Most of us try to achieve balance in our daily lives, our very existence is actually dependent on it. If we take a look at the environment, we can see with our own eyes what happens when the scales are turned too much to one side: overfishing is devastating our oceans, over consumption and overuse of natural resources is paving the way for animal extinction and barren land.
When we look inside our bodies this balance can also be observed. The term used is homeostasis; this means the body is always trying to achieve balance, and when it does not, that’s when diseases and illnesses manifest.
Enter healthy eating habits, a great foundation to whatever ails you and a great way to live in general.
But there is another side of the scale that people don’t generally talk about and that is becoming so obsessed with eating healthy that it actually becomes unhealthy. Too many restrictions to your diet can actually have detrimental results to your health and overall well being.
This is called orthorexia nervosa.
Orthorexia is when too much of a good thing actually becomes bad for you. Quite simply, it is an eating disorder, more specifically an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy. Although it is not a recognizable diagnosis currently in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, many people struggle with symptoms of orthorexia.
According to Steven Bratman, MD, author of the book Health Junkies, orthorexia and anorexia are identified as being similar due to the obsessive compulsive disorder component prevalent in both disorders. While a person with anorexia focuses on weight, someone with orthorexia obsesses about purity and struggles against feelings of being unclean and polluted by what they have consumed. Bratman also states that individuals recovering from anorexia sometimes transition to orthorexia, moving the focus from weight to purity.
Now don’t panic just yet. Just because you know someone actively participating in a diet that you see as extreme, such as vegan or vegetarian, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have gone too far with healthy eating. Often these particular diets are motivated by ethical and environmental concerns.
However, when eating clean becomes an obsession, and the motivation is based on self-esteem and self-worth, then we get into a dangerous disordered eating pattern. There are generally punishments if there is a slip-up in this eating regime; this may take the form of vigorous exercising, fasting, or some sort of cleanse for a prolonged period of time. When deviating from the diet causes negative feelings of guilt and self-loathing, this is a big red flag.
Extreme diets usually start out as an great attempt for healthier eating, but can end in malnutrition. Because of the isolation that can come with orthorexia, individuals can lose interest in activities that they would normally bring them joy, and could also lead to impairment of relationships with others.
Eating healthy balanced diet is important, but what is even more important is your relationship to the food that you are eating, food should be a fun, delicious and nourishing experience. There should never be any anxiety, stress or negativity when it comes to food. If there is, this is a good time to step back and evaluate where those feelings are coming from and consult a medical professional.
A healthy diet rich in whole foods is very important to your overall health, making healthier choices whenever you can is a great practice for everyone. Allow yourself to trust in the nourishment of the food, this is where mindful eating practices can help. Being present in the moment with your food can help alleviate the feeling of obsession and stress, educating yourself to look at food and nourishment in a positive light can make all the difference.
Recipe: Protein energy balls
1 cup dry oats (we used gluten-free)
1 cup of nut butter
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup nuts and seeds (omit if you have allergies)
1/4 cup raisins or cacao chips
2-3 tbsp ground flax seeds or hemp seeds
1 tbsp chia seeds
Directions:
• Mix ingredients together in a bowl
• Make into small balls
• Put in container lined with parchment paper
• Chill in fridge for an hour (or put them in the freezer for about 20 minutes if you want to eat them right away!)
• Enjoy!
