even when those others are meeting their nutritional requirements and feeling happy about the way they eat?
Because it's the internet. New terms for the same thing are invented all the time. It's also just as common for "non-clean eaters" to knock "clean eaters" choices.
We eat the same foods "clean eaters" do, we just aren't limiting ourselves to them. Nobody is calling their food choices "garbage," "junk," and "trash," like we commonly see them describe foods they choose not to eat (or, in most cases, are temporarily restricting from their diet).
In my experience people who choose not to eat the "non-clean" items (doughnuts, cookies, cake, candy etc at work for example) get a lot more *kitten* than the "clean eaters" are giving the "non-clean" eaters.
Note, I'm a sample of 1, others experiences may vary.
From what you've said in the past, you aren't a clean eater, so no clue why you are attacking those pointing out that "eating clean" is not the same as focusing on nutrition. Not clean is way broader than you seem to think, btw.
BTW, there is no common definition of clean eating lol.
MY DEFINTION of clean eating involves a minimal amount of low nutrient foods in the diet. This may not jive with others but that's fine. I think most will find that in many cases nutrient dense foods will have a minimal amount of processing, "frankenfood" ingredients so a fair amount of overlap between "nutrient dense" and common descriptions of "clean".
So clean eating means "how I eat." Cool.
When I was obsessive about "natural" eating it was way more restrictive and not helpful.
Now I focus on nutrition and don't claim to "clean eat" -- as my understanding is that means absolutely nothing processed which makes no sense -- and both eat better and with less stress than before. I think you likely eat as much processed or more than me, so you claiming to be a clean eater I find confusing. You claiming to be a nutrition-conscious eater (as I am), I get. But clean isn't about nutrition. Many claim to eat clean and eat no vegetables, for example. Don't claim the disagreement with the term clean is a disagreement with nutrition being a concern.8 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »I don't know why a simple term must cause such controversy. Seriously, its just a description and subject to opinion. It can mean so many things to different people. One person who feels they " eat clean" ( self boasting or subjecting to some criteria they feel they should) may not to another who thinks THIER diet is clean.
When rthis term is asked about, rather than go after it, say all kinds of negative comments, offer your way of being healthy without even quoting the term? 🤔
Getting back to the original question, what I do is aim for balance and keep calories in check. I prefer vegetables, healthy fats, adequate protein and am plant based. I think stating you want to eat healthier is probably a better analogy. If then, should you have a cookie its not a " deal breaker" on " eating clean" . It just means you had a cookie.
If "clean eating" and "eating healthier" are truly referring to the same thing, then why did we need to invent a new term at all? And why do so many "clean eaters" disparage the way that others eat, even when those others are meeting their nutritional requirements and feeling happy about the way they eat?
Because it's the internet. New terms for the same thing are invented all the time. It's also just as common for "non-clean eaters" to knock "clean eaters" choices.
No, it's dumb dieting jargon. If we mean eating healthier we should say eating healthier.10 -
The term is so ill-defined it's meaningless.
We've heard dozens of definitions of "clean eating" here - anything from "no white foods" to "only things that grow in the ground or come from animals" to "shop the perimeter of the grocery store" to "no more than 5 ingredients" to "nothing in a bag, box or can" and more. One could follow most of those rules, and still get poor overall nutrition. It's a complete red herring. It just isn't a helpful term, because it's so poorly defined. Everyone has his/her own definition.
Don't forget "only ingredients you can pronounce."11 -
janejellyroll wrote: »I think comparing it to veganism is pretty telling. Veganism is an ethical stance, it just happens that one of the most visible expressions is through food choices. If the point is that "clean eating" is perceived by adherents as an expression of ethical values, I'd have to agree based on some of the statements I've seen. There is a claim of virtue in a lot of the dialogue around it.
I don't believe clean eating has any ethical or moral implications... and it shouldn't (unless I'm missing something). Comparing it to veganism was only in regards to the strictness of the two diets. Veganism basically allows the eating of animal products as long as you try your hardest not to (the definition I use is here). For example, if your medication only comes in a pill format that contains an animal byproduct then veganism says it's ok to take it.
I believe clean eating is similar in that it encourages whole foods but allows flexibility due to a lack of definition. Based on veganism's definition in the link it expressly allows the flexibility, so it is strict but flexible.
My point was that almost all diets can range from very strict to very flexible, clean eating and veganism included. I do agree with springlering62, due to the range of strict to flexible, labels don't have much of a true meaning. But they are useful in communicating quickly in a medium quality manner.
You may not regard it as having a moral implication, but I've seen language from *some* adherents of "cleanness" that suggests differently. My point is that veganism isn't a diet (it just has dietary implications) so using it to compare to the supposed flexibility to clean eating does give the issue a kind of clarity - just maybe not in the way that you intended.7 -
I don't consider veganism as flexible as "clean eating" seems to be at all. The mandate to not eat animals or animal products seems pretty strict and the exceptions rare and based on real hard need. People claim to "clean eat" who eat processed stuff daily, so I think it's more virtue signaling or (as said before) non understood diet jargon vs any real dietary restriction. It's as if someone claimed to be a vegan but ate eggs and fish most days since those are good for you and didn't bother looking at the ingredients in some low cal sauces and consumed whey protein powder since the others aren't as low cal, which would be completely incoherent.10
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I don't consider veganism as flexible as "clean eating" seems to be at all. The mandate to not eat animals or animal products seems pretty strict and the exceptions rare and based on real hard need. People claim to "clean eat" who eat processed stuff daily, so I think it's more virtue signaling or (as said before) non understood diet jargon vs any real dietary restriction. It's as if someone claimed to be a vegan but ate eggs and fish most days since those are good for you and didn't bother looking at the ingredients in some low cal sauces and consumed whey protein powder since the others aren't as low cal, which would be completely incoherent.
My two cents: the "possible and practicable" part of veganism is often cited within the vegan community, but I'd be hard-pressed to describe that as flexibility on the underpinnings of the philosophy. It's more like acknowledging that it's impossible to fully avoid some entanglements with animal exploitation in the world as it is currently arranged. It's very much not like deciding that a particular processed food counts as "clean" because you really, really like it.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »I think comparing it to veganism is pretty telling. Veganism is an ethical stance, it just happens that one of the most visible expressions is through food choices. If the point is that "clean eating" is perceived by adherents as an expression of ethical values, I'd have to agree based on some of the statements I've seen. There is a claim of virtue in a lot of the dialogue around it.
I don't believe clean eating has any ethical or moral implications... and it shouldn't (unless I'm missing something). Comparing it to veganism was only in regards to the strictness of the two diets. Veganism basically allows the eating of animal products as long as you try your hardest not to (the definition I use is here). For example, if your medication only comes in a pill format that contains an animal byproduct then veganism says it's ok to take it.
I believe clean eating is similar in that it encourages whole foods but allows flexibility due to a lack of definition. Based on veganism's definition in the link it expressly allows the flexibility, so it is strict but flexible.
My point was that almost all diets can range from very strict to very flexible, clean eating and veganism included. I do agree with springlering62, due to the range of strict to flexible, labels don't have much of a true meaning. But they are useful in communicating quickly in a medium quality manner.
That's the issue. Clean eating does NOT communicate anything. If you tell someone to eat clean, they'll probably overhaul their whole diet based on what the internet said is good or bad. I have been here for years and have seen hundreds (if not thousands) attempt to hold themselves to the standard they deem clean and struggle, lose sight of what it takes to lose weight, compromise their mental and social health, and ultimately quit.
What's wrong with simply saying "eat plenty of nutritious foods" and leaving it at that? Doesn't that communicate things quickly without imposing any sort of unnecessary restrictions? Most newcomers have been heavily influenced by the dieting culture. If a diet has a name it must have a set of bright line rules. It doesn't matter how relevant those rules are to them and their experience, they need to do it "right". That sort of mentality needs to be discouraged, and personalizing your own diet needs to be encouraged.14 -
MelanieCN77 wrote: »The term is so ill-defined it's meaningless.
We've heard dozens of definitions of "clean eating" here - anything from "no white foods" to "only things that grow in the ground or come from animals" to "shop the perimeter of the grocery store" to "no more than 5 ingredients" to "nothing in a bag, box or can" and more. One could follow most of those rules, and still get poor overall nutrition. It's a complete red herring. It just isn't a helpful term, because it's so poorly defined. Everyone has his/her own definition.
Don't forget "only ingredients you can pronounce."
Still one of the stupidist reasons not to eat something.12 -
Yesterday, I had a turkey, bacon and swiss sub for lunch, sliced corned beef and cabbage for dinner, and almond m&ms for dessert. Not my finest hour as far as healthy eating goes, even for me (though miraculously I managed to squeak in under my calorie quota for the day) but now I've learned that since I can pronounce the names of the foods, it's all good. Big thumbs up for clean eating!
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Yesterday, I had a turkey, bacon and swiss sub for lunch, sliced corned beef and cabbage for dinner, and almond m&ms for dessert. Not my finest hour as far as healthy eating goes, even for me (though miraculously I managed to squeak in under my calorie quota for the day) but now I've learned that since I can pronounce the names of the foods, it's all good. Big thumbs up for clean eating!
A few days ago I had a day where I had 100% all nutrients. It doesn't happen often. Usually, I'm a little bit short on this or that nutrient, but it averages out over a few days to meeting all my needs. Ironically, I had lots of sweets that day. Thankfully I can pronounce "chocolate truffles", so I think that's why that day went well.
Note: I'm pretty sure I'm 100% on sodium there because I don't log salt.7 -
As for the original post and question about mental health and whether or how clean eating helps... it seems to benefit my mental health not having to worry about which foods are good or bad.
If we're talking about weight loss - being able to eat what's available, affordable, easy and appealing within my calorie budget, is probably going to be a major factor in me not giving up.11 -
I have noticed over the years that I definitely feel better when I eat mostly unprocessed, whole foods. If I eat at restaurants too much or eat too much overly processed packaged food I get all sorts of issues with bloating and tummy aches and sluggishness. It depends on the foods of course. Some processed foods are great.7
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Hey, so with clean eating, which is mostly natural, earth stuff, right? So veggies, fruits, and meats and things you don't have to add to, they just are? Well, how strict is clean eating? If you've tried it or currently eat clean, why do you like it? How did your body or mental health change? Big emphasis on mental health... Do you feel "better"? Thanks in advance!!
It is mostly whatever you want it to be and you can be as strict or not to your own definition of it.
Feeling better is so subjective without a control though - meaning you dont know how much is placebo effect.
Unless you are measuring something tangible. - eg your blood sugar levels.
Interesting partly relevant aside: I love reading medical studies where x drug has more or less side effects than placebo.
Constantly amazes me that placebo has any side effects at all
but I guess people get headaches,nausea etc sometimes anyway and then attribute it to the drug they think they are taking.
So hard to say if you feel better because of any actual dietary changes ( this is possible too, of course) or because of the thought of eating better.
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As for the original post and question about mental health and whether or how clean eating helps... it seems to benefit my mental health not having to worry about which foods are good or bad.
This is 100% me. I got to a point awhile back where I was being SUPER strict with what I could eat. Anything that I didn't put into the "healthy" category was put back or thrown away. I couldn't eat out. I couldn't eat off plan. I was crying in the grocery store because I just wanted something so bad, but I wasn't "allowed" to have it.
I had to see a therapist for it. It destroyed my mental health, which I had just been getting into a better place. My anxiety and depression were everywhere. My OCD (which was possibly a part of the problem) was at an all time high. It was not healthy. Being "healthy" was actually just making me more "unhealthy". Just in a different way.
Now I don't give food unnecessary labels. I make small changes like making sure I am increasing my fiber or getting enough fruits and vegetables. But I still have canned soup in the cabinet along with other more processed items because there is NOTHING wrong with them. Now, because of medically needed food restrictions and allergies I do often pick the items with less ingredients in them but that is just a side effect of not wanting to get sick by eating something I medically shouldn't (like soy which flares my medical issue AND I have developed an allergy/intolerance to). I cook a lot at home using whole food ingredients because, again, I have to watch out for specific things which makes eating out difficult. But again... that doesn't make those foods "bad" or "unhealthy"... they just are things I can't have unless I want to deal with being ill and in pain for a number of days. There are even "healthy" items I can't have like grapes or oranges.
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For me, clean eating means lots of fruits and veggies, and as little processed food as possible.
For instance, I make soup and sauces from scratch instead of buying them canned, because canned foods are higher in sodium.
I try to use mostly fresh or frozen veggies for the same reason.
I DON'T do a lot of wheat pasta or quinoa instead of rice and stuff like that because I cook for my family, and I don't want to push a bunch of stuff on them they might not like. But when I do have starchy carbs, I have them in moderation.
I have found that when I eat clean, I can eat a lot MORE food and feel fuller longer.
Don't know if it would help, but here's an example of my type of "clean" eating:
Breakfast:
2 eggs and 2 egg whites, scrambled with onion, pepper, tomato, spinach & zucchini, goat cheese crumbles on top, and half an apple - 300ish calories
Lunch:
Homemade chicken soup & a slice of sourdough bread with hummus & cucumber slices - 380 calories
Snack:
Smoothie - Frozen mixed berries, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup almond milk 115 calories
(If this is a post workout snack, I might add a little protein powder)
Dinner:
BLT salad with shredded cheddar cheese & avocado ranch dressing - 303 calories
This actually leaves 100 calories "out there" to play with. I didn't include a dessert. Plus, if you're active, you can eat back some of the calories you burn. Some people would exclude the bread and the cheese to be even "cleaner," but I like those small indulgences.
I think the definition is very personal and different for everyone. I went through a phase where I was overly anxious about everything I ate and I didn't like the stress I was putting myself under. The example above is full of foods I like and enjoy, and I feel like I'm not missing out on anything in my day.
4 -
I just had good cane sugar, proper cocoa powder, flour from a local mill and organic free range eggs. I'd say that's pretty clean. Only problem is that I used those things to bake rather not clean brownies. Bugger.9
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I have noticed over the years that I definitely feel better when I eat mostly unprocessed, whole foods. If I eat at restaurants too much or eat too much overly processed packaged food I get all sorts of issues with bloating and tummy aches and sluggishness. It depends on the foods of course. Some processed foods are great.
Yup, in general, the less hyper-palatable food I eat, the better I feel.0 -
I personally think there is a place for all kinds of food in my life. I do eat a lot of minimally touched foods. The other day I was working my rear off and while I was off running an errand I grabbed some fast food. I was grateful to have it because what I needed in that moment was calories to keep powering through the day.
I don't think everyone who tries to eat "clean" is virtue signalling. I think it can happen. When it does I like to remind them that it is a privilege to eat whatever they decided "clean" means.
Since I am also privileged I like to set a limit on how much processed food makes up my weekly diet. I want the bulk of my calories to come from food I prepare myself. An odd day will occur like the recent day I had fast food and Subway in the same day. I do not worry about it or the days a meal goes south on me and I pull something from the freezer. Flexibility in food means greater adherence and sustainability which helps me mentally and physically.
Yes, when I was very sick in the late nineties and "cleaned up my diet," I was not virtue signaling, I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. (That was one of several steps I took.)
How I eat makes a big difference in how I feel. (But I've never thought that this was universally applicable and proselytized.)4 -
I lost all my weight nearly 10 years ago just eating less. I was not a "clean eating" guy at all. However, that all changed when my wife developed Fibromyalgia, which led us on an unexpected path of what most would consider "clean eating", around six years ago.
Most Holistic docs will recommend that someone who has Fibro go gluten free. There are three studies that back up that going gluten free helps dramatically with Fibro pain. They also tested my wife and found out she was very allergic to cow dairy. So she had to stop gluten and dairy (cow dairy) cold. Since I do the cooking, and also knew that would very difficult for her to do, I stopped eating dairy and gluten along with her.
As things turn out, I turned out to be Celiac in denial. If I get a hint of gluten, I break out in an autoimmune rash nearly immediately. So "supporting" her might have saved my life. 10 to 15% of Celiacs that go undiagnosed end up dying. She still can't have Cow Dairy but can eat goat and sheep cheese on occasion. If she accidentally gets gluten, she might swell a bit, but she doesn't personally doesn't feel that bad.
When you eliminate cow dairy and gluten, it's amazing how "clean" your diet becomes really quick. When we go out, we mostly have to eat lean meats and veggies (because starches are all loaded with butter and cream sauces). You eat broiled or grilled seafood, not cheese and sauce covered stuff. Go to a store and try to buy processed food that doesn't have gluten or cow dairy. There's not a lot, trust me! And we don't eat the "replacement" junk like deserts or breads very often, if at all. We eat fruit or raw nuts for snacks.
I look 100% better in terms of my skin and I used to have nasty rashes on my back. Had lots of eczema. All gone. The wife deals still with some RA (arthritis) issues, but she's going on 60 and takes no prescriptions (neither do I and I'm going on 56). We also both workout a lot -- her four times a week and me six.
If we go back to eating even remotely bad things for a few days -- sugar or oil would be the worst we do since we just don't do the gluten or cow dairy, we feel a dramatic difference. We have also moved more (gradually) to plant based eating from a meat heavy diet. We also feel better from that as well.
We're not so strict we don't indulge, but we definitely moderate those times and never eat the gluten or cow dairy. But we have found replacements that I can make at home that made life enjoyable. Maca, for instance, tastes a lot like malt powder. I use that when I'm craving malt taste. I make her pizzas with a gluten free crust and goat mozzarella every other month or so. I found a gluten free flour from Italy you would never know is gluten free. No Udi's for us. Udi's is garbage. We had Chicken Parm last night -- all with sheep, goat and GF bread crumbs and pasta. Better than anything you could get in most restaurants.
Her recovery from Fibro was nothing short of remarkable. From nearly bed bound to better than her "old self" in two years. She gets guessed at mid to late 40s all the time. She looks a good 8 to 10 years younger than her actual age. For us, our cleaner eating has been fantastic in terms of quality of life as we age.
We get the people Poo Poing all the time at our lifestyle now. I simply don't care. My wife said she wanted to die years ago if she had to live in all that pain. The doc at that time recommended opioids or gabapentin, both horrid for you. Not sure she'd even be alive today if we didn't change. And she's enjoying her life and healthier than most her age now. So people can react however they want. I think it's because most of the time they don't think they could do what we do. You can do incredible things out of desperation, truth be told.
7 -
I got very bogged down in the past by all of the different ways of eating. I would research something and try to comply to all of the “rules”. Then I would find I couldn’t do it 100% and quit feeling like a failure.
I have finally figured this out. Well, I figured out what works for me, anyway. I was so fatigued and stressed by all of the info and rules and was spinning in circles getting nowhere but disappointed. So I set my own guidelines, things that I can live with long term. I reserve the right to adjust them as I go. My advice is to not worry about clean eating rules. Set what is important to you, what you can live with and go from there. I wish someone had told me this 5 years ago. I am now losing about 1.5 lbs per week and I am doing it in a way I can keep going. I am not miserable. I am not stressed out by rules (other than my own), I don’t give up because I am too restrictive. I am eating healthier (as it means to me).6
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