Orthorexia!
rjmudlax13
Posts: 900 Member
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/07/health/orthorexia/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13
Interesting article about how people take "eating clean" too far. Usually CNN has crap, but this one is pretty good.
Interesting article about how people take "eating clean" too far. Usually CNN has crap, but this one is pretty good.
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Replies
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Thank you for sharing! I found the article interesting. Never thought about how one could take clean-eating to an extreme.0
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Interesting read. Anything can become an obsession if taken too far. That's one reason I like MFP's approach...eat sensibly and stay within your calories. Simple, and allows you to treat yourself once in awhile!
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That sounds absolutely miserable...0
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It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
When they got to the part about the cruise, I thought, "I wouldn't avoid the cruise because of the food. I avoid cruises because I worry that the ship will sink and I'll be eaten by a shark."
I'll bet there is a name for my irrational fear, but I don't know it.
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
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It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
When they got to the part about the cruise, I thought, "I wouldn't avoid the cruise because of the food. I avoid cruises because I worry that the ship will sink and I'll be eaten by a shark."
I'll bet there is a name for my irrational fear, but I don't know it.
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
My boyfriend refuses to go on a cruise because he swears we would get hit by a rogue wave. LOL0 -
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
Wow, they have a term for everything. I have a mild version of that, I always just thought it was called being silly, or mentally weak.
Stupid sharks. I sometimes even think one's going to get me in the pool. The pool.0 -
It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
When they got to the part about the cruise, I thought, "I wouldn't avoid the cruise because of the food. I avoid cruises because I worry that the ship will sink and I'll be eaten by a shark."
I'll bet there is a name for my irrational fear, but I don't know it.
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
My boyfriend refuses to go on a cruise because he swears we would get hit by a rogue wave. LOL
I hear "cruise" and I think "Titanic"![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
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Sounds like my Aunt has Orthorexia then...
you cannot eat at a restaurant with her anywhere because she constantly freaks out about what might be in the food. If she makes a meal for you it consists of stuff I wouldn't really consider food... She's convinced if someone consumes enough coconut oil it'll cure their Alzheimer's.
And she's on a kick right now eating ungodly amounts of fermented cabbage. (It has some oriental sounding name...I forget what she calls it) But...yea...I'm sure sauerkraut is the fountain of youth...
My 90 yr old grandpa lives with her and I sneak him his favorite candy every time I come over. Poor guy isn't even overweight...he should be able to eat whatever the heck he wants at his age!
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independant2406 wrote: »Sounds like my Aunt has Orthorexia then... you cannot eat at a restaurant with her anywhere because she constantly freaks out about what might be in the food. If she makes a meal for you it consists of stuff I wouldn't really consider food... She's convinced if someone consumes enough coconut oil it'll cure their Alzheimer's.
And she's on a kick right now eating ungodly amounts of fermented cabbage. (It has some oriental sounding name...I forget what she calls it) But...yea...I'm sure sauerkraut is the fountain of youth...
My 90 yr old grandpa lives with her and I sneak him his favorite candy every time I come over. Poor guy isn't even overweight...he should be able to eat whatever the heck he wants at his age!
It's probably kimchi. I LOVE kimchi!0 -
Fear of cruises is legit - I do the fear the food on cruise ships, food poisoning can kill you.0
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It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
I think they were using that as an extreme example. But I thought the most interesting part was the suggestion that you have a real problem when you avoid social interactions (i.e., going out to eat with friends, attending a party/BBQ) because you fear you might have to eat "unclean" food. I know some people that are like this.
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rjmudlax13 wrote: »It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
I think they were using that as an extreme example. But I thought the most interesting part was the suggestion that you have a real problem when you avoid social interactions (i.e., going out to eat with friends, attending a party/BBQ) because you fear you might have to eat "unclean" food. I know some people that are like this.
To be honest, I don't have a fear of unclean food, but I have found myself avoiding get togethers if I don't know how to account for the food. And I hate going to restaurants that don't have nutrition information available.
I'm working on it though!
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To be honest, I don't have a fear of unclean food, but I have found myself avoiding get togethers if I don't know how to account for the food. And I hate going to restaurants that don't have nutrition information available. I'm working on it though!
I feel the same way a lot of the time... Lack of nutrition facts is a problem!
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Sigh - everything has to be a "syndrome" now, doesn't it???
Since I practice CRON (calorie restriction w/ optimal nutrition) I get accused of this all the time. It gets tiresome. The people that have problems often have general anxiety and OCD issues in many parts of their lives. This is just how it manifests in diet.
As I try to explain to people who are suspicious of CRON, I am not "afraid" of food. I simply choose what I am willing to eat and probably have more self-control around that than the average person. Saying that is a "problem" is like saying people who, through saving and investments, accumulated a nice retirement have an "unhealthy obsession with money"--0 -
Sigh - everything has to be a "syndrome" now, doesn't it???
Since I practice CRON (calorie restriction w/ optimal nutrition) I get accused of this all the time. It gets tiresome. The people that have problems often have general anxiety and OCD issues in many parts of their lives. This is just how it manifests in diet.
As I try to explain to people who are suspicious of CRON, I am not "afraid" of food. I simply choose what I am willing to eat and probably have more self-control around that than the average person. Saying that is a "problem" is like saying people who, through saving and investments, accumulated a nice retirement have an "unhealthy obsession with money"--
But that is not what orthorexia is. No one (although there are always those few a-holes) is saying there is anything wrong with making a conscious effort to eat whole and healthy (as is high in micronutrients, fiber, etc.) food. Or that counting calories is bad.
It's when you are obsessed in finding the "perfect" and "cleanest" foods. Or when you feel a lot of anxiety or lack of enjoyment when going out to eat at a restaurant with friends. Or god forbid you realize that the juice you just drank has *gulp* high fructose corn syrup and you get all stressed out about it and feel guilty.0 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
When they got to the part about the cruise, I thought, "I wouldn't avoid the cruise because of the food. I avoid cruises because I worry that the ship will sink and I'll be eaten by a shark."
I'll bet there is a name for my irrational fear, but I don't know it.
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
My boyfriend refuses to go on a cruise because he swears we would get hit by a rogue wave. LOL
I hear "cruise" and I think "Titanic"
I hear cruise and I think Norovirus...no thanks.0 -
fermented cabbage = kimchee, love it.
especially kimchee soup
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Suzy_in_DE wrote: »fermented cabbage = kimchee, love it. especially kimchee soup
But do you believe if you eat enough of it every day (and little else) you'll reverse the aging process and look 10 years younger? That's how my Aunt looks at it.
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no, just like it on cold days, Korean comfort food. anything taken to the extreme can be bad.
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Sounds a lot like what I went through when I did a 3 year paleo stint. Glad that is over...0
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Pretty sure I've struggled with this along with my binge eating disorder. I would binge on "clean" foods and gain more weight, too. It got so bad that at one point I would cry and have panic attacks over my food if it wasn't my idea of clean (I was paleo for 4 years). Now that I'm much more relaxed with my food and nothing is off limits, I haven't had a binge since and I feel better than ever.
On the other hand, now it's my mother who is on the verge of tears every time I eat something she doesn't deem as her idea of healthy, because I'm "poisoning my body" and "sending myself to an early grave." (Insert huge eye roll emoji here)0 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »It was pretty common sensey. If you're crying over food, it's time to seek help. You don't need a degree to figure that out.
When they got to the part about the cruise, I thought, "I wouldn't avoid the cruise because of the food. I avoid cruises because I worry that the ship will sink and I'll be eaten by a shark."
I'll bet there is a name for my irrational fear, but I don't know it.
ETA: OK, I looked it up: Galeophobia. I'm not scared on the beach, though. That would be silly.
My boyfriend refuses to go on a cruise because he swears we would get hit by a rogue wave. LOL
I hear "cruise" and I think "Titanic"
Haha modern cruise ships aren't anything like the titanic. I was on one where the stabilizers gave out in the middle of a huge storm in the bay of bisque. The ship was tilting 30 - 35 degrees left and right. Waves where crashing right up to the top floor. It scared the living *kitten* out of us. But we didn't sink. They did lose 10 grand worth of booze though because all of all the drink spills. They didn't even close the bar though. Nor did they call anyone to muster stations. Modern day cruise ships are pretty frikking solid. Not saying they are invincible. But you'll think omg were gonna sink long before there is any real danger.
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rjmudlax13 wrote: »Sigh - everything has to be a "syndrome" now, doesn't it???
Since I practice CRON (calorie restriction w/ optimal nutrition) I get accused of this all the time. It gets tiresome. The people that have problems often have general anxiety and OCD issues in many parts of their lives. This is just how it manifests in diet.
As I try to explain to people who are suspicious of CRON, I am not "afraid" of food. I simply choose what I am willing to eat and probably have more self-control around that than the average person. Saying that is a "problem" is like saying people who, through saving and investments, accumulated a nice retirement have an "unhealthy obsession with money"--
But that is not what orthorexia is. No one (although there are always those few a-holes) is saying there is anything wrong with making a conscious effort to eat whole and healthy (as is high in micronutrients, fiber, etc.) food. Or that counting calories is bad.
It's when you are obsessed in finding the "perfect" and "cleanest" foods. Or when you feel a lot of anxiety or lack of enjoyment when going out to eat at a restaurant with friends. Or god forbid you realize that the juice you just drank has *gulp* high fructose corn syrup and you get all stressed out about it and feel guilty.
I am well aware that CRON is not the same as orthexia (I believe that was the whole point of my post but sorry if it did not come through clearly.) I was saying more as an explanation and perhaps a plea that, if you run into someone who follows nutrition closely, eats far fewer calories than you "think is healthy" and won't eat your birthday cake, don't slap a label on it as a "disorder".
And yes, there are lots of people here who do that...0 -
Basically
- Trying to eat healthy and nutritious foods most of the time = Healthy
- Positiveley refusing to put anything you deem to be "impure" food in your mouth = unhealthy.
If you are freaking out because the restaurant meal you had today might contain some "chemicals" then that is a symptom of othorexia.
Not wanting to eat something that's full of trans fats and finding a moderate alternative is not a symptom of othorexia.
If you restrict dairy,gluten etc without any sane reason to do so. I.e just because people told you that they are bad. Then that is a symptom of othorexia.
If you restrict dairy, gluten etc when you have confirmed yourself to be allergic to them or respond badly then that is not a symptom of othorexia.
Need I go on?0 -
Need I go on?
Nope. I think you got it.
Although, I would add that it really is more about your emotional response than your actions. So, ask yourself this question: If a coworker brought in doughnuts and you decide to have one, would you feel any kind of guilt or anxiety about eating one and obsess about all the "harmful" and "evil" cancer causing chemicals or would say "mmm that doughnut was delicious and I'm glad I treated myself today. I will log it and move on with my life." Also, on the other end of the spectrum would the doughnut set off a binge? This is basically the same issue.
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my sister in law is a lifetime WW member. she's maintained for about 25 years now. good for her. but she drives me insane with making faces and 'I wouldn't dare eat that' because of fat content. she is a OCD fat-free. I have yet to convinced her that some stuff just doesn't taste right with fat-free cream cheese, fat-free butter, etc. LOL!0
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My partner's cousin is tearing the family apart, turns out she's celiac and she's been forcing out the family to eat gluten free, absolutely despises anyone who talks/eats/smells/thinks of fast food and since her father was diagnosed with cancer (he has his special diet by a doctor and is on remission) she is incredibly paranoid that ANY TYPE OF FOOD will give you cancer.
Her birthday was a couple of days ago, she invited the whole family and we had to munch that awful tasting (but healthy!) meals. No salt, no gluten, no sugar, no oil, no spices, raw, organic, etc etc.
The whole family got sick.0 -
Also there's this girl at work who thinks that anything (water too, mind you) makes her sick and proves it by vomiting everything and eating an awful smelling fish+onion+garlic puree 3 times a day.
She's on therapy, since her stomach cannot retain food now from provoking vomit so much.0 -
Basically
- Trying to eat healthy and nutritious foods most of the time = Healthy
- Positiveley refusing to put anything you deem to be "impure" food in your mouth = unhealthy.
If you are freaking out because the restaurant meal you had today might contain some "chemicals" then that is a symptom of othorexia.
Not wanting to eat something that's full of trans fats and finding a moderate alternative is not a symptom of othorexia.
If you restrict dairy,gluten etc without any sane reason to do so. I.e just because people told you that they are bad. Then that is a symptom of othorexia.
If you restrict dairy, gluten etc when you have confirmed yourself to be allergic to them or respond badly then that is not a symptom of othorexia.
Need I go on?
Nope, that's about it!
Eating healthy foods is a good idea. Crying or having panic attacks over food - not a good idea.
Skipping dairy because it bloats you and gives you diarrhea - okay. Skipping dairy because it's not on your Diet That Cures Cancer? Stupid. And crazy.
If you're crying about food - for any reason! - call a therapist.
Duh.0
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