When Health Food in Unhealthy - Do You Have Orthorexia Nervosa

[Guest guest]

There's a lot to be said for health food: no worrisome pesticides, and

most health food regimens often have more fiber, fewer calories and less

cholesterol than a typical person's diet. Many doctors would be

delighted to have all of their patients eat that way. But it's also

possible to carry a good idea to extremes.

Bratman, a physician who specializes in alternative medicine,

says some people become so obsessed with a healthful diet that it can

actually make them sick. He coined the term " orthorexia nervosa " to

describe the condition. Unlike anorexia, which means an absence or loss

of appetite, the Greek word " ortho " means straight, correct or true.

Orthorexia isn't an officially recognized psychological disorder yet.

But it draws attention to a very real -- and potentially dangerous --

type of obsession. " Orthorexia is a concern for one's body and fear of

certain contaminations, " says Suzanne Saunders, a registered dietician.

Some health food fanatics can become malnourished, often from a lack of

sufficient protein. In rare cases it has proven deadly.

A feature from the New York Daily News explains how unhealthy health

food can sometimes be. It also provides a self-quiz to assess health

food obsession.

A news service feature appearing in the Lexington Herald-Leader notes

that one of the champions of health food cooking has no regrets for

abandoning a strict vegetarian diet. Mollie Katzen, who authored the

Moosewood Cookbook, doesn't hide her fondness for meat these days. After

years as a vegetarian, Katzen says, " I was run down. I needed protein in

my diet. "

-- Jeff ston

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