"Diet" is a Four-Letter Word
I wonder: How do people keep coming up with these things?
I just read a web article (out of service to readers, I won't link to it) on the amazing, no-drawback, great-for-everyone, perfect-in-every-way "raw food diet." The writer suggested that eating only raw, uncooked foods "creates major improvements in health," although "(t)he reasons are not known."
The article was not supported with outside references, and the author's credentials were not listed. But even such a suspect article plays on the minds of those who are looking for the magic bullet to end all of their concerns around weight and food.
And here's an excerpt from the article's big finish: "It seems to me that a raw food diet would be a good cure for eating disorders...Anorexia is largely psychological. If anorexics need to readjust their psychological relationship to food, a raw food diet should be the way to do it, because all types of raw food are good tasting."
No word from the article about whether the author finds raw meat to be one of those types of good-tasting raw food.
In reality, a raw food diet is just another way to make some foods "good" and other foods "bad." Putting things in such categories tends to increase shame at eating certain foods (or even wanting to eat them). And the shame drives eating-disordered thinking even deeper.
The excerpt also shows a shocking lack of knowledge about anorexia, in that foods that are good-tasting are often the last ones that those with anorexia will eat. Giving something to the self that tastes or feels good rarely happens, because these persons don't believe they deserve it.
No food is evil in and of itself. Your body knows what it needs and what it doesn't, and when you pay attention to it, it will tell you when to eat and when to stop, regardless of the food you're eating. Try it: Check out my mindful eating guide to help you develop a much different relationship with your food--any food.
- Mindful, sensual eating--letting the body speak
- The frequent results of dieting
- What's a healthy weight?
Comments
I am a recovered anorexic, and I must say I disagree with your philosophy. True, some anorexics may believe that food is “evil,” but some of us are “health-nuts” who are sick and tired of everyone telling us to “eat more fat,” “drink milk,” “eat meat,” etc. ! For me, I was healed when I “went raw,” and I no longer care what others are telling me to eat! Food is pleasurable, now, and I thoroughly enjoy eating, as I know that each piece of succulent fruit I savor is giving me vital nutrients! If your anorexic, try raw (80/10/10)! If you’d like to talk more, contact me at ramseymindi@yahoo.com. I’d be happy to answer any questions!
Hi, Mindi, and thanks for your response. I’m unaware of any popular high-fat diets. And of course, a high-fat diet would still be a diet. If you are enjoying your food and it is giving you adequate nutrition and caloric intake, more power to you. Given that you have moved from anorexia nervosa to a raw food diet, I’m sure that food offers you unique enjoyment. I wonder what emotional or mental changes happened to allow you to experiment at all, since raw food is still dangerous to most with significant symptoms of anorexia. For those who would not enjoy a raw food diet, restricting oneself from enjoyable foods creates more stress and resentment, usually leading to a huge rebound effect. Readers may want to check out my information on orthorexia nervosa and calorie restriction for more discussion of related issues.