It seemed like a crock at first, but that*s just how it*s been
   presented in a few places. It*s NOT an obsession with HEALTHY
   foods * it*s an obsession with what the sufferer considers the
   RIGHT foods. It*s a bit of perfectionism. I probably have a
   touch of it myself, but not a whole lot. Example: I avoid white
   bread and cut my portions of white pasta down when I remember.
   Why? I find that my belly gets a little squishy *bubble* a few
   hours after I eat that * and it stays. But when I eat 100% whole
   grain (not just *whole grains* * that can be a mere 51%) * the
   bubble goes away. The effect on my body is pretty instant. It*s
   probably the white flour soaking up fluids causing the bubble,
   whereas the whole grains don*t soak up as much * just as whole
   grains take a little longer to cook. Not really sure * that*s
   just my self-observations. If there are two choices, I TRY to
   choose the heathier option, and when I don*t, I actually feel
   yucky about 45 mins later. Not everything, mind you. I like hot
   dogs * I don*t eat them much but I enjoy them when I do. But if
   I have a regular McDonald*s burger, I feel empty, bitter and
   crabby about 45 mins later. Their 1/4 pounder DOESN*T make me
   feel bad though * but I suspect it*s more pure beef, or less
   fat, or something. Does this make me orthorexic? l dunno. I eat
   foods that make me feel good that have some justification of
   health benefits in my mind. I love extra sharp cheddar cheese.
   Justification? 1) Protein 2) Milk Fat (was it that?) can help
   curb hunger (a *Prevention* article a few years back) 3) I get
   phlemmy coughs from regular milk but not from lactose-free milk
   or cheese 4) I get a *charge* out of sharp cheeses like some
   people get with chocolate. (endorphins I guess). I try to get my
   facts right about food to make up for the bad stuff I eat/drink.
   I like sweet *n low in my coffee and love powdered non-dairy
   creamer. So to make up for the 100% transfat/candlewax substance
   that I like in my coffee, I try to eat monounsaturated fats and
   fish oil tabs at least a few times a week in hopes that they*ll
   clean the nasty creamer out of my bloodstream. Plus, I avoid
   sugar because when I cut the sugar out of my coffee about four
   years ago, I lost 30 lbs in six months. Stevia*s too expensive
   but my favorite. Sweet *n low is much maligned but works just
   fine (I don*t have picky taste-buds). So I*m a walking
   contridiction. I smoke cigarettes yet I do aerobic exercise. i
   feel guilt when I eat the *wrong foods* but then make up for it
   by having a salad or fiber or something. So do I have orthorexia
   or does my hypocrasy make me a normal human being? Ken, Naples,
   Florida