I am hoping the brilliant womens can talk some sense into me before I get sick/hurt. I've developed two food phobias that I reeeaallly need to get over. These are two things I used to eat without qualms, and need to eat - I need the protein and the calcium. Heeeelllllppppp. I'm up for kind, helpful things or "suck it up and do it."
I'm very stressed with school and that tends to be when my eating disorder gets worse, so that may be part of the anxiety :-(
1) Cheese. A couple weeks ago, I bought some cheese crackers from Trader Joe's. When I got home, I looked on the ingredients and saw "rennet." Didn't know what it was. Googled and found out it was enzymes from cow's stomachs. This freaked me out and I have been unable to eat cheese ever since... I'm fine with yogurt (milk seems to be ok with me) but something about an enzyme from a cow's stomach, GROSS. Apparently there are vegetarian sources of these enzymes, but how does one know when the ingredients for cheese just say "enzymes"? I guess I am looking for ways to get over this, OR any types of cheese you might know that are truly vegetarian friendly.
2) Eggs. Read a comment online recently that eggs "are like eating a tiny animal whole." I know that an unfertilized egg is not going to be a chicken - it will not turn into an animal - but still, I am now freaked out by eggs. My parents HAVE chickens (I will be home on Friday) and even the thought of eating those eggs - cage free organic etc - causes me a lot of anxiety.
NOTE: I'm looking for HELP here, not unhelpful posts (as one might find on the main forum) that humans shouldn't eat dairy anyway etc etc etc. I am not looking to increase my food issues. :-)
Thanks to whatever you can offer.
love tc
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
I'm very stressed with school and that tends to be when my eating disorder gets worse, so that may be part of the anxiety :-(
1) Cheese. A couple weeks ago, I bought some cheese crackers from Trader Joe's. When I got home, I looked on the ingredients and saw "rennet." Didn't know what it was. Googled and found out it was enzymes from cow's stomachs. This freaked me out and I have been unable to eat cheese ever since... I'm fine with yogurt (milk seems to be ok with me) but something about an enzyme from a cow's stomach, GROSS. Apparently there are vegetarian sources of these enzymes, but how does one know when the ingredients for cheese just say "enzymes"? I guess I am looking for ways to get over this, OR any types of cheese you might know that are truly vegetarian friendly.
2) Eggs. Read a comment online recently that eggs "are like eating a tiny animal whole." I know that an unfertilized egg is not going to be a chicken - it will not turn into an animal - but still, I am now freaked out by eggs. My parents HAVE chickens (I will be home on Friday) and even the thought of eating those eggs - cage free organic etc - causes me a lot of anxiety.
NOTE: I'm looking for HELP here, not unhelpful posts (as one might find on the main forum) that humans shouldn't eat dairy anyway etc etc etc. I am not looking to increase my food issues. :-)
Thanks to whatever you can offer.
love tc
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD