Orthorexia - The Dangerous Obsession That Looks Healthy, But Isn't!

If you are one of the people who only wants to eat healthy food, watch out! You could develop an eating disorder. Because excesses are always bad, we tell you what orthorexia is, what its main risks are and how it could affect your mental health.

Orthorexia is a disorder (little known), in eating behavior, and consists of the obsession with healthy food, that is, a person only lives thinking about the nutritional, caloric and energy value. In addition to the exaggerated concern that food is free of transgenic components, artificial substances, pesticides or herbicides.

According to specialists, there are two possibilities for which a person develops this disorder: the first is the obsession with the ideal body, which triggers an obsession to lose weight, and the second (more common), is not worry Because of the weight, it is actually an obsession to maintain a totally organic diet.

According to a Nutrition the orthorexic patient does not substitute the foods that he eliminates from his diet (which affects his immune system), for others that can provide him with the same nutritional supplements, which translates into anemia and vitamin deficiencies.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ORTHOREXIA?

In general, a person who suffers from this eating disorder presents attitudes that are easy to identify, such as the following:

• Excessive preoccupation with the food you eat.
• Absolute elimination of certain foods in your diet (meat, fat, sugar, flour, etc).
• Punishments are created with rigid diets and fasts, for violating the established diet.
• Hours are spent planning and preparing meals.
• Although orthorexia starts out as a good habit, it actually turns into an obsession, which could lead to dangerous weight loss.

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HOW CAN YOU PREVENT YOUR RISKS?

According to health specialists, the first thing you should do is NOT restrict any food in your diet, remember that you can consume all the time of food as long as it is in moderation, from time to time a little taste will not hurt you.

Do not forget that it is essential to follow a balanced diet, that is, follow the food triangle. If you have any questions, seek advice from a nutritionist, as they will tell you what types of foods and what amounts are ideal for you, depending on your age, sex and height.

If you feel that it is super difficult not to feel guilty when eating, the best thing you can do is seek psychological help, since you could have a body dysmorphic disorder (obsession with physical perfection), or some type of obsessive behavior, that prevents you from enjoying your life and your food.

Now that you know what orthorexia is, take good care of your diet, we do not say that organic food is bad, on the contrary, simply maintain a balanced diet and seek help from a professional who will advise you so that you do not put your health at risk.