You gotta love it. The pharmaceutical companies have been creating new diseases for quite some time now in order to peddle all the drugs they invent to bilk us of all our money and make us a life time user.
But this is going over the edge. I don’t even know if it is the pharmaceutical companies (or their cohorts the corrupt food and medical industries) that are involved here, but it sure smells funny.
The following is a description of Orthorexia Nervosa a new “disease” relating to those of us who pride ourselves in taking extreme care of health and fitness through food and exercise.
“Orthorexia Nervosa is an obsessive-compulsive process characterized by extreme care for and selection of what is considered to be pure 'healthy' food. This ritual leads to a very restrictive diet and social isolation as a compensation. Orthorexics obsessively avoid foods which may contain artificial colours, flavours, preservant agents, pesticide residues or genetically modified ingredients, unhealthy fats, foods containing too much salt or too much sugar and other components. The way of preparation, kitchenware and other tools used are also part of the obsessive ritual. People with orthorexia often have a history or features in common with anorexic patients. They are very careful, detailed and tidy persons with an exagerated need for selfcare and protection. Women, adolescents and those who practice sports suchs as bodybuidling or ahthetics are the groups at higher risk. A short test has been suggested as a screening tool and useful for early diagnosis of the disorder. Treatment of orthorexia require a multidisciplinary team involving physicians, psychoterapists and dietitians. In some cases, antiserotoninergic drugs may be required as part of the treatment. “
So, it seems if we are diligent about taking care of health, we are all sick and need treatment because we exercise with a passion, try not to ingest poisonous genetically altered foods laced with pesticides, food coloring, preservatives, unhealthy fats, don’t use aluminum pans, and only eat whole healthy, nutritious foods and try to eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates from our diet causing us “social isolation“.
Well, well. We all must be certifiable and in immediate need of help. Thank God I found this all out in time!! Because there is hope for us after all!!
As the article states there is short test for early diagnosis of this “disorder”. And there are “teams” of physicians, dietitians and psychotherapists waiting to help us. YIPPEE!! So hurry up and get tested!!
And please add a little poisonous dead food to your diet and quit the yoga and meditation just to be safe. You don’t want to be too conspicuous, there could be a straight jacket waiting for you.
To Your Health
Gypsy Girl
12 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more. This is truly ridiculous--that taking care of oneself and watching all those chemicals out there could be called a mental illness. Sheez. :(
Hi Nairam, What will they come up with next.
It is true that some folks think we are a little strange for being extremely mindful about health and fitness, but the rewards are great(especially later on in life)
I actually knew a person with this disorder. She would wash her organic grapes for hours, one grape at a time, with a brush.
I think the point here is that it is just one disease - obsessive-compulsive disorder, and there is not need to sub-classify it by the object of obsession. People without OCD will not get sick by sticking to the healthy food and healthy lifestyle. And I do not believe people with Orthorexia Nervosa need any medications that are different from those prescribed to the "regular" OCD patients.
Hi Alfia, I also am aware of people with OCD that need treatment. And I agree with you in that those of us who are extremely conscious of health and fitness are not in danger of the need of treatment and therapy.
It is another convenient way for to label us as weird and "caution" the junk food junkies and couch potatos to stay away from our "bizarre" habits.
"How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm"...so to speak...if they are healthy, conscious and have a clean body and mind that enables them to think for themselves.
I totally agree with Alfia. The extra tag is not needed...
Hi nairam, I agree with alfia too.
But I also think it is a conditioning label to make health conscious people look nuttier than we already are LOL
Certainly! I guess what I meant to say (and I believe Alfia is pointing out too) is that there are obsessive-compulsive people out there; their illness is going to manifest in different ways, depending on their lifestyle, what's important to them, their social circle, etc. A socialite will be O-C about shopping and clothes and botox, while people inclined into healthy living will go the other way (the hyper green?). And the key point continues to be the one you make-the creation of this sudden "tag" is unnecessary and strange. I would also argue that among the possible areas of display for O-C'eness, I'd rather have the nature-oriented one; at least that's healthier :P
Hi GG
I felt the same way about the same way about the article when I read it. I received an offlist email from someone who had a friend that denied himself many foods because of some principles, then would hide and stuff himself with the same foods because he missed them. He was an extreme vegan. Apparently he is now OK and eating normally. I still find the labeling, and the ensuing opportunity for drug companies suspect.
cheers,
Arturo
hi arturo, I agree. I don't think that being extremely healthy and cautious of our eating habits and fitness habits puts us in the catagory of OCD. yes, there are people with disorders of many kinds. But why make people think that if they are diligent about tracking foods, exercising and being very concerned about health and fitness, there is a possiblility of being OCD (that is of course unless you are part of the "terrible trio...the medical/pharmasuetical/food industry, whose only goal is to keep us fat dumb and happy and lifetime "users".
Stay healthy
GG
nairam, I agree with what both you and alfia are saying on this subject and you too arturo!!
I think it just aggravates me that the average person is so "easily" conditioned by the media to eat wrong, take a pill for everything, and buy anything they put in front of us. Its all just for profit and power.
And you are all right about the "tag" or a "label".
Thanks for your comments
GG
This is such a timely post! I'd never heard of orthorexia before now but it helps me understand why relationships have so challenging for me. I used to eat so many celery stalks and other crunchy raw vegetables that I clouded my ability to hear the people around me and that caused SO MUCH tension. Now, I'll switch to eating only soft, quiet Quarter Pounders w/ Cheese. I'm only an hour into this positive life change it's already making a difference in my happiness!
Hi Carl,...maybe that is what I have been missing a good old MaDonald's health feast. I think I'll run down to Mickey D's right now. Thanks for the tip.
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