Here’s some recent research on the concept of “clean” eating. Although a recent survey found “clean” eating to be the most practiced diet among American consumers, the researchers not surprisingly found that 1. the term clean eating had no standardized meaning, and 2. clean eating beliefs are substantially correlated with disordered eating among young adults.
Potential benefits of clean eating included rejection of highly processed food but this is offset by the potential risk of eating disorder development.
Dietitians and other eating specialists advise caution around the use of the term and concept of “clean” when it comes to food. It’s one of those ambiguous terms like “all natural” or “whole grain” that seems healthy but does not actually mean anything and can lead to unhealthier choices.
Is Clean Eating a Health or Harmful Eating Strategy? | Biomedical Central
