Orthorexia: 10 Signs You’re Taking Your Healthy Eating Too Far

Although I’m a huge advocate of eating clean, healthy, whole foods to improve overall health and well-being, sometimes the desire to do so can become a serious life-ruining compulsion or obsession. As with anything in life, when you take it to the extremes it can become very dangerous.

Orthorexia isn’t recognized as an official eating disorder yet, like bulimia or anorexia, but it is definitely becoming a real threat among health-conscious people. Just as with many eating disorders the desire to eat the perfect, clean, healthy diet will rule your social and personal life. It has a deep connection with feelings and emotions.

If you have been following my blog you know I’m not a huge fan of extremes. Gradually we changed our diet and improved our health but we never went into to the extremes. Nobody should feel guilty about having a drink, eating a chocolate muffin, or using canned or processed items once in a while.

Today I want to share with you a few signs when you are taking your diet too serious and need to take a step back.

ALSO READ: What Is Clean Eating? 7 Simple Rules To Live A Healthy And Clean Lifestyle

1.      Eliminating Entire Food Groups

While it is, of course, wise to avoid certain food categories such as processed, refined, deep-fried, or sugary foods, eliminating an entire food group can deprive the body. Our body needs its macronutrients – protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats – as well as many essential vitamins and nutrients to function properly.

So if you are sensitive or allergic to certain foods or are a vegetarian or vegan, make sure you know what you are doing and where to get the nutrients your body needs before leaving out an entire food group.

2.      Feelings of Guilt

If you eat something you consider “unhealthy” and stray from your diet once in a while, you shouldn’t feel guilty. Though we eat as clean as possible, we don’t feel guilty when we have a big piece of my mom’s famous apple pie which is made with heaps of love and processed white flour and sugar. As long as these cheat moments are reserved for special occasions, you shouldn’t feel guilty. In fact, allowing yourself these splurges will actually help you to stay on track with being healthy.

Same goes for buying non-organic food. Not all our wallets can cope with going 100% organic. No harm done there and you should have no feelings of guilt or fear that this will ruin your life. Do your research, not all veggies or fruits are prone to contamination of GMOs or harmful pesticides or other chemicals.

ALSO READ: Going Organic Without Breaking The Bank

3.      Food Controls Your Life

Live your life and don’t let food control every thought and movement you make. So don’t spend hours thinking about what to eat or how to prepare your food. Social interactions, like going for a drink or having a meal with friends, are super important for our overall health and mental well-being. So don’t miss out on these occasions just because you’re too obsessed with what you put in your mouth.

4.      Too Many Restrictions

These days many people embark on a dairy-free, gluten-free, raw, or vegan lifestyle. Unless you are sensitive or allergic to certain foods or just don’t want to eat animal products, there is no need to restrict everything from your diet. Having a piece of meat once in a while or eating cheese or having a bowl of oats will not harm your health as long as they come from a reliable source and you eat them in moderation.

ALSO READ: Are Oats Good For Our Health?

5.      Super Conscious about Eating Patterns of Others

Not everybody will live with the same idea or restrictions as you. And that’s absolutely fine. We are all on a different journey or path. So although you can preach a healthy lifestyle (I do this all the time 😉 ), don’t be too judgmental of others and yourself. Shift the focus to what you put in your mouth, to enjoying your time out with family and friends.

Scroll down for more signs of the eating disorder orthorexia.