Orthorexia
According to the media, I have an eating disorder called Orthorexia. You see, I am a bit obsessive about what I eat. I am vegan, and I eat as much organic raw as I can, prepare my own meals, try to stay away from processed food, fast (cleanse) and prefer to use fresh rather than canned ingredients. (As a matter of fact once all the canned tomatoes and beans are out of my cupboard I won’t be replacing them.) I question the waiters at restaurants about the food I am about to be served, and prefer to frequent places that are vegetarian/vegan friendly, or ones where I have been assured my food has not come in contact with meat. My obsession (as they call it) which is ensuring only good food goes in my body, is now considered a disorder by the media, and the man who coined the phrase. I’m not going to mention his name in my article as he is getting enough free publicity as it is. He is mentioned in the links I have included at the bottom of my article.
I am completely offended by this new category of disorder. I am sure you are wondering what got my blood boiling! I don't even know where to start! My friend received this email from Global to be interviewed re: Orthorexia. She declined and wrote back as to why. This email and the focus behind it infuriate me! Please read their email first then my response to this foolishness, below.
Hi,
My name is reporter X and I work at Global News here in Toronto. The Family Health reporter (reporter Y) and myself are working on a story about "Orthorexia" and more simply, people that are health-food obsessed, like to eat raw foods and everything organic and pure. It seems to be a growing trend in North America.
We are looking for an individual to interview for our story (typically a health-conscious person living in and around the Toronto area). The reason I'm sending you a message is because you are a part of the "Raw Foodists In The GTA" group...and was hoping you would be interested in doing a short interview with us? The story is set to air on Friday Sept. 12, 2008 during the 6 p.m. news.
If you are interested or know anyone who would be able to do an on-camera interview about eating healthy, please let me know.
Thanks for your time.
-Reporter X
It is too bad they think what we have is a disease or disorder. And a trend? How can healthy eating be a trend; it should be part of your daily life!!! I love their quote "and more simply, people that are health-food obsessed, like to eat raw foods and everything organic and pure." A nice way to candy coat it, to suck people in! I choose not to eat meat for ethical and health reasons, I choose to fast so I can cleanse my body of toxins that are now found in every ounce of food we eat, organic or not, I choose to eat organic to lessen those toxins and I choose to eat mostly raw vegan food because it provides my body with all the nutrients its needs to survive. We live in a society that is obsessed with supplements and pro-biotic this and biotic that to pre-packaged, processed foods, in some attempt to make them healthier. I eat and take the time to prepare my own meals, with fresh ingredients, so I can fight disease, stay healthy and live longer. But, someone decided that it is an obsession and therefore a disease. If you take one look at me you see a very healthy girl. None of my friends are starving or unhealthy either and we all subscribe to the same ethics!
Eating healthy is not a trend, disorder or a disease! It is the way that everyone should be eating. It’s sad that up until around the 1950's, we ate the way I eat now. Processed food became popular and convenience became more important than substance. I will continue to eat organic raw vegan food, watch how much sugar and wheat enters my body and research ways to be healthier. Do I have a disease? No I have a conscience.
Websites explaining what Orthorexia is:
http://www.orthorexia.com/
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa
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