Thursday thoughts #8: how we think about health in the age of social media
$$, orthorexia, bio-individuality and the boring truth
I will be the first one to admit my social media feed could use some scrubbing and editing. Aside from dog content (!), the accounts I tend to gravitate towards are commonly also the ones that pull me into the comparison trap, with which it can be hard to crawl out of. I know, I know, many of you can relate to this as it has almost always come up during the hundreds of nutrition counseling sessions I’ve had with women over the past decade plus. It has become really noticeable how much the social media landscape has influenced how we think about health, what we think health is, and how we think we need to achieve it. I think about this a lot, so…
Let’s discuss.
First, we’ll define health
The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines health as this: the condition of being sound in mind, body and spirit. Also: freedom from physical disease and pain. And, a condition in which someone or something is thriving and doing well. I like these definitions, so we’ll stick with them.
Does achieving health have to be expensive?
Well, that’s the message social media is sending. Infrared saunas: if you don’t have one in your home, it’ll be $50+ for 30 minutes at a wellness center and oh, it’s recommended you do it 3-5 times per week. Add a cold plunge if your cortisol levels can take it. Supplements: you’ll need a laundry list of them to support every function of your body because apparently, your body is doing it wrong as discovered after thousands of dollars of testing. You can only buy said supplements from your acupuncturist/naturopath/”nutritionist” because they have their own brand or blend. Diet protocols: your supplements are of course not enough; you’ll also have to start a strict diet that involves purchasing special juices and soups, because your gut needs healing. Fancy health club membership: a state of the art gym is the only way to exercise, but you’ll need a personal trainer for individual sessions to guide you. This is in addition to boutique fitness classes: because they are what all the “girlies” are doing, at least $45 per class. Workouts MUST be in a matching set.