Clean eating has been a popular lifestyle choice in recent years. It involves consuming whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible, avoiding processed foods, and cooking meals at home.

The trend has gained momentum due to various health benefits, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving digestion, and boosting energy levels. However, the obsession with clean eating can have significant mental health risks that often go unaddressed. In this article, we will delve into the unexpected mental health risks of clean eating.

The Pressure to Be Perfect

The rise of social media has increased the pressure to look and eat a certain way. Social media platforms are full of influencers showing their perfect plates and encouraging followers to eat healthily.

However, scrolling through endless images of perfect meals can lead to a constant obsession with food and eating clean. This pressure to be perfect can cause high levels of anxiety and stress that can control behavior and thought patterns around food.

Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders

Clean eating can sometimes lead to an obsession with food and body image. This obsession can cause an eating disorder called orthorexia, which is an unhealthy fixation on healthy food.

The disorder can often mimic the symptoms of anorexia and bulimia, leading to malnutrition, anxiety, and depression. This disorder can also lead to body dysmorphia, where individuals obsess over their physical appearance and perceive imperfections that do not exist.

Social eating can cause stress and anxiety for individuals obsessed with clean eating.

The fear of consuming processed food or not having control over ingredient choices can cause significant anxiety, leading to social isolation and fear of social dining experiences. Continuing to refuse social eating opportunities can cause further social isolation and worsen anxiety and depression symptoms.

The Link Between Gut Health and Mental Health

Gut health has been linked to various mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. Clean eating can positively impact gut health, but obsessive behavior can cause stress that can negatively impact gut bacteria.

Stress can cause an imbalance in gut bacteria, leading to a range of physical and mental health issues. Obsessive clean eating behavior with an excessive fear of ingredients can cause stress and negatively impact gut health, ultimately worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Perfectionism and Control

Clean eating can be an outlet for perfectionism and control, causing obsessive behavior and ruling social and personal life.

Obsessive behavior around meal planning, ingredient choices, and cooking techniques can lead to strained relationships and social isolation. An excessive focus on clean eating can cause individuals to forget that food is a source of pleasure and social interaction, ultimately contributing to anxiety and depression.

Dependence on Clean Eating

Individuals can become dependent on clean eating, leading to a distorted relationship with food. Clean eating can become a coping mechanism for emotional pain or stress, leading to an unhealthy reliance on healthy food.

This dependence can lead to malnutrition or bingeing on “unhealthy” foods to cope with the rigidity of clean eating behavior.

The Importance of Moderation

The obsession with only eating clean is not a healthy lifestyle choice. The importance of moderation in all areas of life cannot be overstated.

Obsessive behavior around eating can cause physical and psychological damage, essentially leading to the opposite of the intended goal of clean eating. Clean eating can be a part of a balanced lifestyle, but it shouldn’t fuel a rigid belief system that stresses mental health or causes harm.

Takeaway

Clean eating is not without risk to mental health. It can provide an outlet for perfectionism and control that can develop unhealthy coping mechanisms.

As with any change in lifestyle, it’s important to remember the goal and practice moderation in all areas. Overall, it’s essential to prioritize mental health over any lifestyle or diet choice.