Venting about the Label of Orthorexia!

[RawHealthyBeauty]

This term "Orthorexia" really bothers me, because I was once a diabetic. To be a diabetic, one has to be so so so fixated on food, carbs, constantly read your blood sugar level before and after each meal, and how much insulin to take after or before each meal, and before you go to bed, And always be so worried about how the blood sugar level is doing with not knowing when your eye sight is going to go out on you because the blood sugar level was too high, or might just pass out at some point, and these other health complications! When I was on insulin, no matter how much carb I ate, my blood sugar level was still high in 200 or higher three hours after my meal. When I eat raw food, my blood sugar level is normal three hour later after a meal without insulin!!! Insulin did not help me at all and it was very upsetting!! When I was a diabetic, it was very upsetting to be so fixated on what food to eat and so worried about what I ate, because of not knowing how high is was gonna spike the blood sugar level. Because of this terrible disease, I lived in fear of food!!!

Then when I found raw food, I found peace, plus it healed me of this disease!! I am crying as I type this, because it makes me sad that some might take it the wrong way that raw food is weird, because of this label, "Orthorexia"!! I want raw food to be labeled "Wonderful" so that others may be inspired and support raw food, farmers, and encourage others that there is hope in getting well!! Raw food is the most wonderful miraculous thing that has ever happened to me, because it has set me free of fear in living with this terrible disease I once had.

Plus it had help me realized why my body developed this disease in the first place, because of no enzymes. My body had to sacrifice it's own enzymes from it's own organs to digest food that has no enzymes! The organs is going to break down over time if it keeps on sacrificing it's own enzymes to digest enzyme-less food which leads to poor health!! For me, it really has nothing to with chemicals, it's cooked, or it's SAD diet, it's really all about the concept of enzymes for me. That is why raw food is so good, because it's full of enzymes!!

Why would I want to choose to go blind and have my nerves be damaged from constant high spikes of blood sugar level, be on insulin for the rest of my life, and watch my body and organs deteriorate from the lack of enzymes for the sake of not being called a loony bin!! I'm just really whatever!! I may not even say raw food anymore and just say that I'm a vegetarian that eats really healthy who eats fruits, veggies, seeds, and nuts!! People respond weird to the label anyways, "Raw Food", because they don't know what it means, then explaining it makes it sound weird. I'm thinking by saying what I may say, they won't think anything of it.

I'm not crying anymore, because this is how I am gonna say it from now on, then explain it later that it's called raw food. I just know that I lived in total fear of food as a Diabetic!! I'm no longer a diabetic and no longer living in fear of eating, because I thought I couldn't eat anything that wouldn't spike my blood sugar level up anymore! (I almost died from a really high blood sugar level which was in the 900 range). I am free to enjoy life again and not be in fear or eating, because I know what is good and healthy for my body. I am blessed to find this way of eating, because had this disease not happened to me, I wouldn't have found this natural healthy way of eating fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and all the other natural food from the Earth that was intended for us to eat in the first place.

I really had to get this off my chest and let my thoughts, opinions, and feeling be made known about this!!!

[Stella Green]

Dear Whoa Raw, writing out your thoughts is so cathartic, don't you agree?

Big hug! I'm so excited to hear about your journey. You're right that it doesn't really matter anyway what label you choose to call yourself. Sometimes I say I'm on the enzyme diet. And sometimes I say, I'm a greenivore. And sometimes I just eat and smile, and inwardly groan while someone next to me chows down on a donut as big as their face.

I do think that being raw should be a source of pride. It's kind of like going to foreign countries and telling people you're an American. When I went to Paris, my friend told me to tell everyone that I was Canadian, and I told her that was a terrible idea. If the only Americans who are admitting they are Americans are the horrible ones, how would anybody know that there are actually *nice* people from the States as well? Anyway, what I mean is, you are obviously a fabulous example of a successful raw foodie--so be proud, sing it loud!

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Thanks Stella Jervis! :)

I just had to get it out, because it's been really bugging me!!!

The thought of eating a couple slices of pizza has been crossing my mind today and I did eat it with a slice of chocolate cake today just to prove a point that I'm not a looney bin in my mind to myself, to others, and to all the doctors who don't care about permanent solutions for people's health who pushes medicine like drug dealers who can go to @#!%!!! So when I did eat the pizza and cake, I was like.... You know what to myself, "I care about me and my health." This is a stupid reason to eat food that I no longer care for and know that it's not good for my blood sugar level in the long run!! I walked into Whole Food and I really wanted this big lovely bag of cherries!! I was so bummed out that I wasn't getting it! I really did not for real have the desire to eat the pizza or the cake, but I was determined get a couple of slices of pizza and a slice of cake at Whole Foods to prove a point to myself and a point for the future if anyone did talk to me about the term, "Orthorexia".

Maybe, that's the whole point of this "Orthorexia" is to discourage others who are/were interested in raw food, to encourage those who are not interested in raw food to take the term, Orthorexia" the wrong way to really say that they have proof that being a raw foodie is weird for real because "we" trust what our doctors say who are educated and trained a certain way with fear of losing their liscense or just plain money hungry, and to discourage raw foodies & make them feel obligated to eat SAD food to some degree!

With the knowledge of raw food, enzymes, and experiencing the great benefits, there's really no turning back for me to my old way of eating which was enzyme-less!!

I'm just really hoping big time that doctors these days will care to educate themselves about how important ii is to eat well and start prescribing that for their patients for a permanent solution for their wellness, instead of some quick fix till something else happens for another quick fix and so on and on!! I'm just gonna have to start believing for doctors with big hearts to multiply like crazy all around the world to really open the eyes of others that eating well leads to wellness!!!!! I believe that medicines are great for emergencies and short term use, not for long term use!! Eating well and plenty of exercises with a balanced healthy attitude is the key to wellness!! Everyone and all doctors should know that period!!! No excuses about it!!

[sport]

http://current.com/news/92321961_woman-aims-to-become-worlds-fattest-mom.htm
We are the ones that are labelled as weird. What about all of the people who donate money to this lady just to see her eat.

[SunshineMN]

Thanks for posting this Whoa. Even more reason for me to strive for as much raw and as soon as possible!

I'm fairly sure at my next doctor visit he'll suggest insulin. I've been borderline for the past several years. My mom was diabetic and she had a horrible time trying to control her blood sugar. I just don't want to have to live like that.

[CathyA.]

I am still amazed at how many people think of me as being weird because of my food choices. What is so "weird" about no longer being brain washed by big business to think that manufactured food is edible?!

[lafsalot]

Not all raw foodists are "orthorexic". Not all who drink are "alcoholics". Not all who workout are "obligatory exercisers". Not all who love their work are "workaholics". Not all who make love are "sex addicts",,,and so on and on - the point is, you can develop an unhealthy obsession with most anything AND the articles about them only serve to help those that do have problems learn to recognize them. So why arbitrarily conclude that all the authors of these articles are speaking "negatively" to or about you? If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it, and remember, labeling works both ways....if you allow someone else's behavior or belief system to rub you the wrong way, you often find yourself attaching negative labels to them as well.

JMO/Peace

[Revvell]

My friend ~ If you've not read it, please read "The Fifth Agreement"... it's an amazing journey into you ~ and symbols and labels.

Big loving hugs to you,

~ Revvell ~

[gabriele]

This new term orthorexia was coined by a Dr. Steven Bratman, who undoubtedly wants to treat it with some kind of drug. I saw this guy on Larry King one time, and he totally lost credibility with me because he announced that exercise was a "bad" thing and had nothing to do with good health (paraphrasing). Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser happened to be on that show and she lit into him big time for that stupid statement. Anyway, in my opinion he's looking for a) fame b) book sales (he wrote a book about this) c) more patients to treat and therefore d) money.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Whenever something rubs me the wrong way is usually that there is something fishy going on with the situation like a hidden agenda.

The thing is that Raw Food is unheard/new concept to very many people and the term "Orthorexia" to me is a big big big put off for those who really don't understand what "Raw Food" is really all about, then may or may not understand what "Orthorexia" is...... I just don't want "Raw Food" to get a bad rap to others, because of this term, Orthorexia" that may have the meaning warped, taken the wrong way, or be taken advantage of in the society that really do need to be more informed about how the body works and the nutritional values in our food, which in turn will decrease the need for the doctors, medicine, health insurance, and so on and on....

That's the whole point of why I'm venting, and when I first went raw I really didn't care at all if anyone thought I was crazy, and this was way before I found out that about the raw food movement, that this healthy way of eating actually really do exist among others too as well, and there are books that have recipes, info, and such!! I really didn't mind the fact that there was a possibility that I may have to stand alone believing that raw food is getting my health back on track and may be the odd one in the crowd sticking out like a sore thumb. It felt that way at first, then later on I noticed that some people really did admire me, some people secretly made better eating choices at lunch break as time goes on, and some proudly show off their raw produces in the cart when they see my cart loaded with raw food at the market. All I can say that when others see me eat raw food is that it definitely has a positive impact..... :)

Anything new that is not yet into the mainstream is being looked upon with scrutiny at first till it passed that phase before it gets into the main stream. Health food stores then in the old days were considered very very weird by many, now it is very normal, cool, and popular, because it is now in the mainstream and no longer looked upon with scrutiny by many!! That just tells me that more people are looking for ways to be healthy and being more open-minded then they were before back in the days about eating healthy. I would love to see more and more people become more open-minded in general in making good healthy eating choices!! And I would love to see the doctors be really supportive of anyone who wants to eat healthy in general for better health and not be pushy about making money off prescribed medications and be intimidating to the patients with their labels......

[JennaHoneyBear]

This new term orthorexia was coined by a Dr. Steven Bratman, who undoubtedly wants to treat it with some kind of drug. I saw this guy on Larry King one time, and he totally lost credibility with me because he announced that exercise was a "bad" thing and had nothing to do with good health (paraphrasing). Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser happened to be on that show and she lit into him big time for that stupid statement. Anyway, in my opinion he's looking for a) fame b) book sales (he wrote a book about this) c) more patients to treat and therefore d) money.

What a Brat ;)

[gabriele]

you bet!!:)

[RawHealthyBeauty]

My friend ~ If you've not read it, please read "The Fifth Agreement"... it's an amazing journey into you ~ and symbols and labels.

Big loving hugs to you,

~ Revvell ~

Hey friend, I look into the preview of what the book is about. I will be getting the book sometimes today at Barnes and Nobles, if they carry it or otherwise I'll have them order it in.

Tons of peace and love!!! :cool:

[Revvell]

Hey friend, I look into the preview of what the book is about. I will be getting the book sometimes today at Barnes and Nobles, if they carry it or otherwise I'll have them order it in.

Tons of peace and love!!! :cool:

And, backatcha. :)

[Eva]

Throwing another spin on it here...

I'm here hosting potlucks, at a raw-friendly B&B, with a raw-based biz, talk to people ALL THE TIME about raw food (several times a day)... don't mean to all the time... and I do want to note that as crazy as it is, just as often acquaintances have no idea about my "diet" because we just aren't involved in food situations together...

but in the end...

NO ONE (and I mean NO ONE) calls me orthorexic. Most of them even acknowledge that I don't do 100% and don't dig the raw/vegan label. (although essentially I do end up eating 100%, I make a joke about it when that comes up so that people don't get their panties in a wad and start feeling like it's Me the 100% Perfect One vs. Them the Bad Food Eaters. People can be so defensive if you don't look out for their *ahem* human tendencies.

Labels are sometimes useful. But you can resist them and even downright avoid them if you so choose.

YOU have the POWER (which is just, GREAT!) to decide what you want in terms of labels and attitudes. Most people are like sheep, at least in that they will just follow along with your example of negativity or positivity or "no big deal" or whatever. If YOU make a big thing, THEY'LL make a big thing of it.

My two cents or so.

P.S. I have seen the word orthorexia on this board quite a bit... and I will say this... we are analyzing and learning about all the details of this lifestyle... sharing with each other. Which is so useful! But sometimes it's worth it to keep from overanalyzing too.

Keeping it simple... You eat healthy food. And by God you deserve it! You deserve the clarity. You deserve the energy. You deserve ALL the good that comes along with treating your body like the amazing creature you are. Simple as that.

[RawHealthyBeauty]

Keeping it simple... You eat healthy food. And by God you deserve it! You deserve the clarity. You deserve the energy. You deserve ALL the good that comes along with treating your body like the amazing creature you are. Simple as that.

Eva, thank you! I really appreciate this! This paragraph really made me feel so better yesterday and today!!

[RawHealthyBeauty]

I'm still going to continue to call myself as a raw foodist because that's is what I called myself when I first went raw. I' was very proud of it!! So I'm gonna be proud of being a raw foodist like I was before this term, "Orthorexia" bothered me.

I just came home with a bunch of raw goodies and filled up my fridge. I was reminded of the fact that it feels really good to be a raw foodist, supporting the farmers, having my health back on track, being "green", beautiful skin, my body is shaping up nicely, no more mood swings from caffeine and sugar highs, my hair is growing fast and healthy, my eyes are more clearer then ever, not having to be on insulin, staying cool in the summer, and the list can go on why I love being a raw foodist!! Yeah, baby!!! I will sing it out loud!!!

I have a really good attitude about being a raw foodist from day one and I don't look down on my nose at anyone who isn't. I love everyone and that is just the way I've decided to live my life realizing that love is really all that matters when it really comes down to it! So I have every right to love me, my body, and my health with good natural food that comes from the Earth!

I love being a raw foodist!!!!

[lovenlife]

They eat take their medicines, I eat mine. End of matter.

[annabella]

I think orthorexia refers to someone who really is just obsessed with their diet to the point that it takes over their life completely-we eat this way in order to have all the life force to go forth and DO something amazing with our beautiful, vibrant bodies and minds, not to enslave ourselves to thinking about food constantly.

I would say orthorexia is a legitimate problem that could be easy to fall into, like any other obsession (again you can become fixated on absolutely anything.)

But it probably is also inappropriately used very often by people who just don't want to understand this lifestyle or who feel threatened by it for whatever reason. If you feel confident in the way that you live and you're not orthorexic, just forget about this term, it is useless. You all know who you are and you know your own hearts and minds. If you feel like you are too obsessed with food, then maybe give it some thought, adapt, and move on!

[Eva]

Eva, thank you! I really appreciate this! This paragraph really made me feel so better yesterday and today!!

Lovely!! :)

[klomasius]

I think orthorexia refers to someone who really is just obsessed with their diet to the point that it takes over their life completely-we eat this way in order to have all the life force to go forth and DO something amazing with our beautiful, vibrant bodies and minds, not to enslave ourselves to thinking about food constantly.

I would say orthorexia is a legitimate problem that could be easy to fall into, like any other obsession (again you can become fixated on absolutely anything.)

But it probably is also inappropriately used very often by people who just don't want to understand this lifestyle or who feel threatened by it for whatever reason. If you feel confident in the way that you live and you're not orthorexic, just forget about this term, it is useless. You all know who you are and you know your own hearts and minds. If you feel like you are too obsessed with food, then maybe give it some thought, adapt, and move on!

Good stuff annabella, I heartily agree!