Clean eating is on the rise—nutritional wellbeing is quickly becoming one of the most topical health subjects of the moment. A variety of trends have started to emerge into the mainstream—from veganism to detoxes we’re at the pinnacle of reimagining food consumption. Commercially, gluten-free food is now making over £550 million a year, and this figure is rising rapidly. Vegan restaurants and cafes are also on the rise—including several well-known high street brands such as Pret A Manger who are slowly integrating vegan cafés around London. The ever-expanding variety of health food stores would seem to indicate we’re on the cusp of something new. But this begs the question, how much of it is true?
You have to be dairy and gluten-free to be ‘clean’
The Truth: There’s a misconception floating around as of late that gluten-free and dairy-free recipes are somehow better for us. The truth is—unless you have intolerances to either—this simply isn’t the case. There is indeed a growing variety of gluten and dairy-free options on the market—foods like these should be eaten with consideration whether you’re avoiding dairy and gluten or not. The simple truth is you can still be very healthy on a gluten and dairy diet as long as you monitor your consumption like you would all other foods.
Carbs are unhealthy
The Truth: In order to maintain a healthy diet, carbs are in fact essential. There’s just better ways of consuming them. It’s best to get your carbs from fruit and veg, beans, nuts, dairy and whole grains. These foods aren’t processed like the better-known sources of carbs such as bleached grains and sugars—these are the ones that should be avoided.
Flaxseed will give you all your omega-3s
The Truth: The human body needs sufficient levels of omega-3s in the form of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), which is especially abundant in fish. While flaxseeds contain omega-3s, it is in the form of Alpha-Linoleic Acid (ALA), which needs to convert into DHA for any beneficial results. Unfortunately, the conversion ratio from ALA to DHA is very limited. Whole flaxseeds may pass through the intestine undigested so their nutrients remain unabsorbed. It’s essential you have omega-3s in your diet so if you’re looking for a plant-based source of this fatty acid, it is recommended to supplement with DHA from algae.
Detox cleanse regularly
The Truth: Regular detox cleanses aren’t necessary because your liver and kidney already do this on their own. The idea of a detox cleanse is to set yourself on a strict food and drink diet with the intention of helping your body rid itself of toxins. In a vast majority of these diets, the ‘toxins’ themselves and the method of removal aren’t clearly defined. Be careful to avoid ‘quick-fix’ liquid-only detoxes as these run the risk of depriving your body of essential nutrients.
Eggs are unhealthy
The Truth: Eggs have had an unfair treatment recently; the word ‘egg’ now seems to connote bad cholesterol and poor health. Neither of these are true. Eggs do have a lot of cholesterol—that part is true—but that cholesterol is good cholesterol, a denser variety that in fact seeks out the bad and scavenges or removes it. Good cholesterol reduces, reuses and recycles its bad counterpart and puts it to use relining the inner walls of blood vessels—in turn helping prevent heart disease. Beyond this, eggs also have a rich variety of nutrients and antitoxins. Our advice? Eat an egg.
Gluten is the enemy
The Truth: The honest truth is this: gluten is only the enemy if you suffer from coeliac disease. There is a misconception that gluten can break down the microvilli (a very tiny hair-like membrane) in the intestine, letting food particles pass into your bloodstream. This can be the case, but only if you’re suffering from coeliac disease. The real enemy—as with a lot of these cases—is over indulgence.
Mini-meals are better for your metabolism
The Truth: Eating small meals more frequently throughout the day has been believed to increase your metabolism—unfortunately studies have shown you neither burn calories nor lose fat any faster by doing this. The best way to burn calories and lose fat is to focus on eating real foods and avoid consuming more calories than you’re burning.
Saturated foods are bad
The Truth: It’s frequently believed that saturated foods cause heart disease, although there’s no substantial proof of this. One of the most popular healthy oils—coconut oil—is in fact high in saturated fats but is still considered a healthy food.
Juicing fruit is better than eating it
The Truth: The only ones benefiting from juicing are the companies that produce juicers and blenders. There’s no doubt your juicing concoctions may taste better, however, juicing takes away the fibre in the fruit. Fibre is essential for good heart and digestive health. If you like your health kick flavoursome, juice away, but don’t expect significant differences concerning your health.
Clean eating is dangerous
The Truth: It isn’t—but a person’s execution of it can be. ‘Clean eating’ concerns itself with eating whole foods and foods that are minimally processed. As with all new conquests, you should pursue clean eating with care and consideration; consult a doctor where necessary. Clean eating can take a wide variety of forms so consider which would work best for you. Ensure you’re getting your information from a reputable source. Plan your diet with care, making sure you’re still getting all the necessary nutrients and vitamins, and don’t cut anything out before doing your research.
See also: The Top 4 Cookery Schools for Clean Eating
See also: Eat Smart with Celebrity Angels
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