The Myth of 'Clean Eating': When Gut Health Becomes a Mask for Disordered Eating
Gut Health or Diet Culture in Disguise?
The wellness world has elevated "gut health" to a near-religious status. From Whole30 to anti-inflammatory diets and endless elimination protocols, many people genuinely believe they're making choices for their digestive health. But as a dietitian who works at the intersection of eating disorders and GI issues, I often see something more complicated happening.
For individuals with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating, the language of "clean eating" or "gut healing" can offer socially acceptable ways to restrict and even receive praise for it.
Important note: Every person's GI system is different. What feels nourishing and supportive for one person may be triggering or inappropriate for another. There is no universal gut-healing protocol.
What Is 'Clean Eating'... Really?
"Clean eating" isn't a clinical term. It has no standardized definition. But generally, it implies:
Eating minimally processed, whole foods
Cutting out "toxins" (an unscientific, vague term)
Avoiding gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, etc.
Relying heavily on organic or "anti-inflammatory" foods
While there's nothing inherently wrong with enjoying whole foods, the morality assigned to food choices, such as clean = good, dirty = bad, is where things get problematic, especially in recovery. And especially when those choices are not based on clinical necessity, but on fear.
When Gut Protocols Become Restrictive Diets
Many popular "gut healing" programs start with long elimination lists:
Low FODMAP
Whole30
SIBO protocols
Candida cleanses
"Anti-bloat" or "flat belly" meal plans
These diets often:
Cut out entire food groups
Promote fear of "gut-damaging" foods (gluten, dairy, sugar, etc.)
Emphasize purity, detox, or self-control
But here's the key: these approaches are not inherently disordered. They become problematic when applied universally, without considering the individual's medical history, relationship with food, and psychological state.
What to Do Instead: Reframing Gut Health Without Fear
As dietitians and clinicians, we can support gut health without fueling disordered patterns by:
Centering adequacy, not elimination: Focus on what can be added to support the gut- fiber diversity, fermented foods (if tolerated), fluids, and regular meals.
Validating symptoms without moralizing food: GI symptoms are real but they don't mean food is bad. Help clients get curious, not fearful.
Pacing reintroductions safely: Use a structured but flexible approach to reintroduce foods, reminding clients that tolerance often improves with consistency and reduced anxiety.
Shifting the language: Replace "clean" and "toxic" with nourishing, satisfying, gentle, tolerable, supportive
Personalizing the approach
GI symptoms are deeply individual. One person may benefit from temporarily reducing FODMAPs. At the same time, another may need to increase exposure to feared foods to rebuild tolerance. Some need medical treatment; others need nervous system regulation.
Final Thoughts: Food Is Not a Moral Issue
In a culture that constantly equates wellness with control, it's easy for gut health to become another form of disordered eating. But gut health doesn't require perfection or restriction.
True healing often means eating more, not less. More variety. More flexibility. More peace. And what healing looks like will vary for every single person.
If you're navigating gut symptoms in recovery, or working with someone who is, it's time to retire the myth of clean eating and embrace a gentler, more personalized path.
Want help separating gut truth from gut fear? Reach out to Northern Nutrition Group to schedule your appointment with a dietitian.
Written by Kaitlyn Schlangen, MS, RD
Kaitlyn specializes in: Eating disorders, disordered eating patterns, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases. She is dedicated to supporting individuals across all spectrums of these challenges.