When green becomeS way Too green

Sometimes too much of a good thing can mean trouble. An intense focus on eating ‘just the right food’ to the point of obsession and at the expense of social relationships has been termed ‘orthorexia

nervosa’. This eating disorder usually affects people in their 30s, who are health conscious and well educated. From spending a lot of the day planning, researching, and obsessing over meal plans to withdrawing from social invites because of the food being served, the obsession to eat healthy can spiral out of control. “Only eating green may, in fact, go against you,” observes Rashi Chowdhari, Founder & Chief Nutritionist, Protein

Bakeshop. “Such a diet would provide very little carbs, minimal protein and zero fat. This is the sort of diet you want to completely stay off. At best, it’s foolish, and at worst, dangerous. It crashes your metabolism, causes your TSH, T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones) to plummet, and increases your chances of dealing with hormonal imbalances. Most of our hormones are steroid hormones, which means they are made from cholesterol or fat, so going low on fat will guarantee hormonal havoc,” she says. A further irony is that “people who are obsessed with special types of diets do not necessarily have a healthy and fit body. These diets usually don’t meet nutritional recommendations, and can lead to mental stress and emotional imbalance,” says Sushma Ghag, Dietician, Aster Hospital, Al Mankhool. Hormonal imbalance affects physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and in turn, the resulting social interactions. Consider that a lot of learning and cultural awareness comes from sharing a meal with those who do not have the same meal preference. Strike the right shade of green.