I realise I am going to have the majority of the human race disagreeing with me. But Most of them don't read my blog- you however do and all of you are going to disagree with me. However don't feel like any of these blogs are aimed at you- if you do maybe you have been convicted of something. They really aren't aimed at anyone in particular- well maybe a bit aimed at some one- more blog two than one. These are only my thoughts backed up by slightly dodgy research found in even more dodgy press. However since this is my blog I can do and say or commentate on what I like or even, Gosh horror, do it with bad grammer and spelling.
Things that are bad for you Part 1
Obsessing about eating healthy is bad for your health.
I find people who excessively focus on eating healthy annoying- I have no problem with changing what I am cooking due to allergies. But people who make comments like I'll bring a salad annoy me because it assumes that I wouldn't include that in the menu. And besides if you have baked veggies you don't need a salad. Or people putting themselves on Maccas (Mr Bell) or just general fast food bans (I'm looking at you Nathan Campbell). I am willing to bet that many non-fast food places are just as unhealthy as fast food especially now that some have healthy options (though some aren't that healthy and their name is a lie). All it does is make it harder for people to afford to go out therefore making it more exclusive. Although I'm not struggling anymore despite the fact I get paid less than the majority of you paid in tax I still remember what it was like to be struggling week to week hanging out till pay day and then having to blow a good chunk of it to go to Hog's breath because some people felt like steak. And yes I know there are cheaper things but it is hard to resist steak there and thus falling behind in your rent is far better than the loneliness of going to hungries alone or sitting at home by yourself. (and that isn't aimed at anyone- more of a comment on several groups of people over a 10 year period)
Anyway back on track reported here was this article
An obsession with eating healthily could be bad for your health, scientists warn.
Those who deny themselves entire food groups or worry too much about the "purity" of their meals are risking their mental and physical wellbeing.
Experts have reported a rise in such extreme behaviour, known as orthorexia nervosa.
Sufferers of orthorexia nervosa tend to be over 30, middle class and well educated.
Anorexia patients restrict the quantity of food they eat, but sufferers of orthorexia, named after the Greek for "right or true", fixate on quality.
Sufferers can eliminate sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn and dairy foods from their diet.
Foods tainted by pesticides or that contain additives such as MSG can also be ditched.
Such habits may seem quirky, but they can have a serious effect on health.
Cutting out entire food groups can leave sufferers malnourished, while rigid rules can make eating out impossible, putting a huge strain on friendships and relationships.
Ursula Philpot, chairman of the British Dietetic Association's mental health group, said: "I am definitely seeing significantly more orthorexics than just a few years ago.
"Other eating disorders focus on the quantity of food, but orthorexics can be overweight or look normal.
"They are solely concerned with the quality of the food they are putting in their bodies, refining and restricting their diets according to their understanding of which foods are truly 'pure'."
Deanne Jade, founder of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, said: "There is a fine line between people who think they are taking care of themselves by manipulating their diet and those who have orthorexia.
"I see people who have no idea they have this disorder."
Hmm cutting out full food groups (such as fast food or soft drink) :)
disclaimer: I know the food I eat is rotten and I need to lose weight. You could always help me fix this by inviting me over for dinner :) but like I said being my blog you can dismiss it in a postmoderistic sort of way- It might apply to him but not to me.
4 comments:
Fast food is not a food group. So by not eating Fast food you are not cutting out an entire food group. Cutting out an entire food group is, for example, deciding not to eat any starches at all. Or deciding not to eat any fruit, or dairy at all. (I realise some people have to for allergy reasons).
And cutting out foods that have no nutritional value is not going to be damaging- eg. softdrink, lollies, cake, etc. Some people have to for health reasons (eg. diabetes) and they're no less healthy than the rest of us.
And yes you get some healthy fast foods but most of them are not, and what's more making your own dinner at home is usually cheaper than the fast food is. (Usually). I'm happy eating fast food but I don't think there's anything wrong with people who have chosen not to eat it. That's hardly the obsessive behaviour the article is warning against. There is a difference between obsessing over your food and being careful.
And yes there are unhealthy non-fast food restaurants, but would you be more likely to decide on a whim to go get Hungry Jacks for tea or to go to the C-Bar? Of course it would be HJs because it is faster and cheaper.
Also the whole "I'll bring a salad thing" - depending on the context, could that not just be someone offering to help out with providing food?
I'll bring a salad.
I didn't give up fast food for health reasons. More for financial and self discipline reasons.
Hehe.. I love it when people rant via blogging....
I might weigh into the "Orthorexia Nervosa." Did you know that eating disorders are a whole sub-specialty of psychiatry? That's a whole sub-specialty dedicated to two conditions (Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa). They have since added another condition, which is EDNOS (Eating disorder not otherwise specified), which, as the name suggests, means "This chick don't eat right but doesn't fit the criteria for the other two." I'm ever so glad they now have a third condition to justify their most ridiculous career choice.
P.S. If you read between the lines, my inuendo is that orthrexia nervosa is probably not an actual condition - likely just a manifestation of an obsessional personality type.
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