On Orthorexia 🩺

Cause or effect?

We are the first few generations in human history that has to decide what to feed ourselves, and the results have been disastrous.

The prevalence of colon cancer in those under 50, IBS, IBD, obesity and diabetes are shockingly high in America. The rapid rise of ultraprocessed food ingredients (many of which are illegal in Europe) are increasingly being proven to be the cause.

(See Ultraprocessed vibes from FoodFix)

Amidst this backdrop, I am regularly accused, even in-person, of “taking advantage of orthorexics”, stoking “orthorexia” and being orthorexic myself.

Let’s explore where this word came from, cases where this supposed disease is actually dangerous, and some mental frameworks to lower anxiety around food quality.

The birth of “orthorexia nervosa”

For 99.999% of human history, all food was organic, glyphosate free, non-GMO, local, and free of dyes and seed oils. There is no historical mention of orthorexia, because food was generally pure but scarce. Very few people have ever had the luxury of deciding what they should or shouldn’t eat. 

The term “orthorexia” was first coined jokingly in 1997 by Steve Bratman M.D. to describe an obsession with food quality that he had observed in patients. Orthorexia is not a DSM-V diagnosis, and doesn’t really have a strict definition today.

This behavior probably sounds familiar to anyone reading this newsletter. This definition of a “disease” appears to be an allergic reaction of the medical field to those who begin to take their health into their own hands.

I am sure you can pull up many cases where someone’s life appears to have been “destroyed by orthorexia”, however in most instances this is likely an outlet or manifestation for another latent psychological disorder, like OCD.

When is orthorexia dangerous?

Orthorexia is dangerous when your beliefs about nutrition are false, and the ‘purity’ you are pursuing is leading to malnourishment.

This confession by“The Blonde Vegan” about her cycle of guilt and shame around violating her juice cleanses is indeed dangerous because she was malnourishing herself.

Practicing a caloric, yet well-sourced diet rich in meat, fats, natural carb sources and protein would never lead to malnourishment.

Orthorexia is dangerous to delusional vegans.

Orthorexic nations vs the non-orthorexic nation

Can a nation be orthorexic? How many orthorexics do you need in a room before it’s a culture or a religious taboo like Kosher?

@reallyTanMan’s mega-viral thread about the 15 shocking America foods banned in Europe is a total eye opener.

The world won’t eat our chicken, pork or salmon for reasons that would seem absurd to your average American. Even China refuses to import our pork due to concerns over ractopamine.

The one country that invented the term “orthorexic” also happens to be 40% diabetic, riddled with early-life colon cancer and myriad chronic disease.

Seed oils are not cyanide: how to cope

There is definitely a level of anxiety and meticulousness around food sourcing that will begin to detriment your life with diminishing benefit to your health.

Seed oils are not cyanide: consuming small quantities of them on isolated occasions is not going to seriously harm most people, and great benefit comes from reducing your seed oil consumption, even if its still non-zero. The same goes for non-organic produce, or conventionally raised meat.

At some point, the anxiety and isolation around food sourcing will be harming your health more than the glyphosate in your dinner roll on Thanksgiving.

Some tips for calming your anxiety around food selection:

• Be happy with basics: If you’re cool with eating steak and a baked potato you can usually survive most family gatherings

• Reframe as snobbery: I think taking the French perspective on food quality and sourcing puts you in an aggressor rather than victim stance and lowers the anxiety of the situation. France is a nation obsessed with details of food sourcing and production that even the most neurotic American orthorexic could never imagine. My original viral thread on this. 

• Fried food and mayo: These are by far the biggest culprits at restaurants by sheer volume, if you just steer clear of these 100% of the time your gut will thank you. (This includes the aioli)

• Bad words, good words: Not always true but generally…

  • Bad: Seared, crispy, fried, dressing, aioli

  • Good: Grilled, roasted, steamed, wood-fired

• All packaged food is still garbage: The colorful packaged treats that line supermarket aisles are indeed garbage. If you’re eating loads of packaged foods you need to rethink your priorities and educate yourself on what’s healthy. There are time and cost efficient ways to eat real food. Ultraprocessed vibes

• Vitamin-E pills: I haven’t done a scientific deep dive on this but many people I trust recommend taking a vitamin E pill when consuming seed oils to counteract the oxidation. Look for one with mixed-tocepherols, like Thorne. The placebo feels good either way.

• Start a company: Maybe not feasible for everyone, but I chose this route and have managed to meet a bunch of new friends that don’t try to force feed me Thai food on a weekly basis. Be the change you want to see in the world. Taking action is empowering. Active/fitness focused communities are also a good place to look for people who care about what they eat.