This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On August 26, 2019, health enthusiasts were advised to consider the following four things before adopting a clean eating diet.
Firstly, clean eating can lead to constipation problems. When increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, it's essential to give your digestive system time to adjust. A significant increase in fibre from vegetables and beans might bring about some bowel changes like loose stool. To normalise your bowel movement, reduce your intake of fruits and vegetables for a few days and then increase them gradually. Drinking less water than recommended can also lead to constipation, so it's crucial to drink about two litres of water a day.
Secondly, eating clean can lead to accidental weight gain. Contrary to popular belief, it can make you put on more weight than intended. This happens because you might be consuming more calories now than you did before. When sautéing everything in coconut oil and dipping your apple slices in almond butter or drinking smoothies all the time, you can end up putting on weight since these foods are filled with calories, sugar, and fat. A gluten-free or dairy-free meal still has calories even if it is a little healthier.
Thirdly, a clean eating diet can be unsustainable. One side effect of eating healthy is isolating yourself from your friends and places you used to go to because you believe you will be tempted to fall back into your old eating habits. You might also get bored with your new diet. To prevent this from happening, have a plan that they can sustain you in the long run.
Lastly, eating clean can lead to excessive gas production. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and green leafy vegetables are usually filled with nutrients and are known for their cancer prevention properties. These vegetables, however, also produce a lot of gas and can lead to stomach cramps and bloating. While preparing these vegetables, it's advisable to add mushrooms, pepper, and broccoli to reduce gas production.
