Orthorexia: Can you become too “healthy”?

Calculating calories, weighing yourself every day, never allowing yourself to “slip up”, constantly “worrying” about meals shared with family, with your lover, all by yourself… 

Eating well and wanting to take care of yourself is good and even necessary to be in shape and happy! But certainly not if it becomes an obsession, to the detriment of the physiological and biological needs of our body.

What is orthorexia?

Orthorexia is a disease characterized by an obsession with healthy eating (and other wellness practices such as exercise), with particular attention to the ingredients and quality of food, and which can lead to negative consequences and damage to our general "well-being". 

The definition of general orthorexia: “A neurotic behavior characterized by an obsession with healthy eating.” And neurosis means imbalance…

What are the signs of orthorexia? 

• Obsessively studying the food on the plate 
• Following extreme dietary rules (which can lead to malnutrition)
• Regularly skipping meals or dinners because they don't fit your criteria for healthy eating
• Feeling “stressed” when eating or preparing meals
• Having difficulty eating with others or in society 
• Experiencing emotional disturbances, such as anxiety and guilt, related to food
• Not being able to eat happily and relaxed

Proper nutrition and diet can boost your well-being, that's for sure! But when stress takes over a person's life, it's quite the opposite. When it reaches the point of obsession and it affects mental health, that's when it becomes unhealthy and dangerous. It's all about balance between body and mind. 

Beyond a perfect plate and a perfect workout routine, being truly “healthy” also involves a healthy mind.

So how do you find a balance?

This is a very personal question. You have to find a system that works. for oneself and in the long term … It is not about finding a perfect diet from time to time but about establishing a global lifestyle where food is part of supporting our vitality. And of course we must keep a notion of pleasure and joy linked to food, it represents essential moments of sharing in our lives! But there is always a way to find the balance between a “good” meal and a healthy meal – to share too. This adapts according to the individual, and our own needs, desires and state of health. 

As the balance between a “clean” diet and moments of pure “pleasure” indulgence is essential, I advise you for example to eat healthily during the week or when you are at home, and to enjoy a burger / fries with a glass of wine on the weekend with friends! The 80/20 rule works rather well for most people: we eat well 80% of the time, and we remain flexible on the remaining 20%. This figure will of course adapt according to your state of health, and your desires. There are people who are very happy to eat perfectly healthily without a feeling of deprivation, for others it will seem insurmountable to imagine eating vegetables at almost every meal. 

When it comes to real orthorexia and not just a particular isolated episode, it is better to consult to get help. This often goes back to emotional blockages to be resolved and appeased with external support. 

Good nutrition is of course important, but for live well Above all, we need to sleep well at night, get some light during the day, breathe fresh air, be in contact with nature, move our bodies and eat real food, experience our emotions, let go, cultivate caring relationships, LOVE … This is what we need FIRST to increase our vitality and have beautiful skin! Calculating calories is not part of it for a better fulfillment… 

To soothe and better manage the emotions that dictate our way of eating, guided meditation is a valuable ally. Click here to discover the meditation kits created by Claire Andréewitch, our founder, for a healthier body and mind.