Jennifer Lopez/Instagram
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez have recently completed a strict 10-day “no-sugar, no-carb cleanse,” according to an article on People. The power couple decided to end the stint with an insane feast of pizza, pastries, French fries, and more pizza — just to name a few. Lopez also reportedly shared that she felt amazing during the 10 days of restriction and is planning to do a second round.
As you can imagine, A-Rod and J.Lo are definitely not the first ones to do something like this. This sort of “challenge” is all the rage right now. It also makes sense, considering how folks are continuing to learn about the negative effects of added sugars and refined carbs. Yet, as someone with an educational and professional background in nutrition, I can’t help but notice a major caveat in this kind of approach.
That’s not to say limiting or omitting refined carbs isn’t a wise move. It’s a healthy lifestyle change for anyone! The problem, however, is the way our culture talks about these changes.
For starters, deprivation of an entire food group is a foolproof way of demonizing certain foods. In turn, you’ll be more likely to miss out on foods that have a place in a balanced, healthy lifestyle. The never-ending narrative around carbs is the perfect example.
Second, the concept of a “challenge” creates more room for guilt. There are not only strict rules, but actual deadlines, too. So, instead of eating for overall health and enjoyment, every food choice is driven by the pressure to follow specific restrictions.
And then there’s the approach of feasting on the same exact foods you were avoiding in the first place. One might call it a treat for being “good,” but that’s precisely the problem. Again, this not only demonizes certain foods, but increases the chances of falling off a wagon you created in the first place.