An Open Letter to the ‘Health’ Community: It’s time to stop shaming

There are several things that are generally agreed upon in the ‘health’ community.

1. Eat your veggies.

2. Drink plenty of water.

3. Get enough sleep.

But beyond that, the rest is clouded by smoke.

Quite often people within this ‘health’ community shame and attack others for following a different lifestyle or diet. They disparage a lifestyle different from theirs. They have seen positive effects of their lifestyle and try to push it onto others. While they may mean no harm, food and a lifestyle is a very personal topic. These comments can often turn into an attack, even though the mean no harm. It becomes very much a personal attack. And even despite the best intentions, these intentions are often misconstrued. Research around food and lifestyle can be very contradictory. Some studies might say eating tomatoes cause cancer, while others say they might not (just a wild example). We are all responsible for taking the information and deciding what we believe in and what works best for us. The best thing we can do is to offer support. We have to learn to embrace our differences. Everyone’s body is different and functions differently. One person’s body may function better on one lifestyle or diet versus another. Truly, the definition of “healthy” includes not only your physical state but also your mental state. Shaming others and feeling ashamed is no way to promote a healthy lifestyle. We shouldn’t shame each other for eating meat, or not buying organic. I believe that as long as we do what’s best for us, both physically and mentally, (and hopefully the environment), it shouldn’t matter whether we are vegan, paleo, gluten-free, or dairy-free.

Health is inherently self-centered. While it doesn’t hurt to help others, there is a line between helping and hurting. As it is in the world beyond being healthy, we need to see past those labels and realize that we are all in this together.