Some call it ‘natural’ the way my family (and most of my close friends) live our life. Well, now there are others that call it ‘orthorexia nervosa’.
And by others, I mean Dr. Steven Bratman. He’s the one who coined this term as a new disease. The label is to be given to those people who are silly enough to read the labels of the foods they buy. The people who try to buy whole foods… you know, like actual fruits and vegetables as a main part of their grocery list. The people who avoid certain ingredients in their foods.
Yes, folks if you do those things I just listed, you might just have orthorexia nervosa. Don’t worry, though. With a little psychological help, you will be good as new in no time. You will be eating all the processed foods you want without a care in the world! Fruits? Vegetables? What are those?! Who needs ‘em?
Silly, right? Yes, I think so too!
Orthorexia Nervosa means “nervous about correct eating” in Latin. I originally read about this absurd new disease on Natural News. Feel free to check it out. The writers are quite amusing. Here’s a little excerpt from the article:
According to reports, orthorexics “may start by eliminating processed foods, anything with artificial colorings or flavorings as well as foods that have come into contact with pesticides, and eventually shun other things like caffeine and alcohol.”
Imagine not eating anything that has come in contact with pesticides!? Or avoiding caffeine and alcohol!? The horror!
It is important to note, that thankfully, this disease has not been added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). I would not doubt that one day it will, though.
Also, if you want to go
here, you can read a letter from Dr. Bratman explaining himself and how he only meant for this disease to be a label for those that are obsessive over healthy eating. Ohhhh, okay. That makes it all better.
I understand that Dr. Bratman is trying to help those that are obsessed about healthy eating, but come on! Who is the one that gets to decide who is obsessed and who is not? Where is that line going to be drawn?
Please tell me I’m not the only one that finds this ‘disease’ ridiculous!
If only more people had this fictitious disease, there would be less people with real diseases!
I wish all of my fellow orthorexics out there a healthy day!
Seriously? Sounds like the guy has bought into society's myth that all is right with the world! When this guy is sick with cancer from all the chemicals in his food, he may sing a different tune!
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Unbelievable! I'm in shock.
I guess that shows what processed food can do to a person though. THey go mentally crazy, thinking those who educated themselves and make educated choices on what they put in their bodies are the crazy ones.
Wow, this is one diagnosis I will live with and I will continue to check labels and by pass anything not in its' original form.
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I know it is ridiculous! He is clearly toxic! And yes, I will
keep my diagnosis as well!
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I wonder if it's contagious- i really need to hang out with some people who have it if it is :)
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Lol Jayme! You are welcome at my house for dinner and you can read any label in my pantry… although there aren't many to read… :)
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I recently saw the episode that True Life did on MTV for Orthorexia and thought I was the only one who didn’t seem to find an issue with it. It was ridiculous watching people be seen as “sick” when they only wanted to eat healthy.
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Nicole @ Some Call It Natural Reply:
April 26th, 2012 at 8:44 PM
I didn’t see that. Interesting that they made an episode about it. It *is* ridiculous!!!
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While eating healthy is duh healthy what I believe he means eating healthy to the point where other parts of your life suffer. There are some who will shut themselves off from society, have family issues or spend money that isn’t there in the drive to eat healthy. When one eats healthy, they feel good but when someone suffers from this condition it rules their lives and can manifest in many ways as OCD can. There is a difference between loving kale chips and having to have kale chips in a certain way every single day.
It is a real condition that people suffer and die from unfortunately.
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