Orthorexia: Obsession with health food

A U.S. doctor has coined a new term, "orthorexia," a disorder characterized by an obsession with health food.

ABC News: Orthorexia: Obsessing Over Health Food

Not to knock health food -- not only are several DL'ers extremely serious about what they eat, but the health food movement has had a significant influence on what westerners eat and how they think about food (much of it positive IMO).

But is there such a thing as too much when it comes to eating healthy?

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Yes, there is definitely such a thing as too much when it comes to healthy eating. Talk to some serious yogis some time.

Thing is, while the benefits of a healthy diet are amazing the only clear evidence is that eating a variety of fresh foods with an emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables is a healthy diet. All the other stuff is less than certain.

To eat a completely healthy diet is a full time job.

Unproven results, give up everything else... not really worth it.

There is a lot to be said for well prepared fresh food in good company whenever possible but it's often taken way too far (say's the man shovelling down a thai takeaway and messing about on a laptop at the same time)

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Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you
High mountains are a feeling
I don't need to sell my soul, he's already in me

“	Originally Posted By: john100 There is a lot to be said for well prepared fresh food in good company whenever possible but it's often taken way too far (say's the man shovelling down a thai takeaway and messing about on a laptop at the same time)	”

Hey speak for your self...
Oh wait...

I like the good company part, too many people forget about the celebration of a good meal...

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

I saw that 20/20. Something about that John Stossel bugs me...

Very interesting since we had just returned from my parents house - my parents eat basically Vegan for health purposes (they don't follow the Vegan theories though) and are always interested in the new food info that's coming out.

My wife has decided that we are going to go more fresh fruits and veggies too - like almost exclusively fruits and veggies, with fish and an occasional meat dish. (and we'll still go out for steak and/or sushi occasionally - otherwise I'd go nuts!)

Anyway, it was an interesting show. These people basically start out with one diet, or cut something from their diet because it has problems, then continue doing so until they have cut most things from what they can eat because of toxins or whatever. Nothing is perfect, so they get to the point where they won't eat anything.

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"You remind me of a poem that I can't remember!" - Grandpa Simpson

It's all relative

Yup, and a load of them start with ashtanga/jivamukti yoga...

I like the theory that food is better for you the more you enjoy it because pleasure makes you healthier...

__________________
Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you
High mountains are a feeling
I don't need to sell my soul, he's already in me

That theory works for me ... some of the time.

I think that, like anything else, some people develop compulsive disorders around the idea of eating healthy. "Detox" has just been terribly misused.

I commented in a DL thread a few years back about an "olive oil fast" that some member was contemplating. Reading the link which described the fast in detail, the creator of the fast kept harping about how important it was to do this fast at least 4 times a year, and every month if possible. The "fast" itself was 2 weeks each time, basically drinking olive oil and nothing else. After some quick math it was easy to see that following this guy's reasoning one could spend 4-6 months out of the year just fasting.

I don't know about anybody else, but even Jesus only fasted 40 days. And it was considered an incredible feat. Most biblical fasts weren't much longer than 3 days, except for the whackjob prophet types who would go out and eat locusts for a couple months or years.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...