By Lisa Collier Cool
Source: Yahoo! Health

I have a friend who will only eat short pasta, like penne. Another friend sticks to long pasta – linguini, spaghetti. I thought that was a bit bizarre until I read about Heather Hill, 39, whose diet consists entirely of French fries, pasta with butter or marinara sauce, vegetarian pizza, cooked broccoli, corn on the cob, and cakes and cookies without nuts.

Ms. Hill isn’t alone. New findings indicate that there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of adult picky eaters. To get a handle on the numbers, Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh have launched a national public registry of adult picky eaters. Respected publications like JAMA and Psychology Today are recognizing another new eating disorder, orthorexia, an obsession with healthy eating. That may not sound bad, as obsessions go, but those who carry good intentions too far can face serious risks.

Kristie Rutzel, 27, dropped to 68 pounds when she was in the grip of her fixation on healthy eating – at one point she ate little more than raw broccoli and cauliflower. Neither adult picky eating disorder nor orthorexia is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association’s “bible” of mental disorders. Once a disorder is listed, treatment is often covered by insurance and it’s easier for researchers to get grants to study it. Here’s what we know so far:

• What is Adult Selective Eating? Like kids, adult picky eaters limit themselves to an extremely narrow range of foods. Unlike those who suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia, adult picky eaters are seemingly not worried about calorie counts or body image. But so far, researchers don’t know if adult picky eaters just haven’t outgrown childhood patterns or if their eating habits are a new twist on obsessive compulsive disorder. Some may be “supertasters,” with an abnormally acute sense of taste that turns them off certain foods. Many appear to have had unpleasant childhood associations with food.

• What is orthorexia? Identified in 1997 by Colorado physician Steven Bratman, MD, orthorexia is Latin for “correct eating.” Here, too, the focus isn’t on losing weight. Instead, sufferers increasingly restrict their diets to foods they consider pure, natural and healthful. Some researchers say that orthorexia may combine a touch of obsessive compulsive disorder with anxiety and warn that severely limited “healthy” diets may be a stepping stone to anorexia nervosa, the most severe – and potentially life-threatening – eating disorder.

What do they eat?

• Adult picky eaters: Food preferences tend to be bland, white or pale colored – plain pasta or cheese pizza are said to be common foods along with French fries and chicken fingers. Some picky eaters stick to foods with a common texture or taste.

• Orthorexics: Those affected may start by eliminating processed foods, anything with artificial colorings or flavorings as well as foods that have come into contact with pesticides. Beyond that, orthorexics may also shun caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt, wheat and dairy foods. Some limit themselves to raw foods.

What are the risks?

• Health consequences: Limiting your diet to only a few foods – because you’re a picky eater or have a long list of foods you deem unhealthy – can lead to potentially dangerous nutritional deficiencies. At its most extreme, a diet limited to only a few foods perceived to be healthy is described as orthorexia nervosa and can lead to the same emaciation and health risks seen with anorexia nervosa.

• Social Isolation: Being an adult picky eater can take an enormous social toll. Out of embarrassment, these folks avoid dining with friends or co-workers. Heather Hill tries to hide her eating habits from her children for fear that they will pick them up. Going to extremes in an effort to eat only healthy foods can also be socially isolating and can undermine personal relationships.

How are these disorders treated?

• Adult Selective Eating: Techniques that have proven successful in treating kids who are picky eaters – learning assertiveness skills and systematically trying new foods – are being used on adults, but it’s still too soon to know whether they work.

• Orthorexia: Cognitive behavior therapy designed to change obsessive thought patterns regarding food is usually recommended.

There is a slew of toothpastes on the market today, and stepping into the oral hygiene aisle of the grocery store can be a bewildering experience. Do you want a toothpaste that will whiten your teeth, keep your breath fresh, or guard against tooth sensitivity? Which brand is the best–Colgate, Crest, Aquafresh, or one of a dozen others? The American Dental Association is here to help.

As discussed in the previous article, the Seal of Acceptance Program is designed to provide the public with a quick and easy method of determining which dental products can be relied upon for safety, quality, and efficacy. Simply check your tube of toothpaste for the ADA logo, and you can be assured that you have chosen an excellent product that will be good for your teeth. There are many brands that meet the stringent requirements for the Seal of Acceptance, including Colgate, DTI, Aquafresh, and Tom’s of Maine. For a complete list of ADA-approved toothpastes, please click here.

To receive the Seal of Acceptance, a fluoride toothpaste manufacturer must provide the following data to ensure that the product meets ADA’s level of safety and effectiveness for reducing tooth decay:

• Clinical studies in humans
• Laboratory studies to determine the amount of available fluoride, the amount of fluoride released in one minute, and the amount of fluoride absorption in normal and weakened tooth enamel. These tests are also conducted in the American Dental Association’s laboratory to doublecheck the accuracy of the reports.

The ADA also tests all claims that a toothpaste’s manufacturer makes about the product, even claims that will not earn it the Seal. For example, keeping your breath fresh is not a criteria for earning the Seal of Acceptance, but if an ADA approved toothpaste states that it will do so, the American Dental Association will examine the data to make sure that this claim is true. When buying these recomended products, you can be assured of not only their safety, quality, and efficacy, but of their truthfulness and accurate claims as well.

Don’t forget to stop by our Dental Health & Nutrition Store. All of our products are ADA approved and have been carefully selected by Dr. Hood to provide excellent oral hygiene for you and your family.

The American Dental Association is the oldest and largest dental association in the world. Founded in 1865, the ADA is widely recognized as the best source of information, dental product recommendations, and oral health advocacy by both dentists and patients alike.

The ADA also has a charitable foundation that raises money to provide scholarships for dental students, fund research in various areas of dental science, bring oral hygiene education programs into schools, and provide disaster relief supplies. Learn more about the ADA Foundation here.

The 2011 Annual Session of the ADA will be held from October 11-13 in Las Vegas, bringing together leaders in dental practice, research, academics and industry to present more than 260 continuing education courses over four days. Condoleezza Rice is this year’s Distinguished Speaker, and there will be a special reception for new dentists and dental students as well as a world marketplace exhibition, presentations on the latest dental technology, and educational courses on a wide range of oral hygiene topics, even a live demonstration of dental surgery techniques. The ADA Annual Session is a great opportunity for members of the dental community to network and keep up-to-date in their profession. Registration is open now.

For the average person outside the dental profession, the ADA offers a wealth of resources on their website that enables you to find a dentist in your area, a comprehensive A-Z list of topics that will address almost every question anyone could have about dental procedures and health, information on dental insurance and financing, tips for dealing with dental emergencies, and more. There are also ADA programs for educators, children, and employers that address the specific needs and viewpoints of each of these groups.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance is perhaps the most well-known facet of the organization, for many Americans recognize the logo immediately as a sign of reliability, safety, and efficacy in dental products. Started in 1930, the Seal of Acceptance program researches and rigorously tests consumer dental products before approving them. Today, over 300 products carry the Seal’s logo. You can find a comprehensive list of these products as well as information about the history of the program, what guidelines are used, and how products are evaluated here.

As a member of the American Dental Association, Dr. James G. Hood is committed to serving his patients with the best quality dental care, up-to-date technology and techniques, and continuing oral hygiene health through the advocacy of home care and education.