The Fit OptionYoga, Personal Fitness Training, Raw Food

I have heard the term ‘orthorexia nervosa’ several times but never really took much notice of it before. However, it has been appearing on several forums lately and so I thought I would research it a little and see what it was all about.

Of course I knew it was a ‘disorder’ that had been linked with healthy eating – and I use the term ‘disorder’ very loosely here but it appears that it can apply to pretty much anyone who wants to eat in a way that is more benefical to their health. That is the trouble with coining ‘new’ conditions such as these, everyone applies there own perceptions to them.

Dr Stephen Bratman wrote the original article in which he suggests the condition back in 1997 see here He now adds in a caveat on his website stating that there are things in the article that he no longer believes (although he doesn’t point out what) and saying that he doesn’t include vegetarians, vegans and any other approach to healthy eating to be an inherant eating disorder but of course the damage has already been done as the media ran with the original article and it now appears over and over again to undermine the habits of many people that are trying to eat and live in a healthier way.

We are back to mixed messages again. With a population in the western world where obese and overweight individuals are beginning to outweigh (no pun intended) those of a normal weight is it really the right way to go that we are attacking those who are trying to cut out junk food and anything that isn’t good for their bodies and brand them ‘mentally unstable’??

Whilst researching on the internet about this subject I came across many sites that would put me into the category of ‘orthorexia nervosa’ because I seemingly have a rigid approach to my diet. I choose to eat raw food because it makes me feel and look good. Plently of energy, clear skin, bright eyes, blah, blah, blah….the list goes on. It means that I cannot eat out much because there is never very much on the menu other than an uninspiring salad sold to me at an overated price. It also means that for most social gatherings that I go to I take my own food. I often plan my meals in advance because if I am making anything that needs to be dehydrated then this will take longer than conventional cooking and so needs to be prepared with enough time. I choose not to eat sugar, grains, dairy products, and I have recently stopped drinking alcohol.

Apparently all these things mean I have a ‘mental health disorder’ around food. Now I could go on a rant here and start defending myself against a society where fast food and genetically modified foods are the norm but that would probably give more ammunition to those who think I have a problem in the first place. Instead I’ll sit here and be grateful that I am in a position to research and make an informed decision about the food I eat. I will feel lucky that I have resources in the forms of the internet, books, videos etc etc to learn about the harm that eating a diet high in processed foods can do and I will be non judgemental about others who don’t choose to eat the way I do. That is their decision. Just as eating a raw food diet is mine. It doesn’t make me ‘strange’ or ‘weird’ or ‘mentally unstable’. It just makes me someone who wants to look after the amazing body she has been given and allow it to give her the very best that it can. I intend to still be touching my toes when I am 100. I intend to still be eating a healthy diet. I intend to live a very long and disease free life and enjoy every single moment and experience that comes my way. Does that make me someone who has lost her grip on reality – I don’t think so……..