Clean Eating is bad!

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Let's talk about eating clean.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: If you are following a clean eating plan that works for you and makes you happy, this might not be for you.

Nutrition varies from person to person, but I believe there are more flexible ways to diet that make the fitness journey enjoyable.

What is clean eating?

The idea is to ditch "dirty" junk foods like pizza or burgers for nutritious whole foods. It seems easy, but here is the breakdown of why it can be problematic.

Problem 01

No one agrees on what "clean" means

Typical bodybuilder diets often consist of:

• Chicken
• Egg whites
• Sweet potatoes
• Brown rice
• Broccoli
• Oatmeal
• Protein powder

But protein powder is highly processed and refined. Why is it "clean" while a white potato—which is unprocessed—often isn't? Categorization varies wildly between Keto, Paleo, and bodybuilding communities.

Problem 02

It's needlessly inconvenient

Strict clean eating often means missing out on dinners with friends and family because the menu is "off-limits." Science shows flexibility is fine as long as you maintain a caloric deficit and hit your protein goals.

Problem 03

Not a strategy for long-term fat loss

Restricting food groups makes a diet harder to follow. Strict diets are usually for competitive bodybuilders or movie stars—categories targeting quick, temporary weight loss rather than sustainable lifestyle changes.

Problem 04

Risk of eating disorders

Clean eating creates a "black and white" perspective of food. Research suggests that rigid dieting can lead to orthorexia—an obsession with eating only "healthy" food. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Problem 05

It can actually be unhealthy

"The dose makes the poison." Eliminating entire food groups makes it easy to run into a nutrition deficiency. Extreme health-focused eating isn't always the healthiest option for the body.

The Solution

Rather than focusing on eliminating "bad" foods, focus on adding more nutrient-dense foods. Don't feel like you have to cut out every treat to have a healthy life.

Fat loss comes down to a caloric deficit and protein intake. Prioritize minimally processed whole foods, be consistent, and enjoy your life.

Remember: Health is wealth.