Mar 11
Do you have orthorexia?
Cats: words|Orthorexia is a condition that describes people with an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating.
ortho = right or correct
rexia = appetite.
I found the term in a book I’m reading “In Defence of Food” by Michael Pollan, the fellow who wrote Omnivore’s Dilemma.
The book itself is excellent, as was his previous book Omnivore’s Dilemma. It talks about the confusion and reductionism around food. Nutritionists, food industry lobbyists and governments have reduced food to nutrients.
It’s no longer meat and veg; it’s now proteins and fats. This he says robs us of the pure pleasure of food.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Although I can at times be obsessed with healthy eating, it doesn’t always mean I succeed. Is there a word for those of us with good intentions?
March 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I just use some rules of thumb based on what I know is good for me and don’t get too wrapped up in the details. If anything, it has expanded my food experience. The trick is to stock the cupboards with good foods (whole grain products, etc.). Now I get all the anti-oxidents, nutrients, amino acids, … that I need without knowing it and the food still tastes good.
One doesn’t need to know why an apple is good for you, just that it is.
The only trick is striking a balance, and this can be achieved through one simple rule:
Try to balance proteins and carbohydrates 50/50 with fruits and vegetables. Enjoy.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I just use some rules of thumb based on what I know is good for me and don’t get too wrapped up in the details. If anything, it has expanded my food experience. The trick is to stock the cupboards with good foods (whole grain products, etc.). Now I get all the anti-oxidents, nutrients, amino acids, … that I need without knowing it and the food still tastes good.
One doesn’t need to know why an apple is good for you, just that it is.
The only trick is striking a balance, and this can be achieved through one simple rule:
Try to balance proteins and carbohydrates 50/50 with fruits and vegetables. Enjoy.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Dick, you’re still going into spam. I’ve your comment in by hand…and telling the spam filter to bugger off.
Maybe the trick is to eat more SPAM – you know SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM
March 11th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Wow, it’s like I don’t e-exist.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Piko and I actually love Spam and rice. I think it’s a Hawaii thing.
Anyway.
I’m an eater. Love to eat. If it’s bad for me, I’ll **try** to eat just a little. If it’s good for me, I’ll eat alot. Right now it’s gearing into that time of the month where I suffer from “Hollow leg syndrome”. I suppose I should stock the fridge with “good things” so that I don’t eat a whole box of fruit roll-ups.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
TenaciousS, welcome to GT. I think the word you are looking for is normal?
MdG, this book talks about the importance of eating for pleasure and doing what you said – a little of the bad stuff, a lot of the good stuff
Dick, I put you in. now you’re gone???
March 11th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I just use some rules of thumb based on what I know is good for me and don’t get too wrapped up in the details. If anything, it has expanded my food experience. The trick is to stock the cupboards with good foods (whole grain products, etc.). Now I get all the anti-oxidents, nutrients, amino acids, … that I need without knowing it and the food still tastes good.
One doesn’t need to know why an apple is good for you, just that it is.
The only trick is striking a balance, and this can be achieved through one simple rule:
Try to balance proteins and carbohydrates 50/50 with fruits and vegetables. Enjoy.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Wow, it’s like I don’t e-exist.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Now you exist Dick.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
If we discuss this too much does it mean we have an unhealthy obsession with talking about people who have an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating? Where does it all end?
For the record, I eat every and any thing. Except sea cucumber.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
BB, brilliant. That would be orthoorthorexia.
And you have a condition known as Sea Cucumber Nervosa.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Sorry Dick, now I’m showing up as you.
I’ve been pasting your stuff from spam into these comments and that last comment showed up as you when it was supposed to be me.
I’ve changed it back to me.
Dick, are you me or am I you?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I am a Dick. Can you say that with the same strength of conviction?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
yeah! it worked
But no, I can’t say it with conviction, but maybe with condicktion.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Except now some Dick with a hotmail account will be getting spammed with GT e-mails.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Man, I hate people like that. I used to work with this mother/daughter combo who couldn’t talk about anything else but their diets. And once around Thanksgiving the daughter was like, “Oh, I really want a piece of Grandma’s pumpkin pie, but I probably shouldn’t” and her mother goes, “Well, one piece of pie a year won’t kill you.” People like this are joyless and insane.
I remember a funny joke from Tina Fey on SNL’s Weekend Update – she said something about Atkins and then said that people on Atkins burn so many calories because they’re constantly talking about how they’re on Atkins. Truer words were never spoken!
March 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I think if more people had orthorexia, they’d certainly live longer, more productive lives. A little nutrition-obsession is in dire need in today’s world, where (for example) obesity and diabetes are rampant. (IMHO, anyway).
March 12th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Interesting. I can now explain while eating a pizza that I’m fighting my orthorexia issues.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:58 am
BeckEye, the author says we’ve lost the joy of food. He’s not against healthy eating but says joy is an important part of healthy eating.
Patrick, it’s a paradox. As obsession with healthy eating increase, so do problems associated with food – obesity, diabetes and certain cancers. In France where they aren’t as bothered with what they eat, the incidence of these diseases is much lower than in N. AMerica.
Beth, that is perfect. I can’t wait to use it.