NPR: When Efforts To Eat 'Clean' Become An Unhealthy Obsession

An interesting article from NPR. Not bashing and not at all saying our diet using friends here have this.

Whether its gluten-free, dairy-free, raw food, or all-organic, many people these days are committed to so-called "clean eating" — the idea that choosing only whole foods in their natural state and avoiding processed ones can improve health.

It's not necessarily a bad thing to eat this way, but sometimes, these kinds of food preferences can begin take over people's lives, making them fear social events where they won't be able to find the "right" foods. When a healthful eating pattern goes too far, it may turn into an eating disorder that scientists are just beginning to study.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/07/766847274/when-efforts-to-eat-clean-become-an-unhealthy-obsession

Nothing new....don't forget the new term carbon-footprint obsession.
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I haven’t yet listened to this article but my first thought is that I’m all for eating whole foods and avoiding processed ones - I see nothing obsessive or negative in this thinking.

UC prisoner said...
I haven’t yet listened to this article but my first thought is that I’m all for eating whole foods and avoiding processed ones - I see nothing obsessive or negative in this thinking.

1 definition of obsession - an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind.

If all you're thinking about all day is what processed food you're going to avoid next or that you need to make sure you're eating whole foods and not "living your life" anymore, then it becomes a problem. You should eat well to live healthily and have a happy life. Not live to eat well.....

I think it’s great to avoid trigger foods. I think it’s great if people have less symptoms from cutting out sugar or gluten or whatever. That’s not obsessive, it’s doing what works for each person. The person I know who suffers from this is absolutely scared of food. She does obsess about things being dangerous. It’s beyond what anyone here talks about, it’s a huge difference. She can’t eat out. She can barely eat at home. She thinks she has reactions to almost anything she eats then cuts out yet another item. She’s underweight. She’s completely scared all the time and it’s worries everyone in her life. So personally, I know this wasn’t meant to be offensive, but it hurts that it’s even compared to people here trying to keep their gut calm. But, if you were trying to say don’t take it too far, I can understand that point.

Bull101 said...

UC prisoner said...
I haven’t yet listened to this article but my first thought is that I’m all for eating whole foods and avoiding processed ones - I see nothing obsessive or negative in this thinking.

1 definition of obsession - an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind.

If all you're thinking about all day is what processed food you're going to avoid next or that you need to make sure you're eating whole foods and not "living your life" anymore, then it becomes a problem. You should eat well to live healthily and have a happy life. Not live to eat well.....

I live well and eat well ... I don’t obsess about avoidance I eat Whole Foods because I like them. Salt/sugar laden processed foods are quick go-to foods ... I suppose those who favor fast and processed food are obsessed then too.

Before I was diagnosed I had so many foods to avoid I was severely vitamin deficient. I kept a food diary and blamed every bad morning on what I had eaten the day before.
I would start over with a week of white rice, then slowly try adding foods. Anything I had recently eaten was added to the avoid list.

I was as healthy as an 18th Century sailor.