Concentrating on he althy eating and a proper diet can lead to orthorexia, a disease that wipes out the body and psyche. Orthorexia is dangerous because it invades life imperceptibly. There is a fine line between excessively he althy eating and orthorexia.
At first it seems very desirable - we want toeat he althily,but when we start spending a lot of time shopping, studying the labels and ingredients of the products in detail, we eliminate withdietsalmost everything because it seems unhe althy. Most of the time we focus on coming up with a he althy menu, which means we already have a problem.
People with orthorexia nervosa focus only on diet
It is worth remembering that the diet is not only about calories, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, protein - it is also the pleasure of eating dishes, discovering new flavors, and enjoying the time spent on preparing and eating meals. Bringing to a situation where, instead of one of the elements of our day, it becomes a point around which everything else revolves, is the moment when we should, however, consider using the help of a specialist. The same is true when work becomes more important than the goal it serves, which is to ensure a satisfying life for yourself and your loved ones. Patients withorthorexiawho do not undertake treatment tend to be alienated and excluded from their environment. They fall into debt because they quit their jobs. Particularly susceptible to orthorexia nervosa are the sensitive people, of whom much was expected in childhood. They focus on diet, because no one can control them here. They decide what to eat for themselves. This is something that they can have absolute control of, although it is actually the food that starts to rule them
According to an expertBarbara Bartel, psychologist and psychotherapist, ALFA-LEK Medical Center in WarsawPriority: healing the soul
Treating the symptoms of the disease alone is not enough. The cause has to be de alt with and it is stuck in the head. Unfortunately, patients very rarely go to a psychiatrist. And in their case, psychotherapy is necessary to get rid of the source of their problems and heal their sick soul. The most important thing in its success is to realize that you need help. This is already half the battletherapy that should be carried out while strengthening the body with supplements containing vitamins, iron and other important nutrients.
Orthorexia can lead to death
Untreated orthorexia, like anorexia, can even lead to death. Doctors do not have many patients yet, because fanatics of a he althy diet are deeply convinced that they are the only ones who can eat properly and are one of the few who know how to take care of their he alth in the right way. Ororexia is a disease of rich societies. Like anorexia and bulimia, it most often affects women. There is a lot of talk about he althy eating habits and the need to eliminate unhe althy foods from the menu. As it turns out, focusing too much on nutrition and proper diet can hurt.
It may already be orthorexia when:
» thinking about food consumes most of your time »cares more about the quality and preparation than the taste»the food is analyzed in detail, the menu is planned in advance» meals are eagerly eaten alone, always self-made »despite getting he althier eating, the quality of life does not improve» there is a sense of superiority in relation to people who eat anything at all »remorse appears after breaking one of the dietary rules
Ortorexia
Concentrating on he althy eating and a proper diet can lead to orthorexia, a disease that wipes out the body and psyche. Orthorexia is dangerous because it invades life imperceptibly. There is a fine line between excessively he althy eating and orthorexia.
monthly "Zdrowie"