Nara Smith’s perfectly organized content is not exactly relatable. When craving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, most of us don’t knead our own dough into sandwich bread or cut our own homemade cinnamon cereal into squares. Smith’s peaceful aesthetic purposefully removes the excess fat from an inherently messy experience. There are barely any dirty dishes or stains on clothes to be found. Some argue that the recipes are so complicated that she takes advantage of them and constantly surpasses herself with recipes like her homemade salted caramel marshmallows and hand-rolled gumballs (#easyrecipes). It might come as a surprise, then, that one of the reasons for Smith’s handmade lifestyle may actually be one of her most relatable aspects.
Experts featured in this article:
Lauren Manaker is a registered dietitian and licensed dietitian.
Despite the harmless nature of Smith’s content, her delicious cooking videos seem to have garnered an unprecedented amount of criticism, especially regarding her religious affiliation (her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, is Mormon and reportedly grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Some say Smith promotes an outdated “traditional wife” lifestyle. But according to Smith, she’s “still learning and understanding my faith,” and one of the main reasons she cooks elaborate meals is actually more to do with her health than religion.
In a TikTok in March, Smith said she’d always loved to cook, but her passion for cooking exploded last year when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. “When I had terrible eczema, I had to make sure that what I was putting in my body was good for me, and that’s what sparked my interest in nutrition, food and cooking,” she said. More recently, in July 2023, Smith also spoke about her lupus diagnosis, explaining that her journey to the diagnosis included some serious dietary changes.
In each post, Smith only briefly touched on the link between autoimmune disease and diet, and when it comes to her extreme recipes, some of Smith’s current content seems to be tongue-in-cheek. (Her husband is Really (Will she have to wait a few hours while he finds a homemade solution that will satisfy his craving for a “quick and dirty” takeout burger?) Her recent sunscreen video is another great example: After Smith cooed over her DIY sunscreen recipe, one person commented, “Now they’re making fun of us.”
Homemade SPF aside, judging by her past comments, it seems Smith’s initial attraction to the do-it-yourself lifestyle had at least some to do with her health, something that many people with chronic illnesses can relate to.
In a TikTok post that has garnered more than 800,000 likes, creator Liv (@glitterboness) defended Smith amid the ongoing criticism, including a video in which Smith spoke about her seizures. “What pisses me off the most about people attacking Nala Smith is they don’t understand why she started. They don’t understand why she started cooking from scratch,” Liv said.
“If you have allergies or eczema, your diet is important to make your life easier and reduce symptoms,” Liv said in her TikTok, explaining that making food from scratch is often a strategy to ease symptoms and reduce stress. Several people agreed in the comments section, writing that a homemade diet can help with everything from polycystic ovarian syndrome to psoriasis.
To shed more light on this connection, Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, will explain in more detail the relationship between food and autoimmune disease.
“People with autoimmune diseases sometimes choose to cook their own meals, primarily because they want complete control over the ingredients,” Manaker tells PS. “Diets tailored to support people with chronic illnesses can help minimize symptom exacerbations and promote remission.” She points out that certain foods can calm or stimulate the immune system. Foods that can help support the immune system and reduce inflammation include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids include fish and flaxseed.
- Berries and leafy greens are good sources of antioxidants.
- Fermented foods for probiotics (such as kimchi, one of Smith’s favorites).
Meanwhile, foods high in refined carbohydrates and added sugars can make symptoms worse. “Preparing your own meals ensures you’re eating fresh, nutritious foods that support your immune system and overall health, and avoids ultra-processed foods that may contain ingredients of concern to those with autoimmune diseases,” Manaker says.
Of course, you don’t have to have an autoimmune disease to enjoy a home-cooked meal (or Smith’s undeniably soothing content). Even if you don’t suffer from an attack, cooking your own meals from scratch has many benefits. “Cooking your own meals can help you better understand nutrition and make more informed choices about the ingredients you ingest,” says Manaker. As Smith demonstrates in his videos, cooking your own meals also takes time and effort, and by the end of it, you may find yourself feeling a deeper appreciation for the food on your plate.
Nobody said that. needs It’s unlikely anyone will be trying to make their own ice cream (especially sunscreen) anytime soon, but before you criticize Smith’s elaborate recipe, know that there may be more to her homemade creations than meets the eye.
Chandler Plant is an Assistant Editor at POPSUGAR Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an Editorial Assistant at People magazine and was a contributor to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her spare time, she creates and shares content online about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.
