Can You Be Too Healthy

There has been some talk about it. In a way, you could assume that it’s coming from obese America. People want to play down the effects of obesity. So they focus instead on people who are eating right, exercising, and they say that these people are too healthy. Of course, there’s a line, and you can get too much of anything, that’s including healthy food and exercise.

When you see people start cleansing and juicing, you may end up not eating, and therefore not necessarily getting the nutrients you need. Ironic isn’t it? People get into different crazes with almond milk, juicing, the raw foods diet, and various other health crazes. People can’t just do one thing, they have to do it all at times.

The truth is that most Americans could afford to be healthier, but it seems that people can’t just be basically healthy anymore. They have to go overboard. Too much healthy can be hard. When taken to the extreme, behavior that is too healthful can lead to osteoporosis, joint problems, sprains, nutritional deficiency, and even reproductive issues, says Joseph Pinzone MD. They call it orthorexia. Keep in mind, orthorexia is not a recognized disorder, but it has certainly caught on.

The National Eating Disorders Association calls it a fixation on righteous eating, which is not necessarily the same as being thin. A person obsesses about being healthy, and this can lead to various physiological issues. Eating too healthy can actually trigger cravings for more salt and more fat cravings. Fruits and vegetables are healthy and great, but they aren’t necessarily a guarantee to healthy weight loss on their own.

A recent study from the University of Alabama Birmingham found that eating a lot of fruits and vegetables may not be as simple as it seems in terms of the health and weight loss aspects. Kathryn Kaiser, an instructor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham said, Across the board, all studies we reviewed showed a near-zero effect on weight loss. So I don’t think eating more fruits and vegetables alone is necessarily an effective approach for weight loss because just adding them on top of whatever foods a person may be eating is not likely to cause weight change. In other words, it’s all about balance.

The same goes for excessive energy. I know, there are those who workout 8 hours a day as professional athletes. However, too much and overly vigorous exercise can strain your heart while cutting your life short. Not quite what you might originally imagine. Studies at the University of South Carolina found that regular jogging can increase your life expectancy, but runners who run more than 20 miles a week (2.85 miles per day) have a higher rate of death than moderate runners.

Jay Cardiello, celebrity fitness trainer and nutrition expert, says, I see people who come to the gym multiple times per day or at odd hours of the night. But the body needs rest in order to function at its best. Take weight training – many people don’t realize that lifting destroys your muscles; during rest, the body is building strength. That’s why taking breaks from exercise is crucial.

So what do you do? Stick to moderation. Don’t go too hard, and don’t wear yourself out. Just be reasonably healthy. Pinzone says, We live in a social media-heavy world where we feel like we’re never doing enough. But taking the time to be mindful and balanced, asking yourself, ‘Is it more important to run that extra mile or see an old friend?’ – is the key to truly be happy and healthy.