Some Basic Natural Remedies for Eating Disorders

Earlier today, Associated Content published my article on natural remedies for eating disorders, and alternative medicine treatment options for eating disorders. This was an article I completed from the AC Assignment Desk, which is available to all of us who are enrolled as sources for Associated Content, following the AC guidelines.

However, I also discovered that I had some personal views on eating disorders and alternative medicine treatment options for eating disorders, and so I wish to share those views in the following opinion column.

So you want to explore natural remedies for eating disorders? You probably expect that we are going to tell you to drink tea, or order some sort of natural supplements or diet pills from a catalogue. Look, there are all sorts of natural remedies for eating disorders, and whatever may work for you, more power to you.

Still, we are skeptical of some of the so-called "alternative medicine treatment options" for eating disorders. We tend to think of medicines as pills, or perhaps ointments, but among the alternative medicine treatment options for eating disorders that we have uncovered are acupuncture, neurofeedback (brain wave analysis) and "expressive arts." Are these medicines, per se? Maybe I'm wrong, way wrong, but I'm having a hard time making a connection with acupuncture and bulimia, or anorexia.

By and large, there are natural remedies for the EFFECTS of eating disorders that are worthwhile, but they may not get to the root causes of eating disorders. If you wind up with indigestion, for example, you may want to sample some peppermint tea or some ginger, or even some artichoke leaf extract. These herbal teas treat symptoms of eating disorders, but when tomorrow comes, a person who overeats still will feel tempted (maybe even compelled) to repeat the behavior.

Let's stick to basics. In my opinion, he best natural treatment for eating disorders is to (A) eat less and (B) eat healthier. Also, let's stick to realism. If our entire goal was to live as long as possible, none of us ever would risk riding in a car, much less walking down a public street. Therefore, we will take some risks in what we eat. We want to enjoy our food, not just consume our food. Virtually nobody has a 100 percent healthy diet. The best natural remedies for eating disorders involve moderating that "risk" with common sense.

If you are among the fortunate few in today's economy (or if you don't mind endless debt), you may be willing to shell out big dollars for products and books related to natural remedies for eating disorders. Spending the money may even give you incentive and discipline to conquer your eating disorder, since you don't want the money to go to waste.

But the ideas in this article, regarding natural remedies for eating disorders, will cost you nary a dime. You instead will save money because you not only won't eat as much, but the foods you choose often will be cheaper.

These are the author's own ideas for natural remedies for eating disorders. The result is that yours truly, in older middle age, sports a modest paunch but not a huge gut.

Okay, here are our common sense natural remedies for eating disorders:

(1) At least TRY a can of vegetable oil spray to saute your poultry or fish, before you reject the idea out of hand. You don't have to fry, fry, fry. Experiment with seasoned salt, and various peppers and spices, and of course, good ol' lemon juice. You really might surprise yourself when you discover that sauted food tastes good; that's why people order it in restaurants. Besides that, spices can help cure a desire to overeat.

(2) If you're not going to give up red meat and pork, at least strive for moderation and also cut the fat. Consider bacon and eggs. Mmmm! Make this your Saturday morning treat (or whatever day) and stick to once a week only. Then, would it be really difficult to drain the bacon on a paper towel before you ladle it onto the plate? You might even squeeze the paper towel to sop even more grease! Also, you can precook and drain the meats that you place atop pizzas, or into sandwiches.

(3) Are you still drinking 3.25 percent whole milk? You can wean yourself. No, don't suddenly make an all-out commitment and shift to skim milk; you might as well put water on your corn flakes. But from experience, many years ago I went to 2 percent and hardly noticed the difference. Then back in the 1990s, I volunteered with a lunch program in which the volunteers could consume the leftovers, and all they had was cartons of 1 percent milk, and the ice-cold 1 percent tasted great. I'll still never go all the way down to skim, but 1 percent is cool. In fact, a swallow of 3.25 percent whole milk now tastes unpleasantly like thick cream.

(4) When was the last time you made yourself some oatmeal or some grits? Not to sound like I don't have a life, but it can be quite an amazing experience. How can such a small quantity of dried oats, or grits, produce such a full bowl of food? Amazing! Now, take the next step and imagine these oats and grits expanding within your tummy tum-tum. You won't feel such a need to overeat, especially if you indulge a dollop of jelly or jam on top.

(5) Prunes. Yes, prunes. Why do people frown when we mention prunes? Nobody frowns when we talk about raisins, and most raisins are all tiny and dry and shriveled. Prunes are big and juicy. Try 'em. Just don't eat too many before you embark on your power walk.

SOURCES

Personal experience

http://www.divineremedies.com/eating_disorders.htm

http://www.shoreline-eatingdisorders.com/dir/alternative-health.html

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/digestivedisorders/a/indigestion_remedies.htm