There’s No Such Thing as “Clean” Eating
Have you ever wondered what someone meant when they said they’re eating “clean?”
When you hear that word in nutrition, you might think of food like vegetables, grilled chicken, fruits, and pretty much anything on the less processed side.
Although this is an ideal way to eat for a healthy lifestyle-eat more whole foods and less ultra-processed foods-the term “clean” can be misleading. It can make someone think if a product is labeled “clean” then it’s “chemical-free” or safer.
The Truth
“Clean” is only a marketing term and behind the marketing, it carries no meaning or value. It lands in the same group as labels such as “natural” or “organic” and so many more fear-mongering terms.
The term “clean” doesn’t have an official definition even though it is intended to promote products as “superior” to other products but why? The company that labels its products as “clean” is just trying to convince you to buy its products over its competitors by making you think that they’re free of “chemicals,” safe, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, unprocessed, and overall healthier.
The truth is even if you think of vegetables and fruits as “clean,” these food items have also been processed in some way to get to the shelves of your local store. Also, anything can be toxic depending on the dose. Remember-the dose makes the poison.
Other Facts
What about those “natural ingredients” listed on the nutrition facts label? These ingredients are no better than synthetic ingredients for both individuals and the environment. In fact, sourcing natural ingredients can be substantially more detrimental to the environment than using chemical reactions and synthesizing those ingredients in a laboratory.
Another label used for products by companies for fear-based marketing is “organic” which still uses synthetic ingredients. Those products labeled as “organic” are also not pesticide-free. These organically-approved pesticides do have higher toxicity to humans and animals than synthetic pesticides used for conventional products. Synthetics gets a bad rep and people instantly think of chemicals when they hear the term. However, even organic products use synthetic chemicals that are allowed.
Synthetic pesticides go through a complex process to test the safety use of them. This process involves the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) with the help of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
This truth about these fear-based marketing terms not only applies to food but also supplements, beauty, clothing and other household items.
For more accurate information on how these labels are misleading, check AG Daily to really dig in on all the facts.
Did you find this helpful? Read more here about other nutrition misinformation and check my nutrition services if you’re looking to improve your eating habits and finally reach your health goals. Plus sign up to my newsletter to read more pieces like this.
