It’s the new year and many of us are starting new things or getting back into things we love. It is common to be focused on making positive changes in our lives. Many of us want to focus on things like mental health or physical health. We try to have healthier eating habits or exercise habits but when does a good thing become too much and start hurting us?
Healthier eating is great
Focusing on your health by trying to implement healthier eating habits is a great thing. We never would want to discourage someone from making positive changes in this aspect of their life. Having a more balanced diet full of nutritious foods can result in feeling better both physically and mentally. The right diet can help improve energy levels, sleep, and digestive health. It can become an issue, however, when we start to put too much pressure on ourselves in this area.
Restrictive eating or fearing eating
One of the first things that comes to mind regarding the negative aspects of healthier eating is disordered thoughts around food. Sometimes, we can be scared to eat certain things that we have convinced ourselves are “not healthy” or “not good” for us. Of course, taken too far this can negatively effect our mental health. It’s not good or healthy to be so concerned about food intake that you’re afraid to eat certain foods and restricting ourselves. Unless a doctor has recommended that you refrain from eating certain foods due to a health condition, it’s not a healthy choice to eliminate certain food groups entirely.
Guilt, shame, and negative thoughts
Another problem that can result from putting too much emphasis on healthier eating can be feelings of shame or guilt when we “don’t eat the right way.” If having a special treat or eating more than you anticipated results in deep shame or guilt, there could be a bigger problem going on. Indulging in a favorite food or eating more than anticipated at a party is nothing to be ashamed about and part of eating healthier is knowing when you should be flexible. Eating should not result in guilt, shame, or other negative feelings. If it does, then it may be important to reach out to a therapist to discuss these things, especially before they turn into something like a disordered pattern of behavior around food.
Judging others
Sometimes we can get so immersed in our own changes or goals that we can impose judgements on others. If you find yourself judging those around you for making what you feel are “unhealthy” choices, then it can be something that can put strain on your relationships. No one wants to feel like someone they care about is judging what they eat. Often, we don’t even do this on purpose! But it’s important to catch yourself if this is happening. Examine why you feel the desire or impulse to judge someone else’s food choices. It could speak to some insecurity or fear you have around your own eating or health goals.
Healthier eating should be mentally healthy, too
The take away is that making healthier food choices should result in us feeling better mentally, too. If these choices are putting strain on our mental health, aside from the initial stress of making changes, then it could indicate that we’re looking at too much of a good thing. Get advice from others if you find yourself struggling with this!
