At times, self-care can be seen as selfish. But what if we could reframe taking care of ourselves in a more altruistic light?
Recently I had the realization that some circles see eating healthy as selfish or vain. During a volunteer shift alongside a pastor at a food distribution event, we stumbled onto the topic of food. He claimed his wife and daughter were into “clean ingredients.” I grew excited by this common thread and exclaimed what smart women they were.
He downplayed my excitement, and went on to say he was a simple man who blessed the food that was put in front of him and enjoyed it. I appreciated his perspective, and I can see where he’s coming from. Food is food, and it is a blessing to have something to eat.
But…
Something nagged at me. We were given intelligence and discernment, and we’ve learned that processed food is a silent killer. Don’t we all want to do the things we love with the people we love, and help others with the gifts we have? Wouldn’t we want to give the best of ourselves for as long as possible?
I think many altruistic people find it vain or unholy to be too health conscious. I invite those naysayers to reframe the “selfishness” of healthy eating. Instead, consider it as guarding and honoring the gifts we have.
Shouldn’t we be good stewards of the health that was bestowed on us? Shouldn’t we be encouraged to eat the fruits of this earth in a responsible way? The healthier we are, the happier we tend to be. We must fill our cup first before filling others (you know — the whole put your own mask on in an airplane before assisting others thing).
Health Concerns
If we consistently consume processed food with no thought, we put ourselves at higher risk of a host of health problems. Your body cannot ignore the artificial ingredients, excessive amounts of sugar and salt, and lack of real nutrients in modern foods (especially ultra-processed foods).
“Today, eating processed foods and fast foods may kill more people prematurely than cigarette smoking” (Fuhrman 2018).
Over time, damage will be done if we ignore what we eat. Damage that includes some serious, scary diseases like:
- Dementia
- Mental illness
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cancer
If you are battling any of the above, it takes away from the good you want to share elsewhere. I urge you, examine your food. Demand quality, real food when possible. It will be worth the surplus of energy and goodness you’ll have to share. And, if you’re feeling overwhelmed on your whole foods journey, check out How to Overcome the Pitfalls of Clean Eating.
To your health,
Eli
References
Berg, Sara. 2024. “What Doctors Wish Patients Knew about Ultraprocessed Foods.” American Medical Association. November 8, 2024. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/prevention-wellness/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-ultraprocessed-foods.
Fuhrman, Joel. 2018. “The Hidden Dangers of Fast and Processed Food.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 12 (5): 375–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827618766483.
National Health Service. 2023. “Eating Processed Foods.” Nhs.uk. June 12, 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/what-are-processed-foods/.