In the good old, bad old 1970s, I had a friend who adopted a very rigid macrobiotic diet. Even her five big dogs couldn’t eat anything but brown rice and vegetables, and had to wear muzzles outside so they wouldn’t accidentally ingest a little meat in the form of an unlucky field mouse or June bug. She blamed most of the world’s ills on our shameless indulgence in “sensual eating”.
Meals at Mirasol: No Taboos, Lots of Challenges
Of course from my current perspective, 30 years later, I realize that my friend probably suffered from an eating disorder, most likely a form of orthorexia. Her dogs did too but had no choice. Like it or not, food is such a basic human need that it has undeniable social, emotional, and cultural components. It is perfectly normal and healthy to anticipate a good meal, and to delight in food that is pleasing to the eye, the nose and the palate. The problems occur when we develop an unhealthy relationship with food and begin using it to meet other needs, for example to distract from feelings of unhappiness or anxiety, to dull pain, or as an antidote to boredom or stress.
I don’t think that I’ve ever met an eating disordered client that didn’t struggle with digestive issues. The digestive tract is directly affected by binging, purging and restricting. The discomfort from digestive problems is a common obstacle to recovery. It’s such a challenge for women to adhere to their meal plans when their bodies are rebelling.