If you’re anything like me, diet culture can make the simple task of weekly grocery shopping seem like the most daunting task on your to-do list.
It can be frustrating to constantly be fed contradicting diet fads. One minute, I’m told I don’t “get enough protein,” and the next, I’m convinced gluten is the secret villain behind all my problems — cut out gluten, lose weight, clear your skin and, in turn, live a happy, carefree life.
People are exhausted by the needless confusion surrounding diet culture. It’s become too overwhelming to concern ourselves with. We’re tempted to take the road that seems the most straightforward.
Unfortunately, modern medicine only worsens this temptation.
When we experience frustrating health issues, we long for a pill, supplement or operation to be the “fix.” It’s largely because of how we’ve been conditioned to approach our health. When it comes to sustaining long-term health, there may not be such a simple way out.
In recent years, the concept of functional medicine found its place among diet fads, but it shouldn’t be confused with one. You’ve probably heard the phrase “the root cause of ___” thrown around your Instagram reels the past year. Anything from digestive, hormonal or skin issues can be inserted into the blank, but the videos all have the same answer: a diet that prioritizes whole food consumption while reducing processed food consumption.
But why? What makes this “diet” any better than other diet trends?
Eating a well-rounded diet means cutting processed foods, or foods that damage our body’s cells due to an excess of refined ingredients and sugars. However, eating highly processed foods has become the norm.
Eating real food shouldn’t be considered a diet.
It’s not a coincidence that rates of chronic illnesses are rapidly increasing in our society. We’re feeding our body things that aren’t real and calling it normal.
Even food items labeled “natural” or “healthy” aren’t exempt. The next time you’re at the grocery store, look at the ingredients of the protein bar you’re about to buy, the granola for your vanilla yogurt or the bottled smoothies boasting high amounts of protein.
Foods generally considered “healthy” are full of ingredients we weren’t made to ingest: unnecessary amounts of added sugar, refined ingredients and harmful sugar substitutes, which are all linked to an increased risk of numerous health issues, according to a Harvard Medical School study.
While the modern food industry is happy to encourage the narrative that processed foods aren’t harmful, those who specialize in functional medicine strive to discover the root cause, which is often connected to what you consume.
Our flawed healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries run on people getting sick and staying sick. It shouldn’t be a surprise those who profit from the system disregard the negative impacts of highly addictive, processed foods.
If you’re feeling extremely discouraged at this point, you’re not alone. It’s nearly impossible to avoid these foods, and despite the risks, I don’t believe we should torture ourselves trying to do so.
The best way we can advocate for ourselves and our loved ones is to learn as much as possible and try our best to properly nourish our bodies before it’s too late.
Kendall O’Connor is a UF English junior.
