Anorexia Nervosa An Eating Disorder!

Anorexia can be termed or also mean as person who has lost his/her appetite. It can be seen as a form of disease which is very harmful posing a threat to your life. This is a voluntary starving process wherein people kill their desire to eat and end up starving oneself. There are many components which makes this disease complex such as psychological, sociological and physiological. The weight loss doesn?t happen very rapidly but it is a very slow process and looks like any other weight reducing programme in the beginning. But it is after some months you realize the effect it has taken upon your health.

This affects the personality of the person drastically and the outgoing and extrovert person becomes very introvert and subdued. The level of concentration starts depleting too which proves to be big problem for many young people who are the major victims in this disease. The inability to maintain 15 percent of an individual?s normal weight is one of the very serious matters which have to be handled very delicately. Due to starving process there are repeated practices of binge eating and vomiting. Fear plays a very important part, as it the fear of putting on weight, that they discard the idea of being hungry which can also be said as killing yourself gradually and slowly.

The shrinking body is the number one sign you would see in all the people suffering from anorexia. The minimal body weight of the person is also not maintained which makes it very risky for the person. Body doesn?t get enough supplements in the form of vitamins or proteins due to which the nail and hair becomes brittle and the skin without any source of energy turns yellow and pale. In such kind of health, psychologically the person is traumatized, and depression starts kicking in. Due to the shrinking body there is drop in the body temperature which makes the person more vulnerable to cold. Even with the body remaining 1/4 of its size the person suffering with this disorder find themselves to be fat, which can be maintained as a psychological barrier.

The people who are mostly affected with anorexia are mostly girls or women of very young age. The portrayal of abnormally thin women in advertisements and movies as embodiments of beauty has made young women and teenaged girls want to be like them. This alone cannot be considered as the factor determining the anorexic patients. Other factors like eating disorders, genetics, environment, personalities and bio-chemistry. For many anorexia starts off for activities like dance, sports which require a certain body structure. Such kind of disorders also run in families and girls find themselves at a higher risk of getting affected by this disease.

Treatment for such a disease is reversible. Once it is diagnosed the treatment should begin immediately. Most of these cases if detected early, the success rate is good too. Once detected most of these patients are admitted in the hospital and treated accordingly. There is a weight gain program and it takes time depending upon the individual. A set target for food intake per week is assigned which accordingly is increased so as to get the person back on his/her feet, literally. There are different kind of therapies such as normal, group, individual and family. There is lot of emotional baggage for many people who suffer from anorexia and those feeling have to be dealt with, by some psychological sessions or other therapies.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on this would help in knowing anorexia and how to fight it out.

Holistic Skin Care Regrowing The Garden Of Youth

To win the battle against the effects of time and the environment, we need to do more than just apply lotions and creams to our faces. No matter how sophisticated the ingredients grow, those anti aging creams only improve the appearance of the dead layers of skin on the surface. To reach the deeper, living cells, we need to nourish ourselves from within.

Juices are an great way to get vital antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins in fruits and vegetables we normally would not eat regularly. For example, pomegranate juice has been found to prevent the thickening of the arteries if drunk daily, as well as slow down the oxidation of cholesterol. And new research indicates it may have a much stronger antioxidant effect than red wine and green tea. Beauty foods like these can be a very effective tool in improving the way our skin looks and feels.

Antioxidants are an excellent way to slow down the aging process on our skin. There are a variety of antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables. These include polyphenols, flavanoids, and proanthocyanadins. Proanthacyanadins help capillary walls stay strong, which is important in making sure all the right nutrients and oxygen get to our cells. If our cells are starving because of nutrient transportation problems, they are not going to be healthy, or look good. Blueberries and blackberries are rich sources of proanthocyanadins, so that's a great excuse to make these delicious fruits part of a regular diet. If you can't get fresh berries, or they're too expensive, try frozen berries as they still retain their nutritional value.

Paul Bedson, who utilizes traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in his approach to the body, suggests these juices for good skin health:

  • Carrot, celery and lemon juice
  • Cucumber, lettuce, and pineapple juice
  • Half a glass of cucumber juice with half a glass of water

TCM sees healthy skin function in relation to how well the other organs of elimination function. The skin is considered an organ of elimination as it excretes about one quarter of the body's wastes through perspiration. The other organs of elimination are the kidneys, the lungs, the liver and the bowels. The rationale behind considering the excretory organs as a whole when addressing skin health, is that if one of the organs is overloaded, or not doing its job properly, it throws the whole system of excretion out of balance, placing greater stress on the other eliminatory channels. So juices, food and supplements that support these other channels of elimination should also lead to a corresponding improvement in the skin.

Herbs that support the eliminatory channels, and thus indirectly the skin, include burdock, cleavers, nettles, goldenseal, yellow dock, and milk thistle, or st marys thistle.

References: Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing (Hinkler Books, 2005)
Erica Angyal, Gorgeous Skin In 30 Days (Lothian Books, 2005
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=62044-tesco-pomegreat-pomegranate

Do you suffer from acne? Would you like to learn 6 acne nutrition tips to help you manage your acne better? Or an acne diet article that discusses the link between insulin, bread and acne? Click on the links to find out.

How to Make Your Own Beauty Products

Few of life?s luxuries lift our spirits and promote our self-esteem as effectively as beauty products. This feel good factor more often than not comes with a hefty price tag attached to it. Add the words ?organic?, ?natural? or ?herbal? to the label and the cost is higher still. Or is it? Beauty products need not be costly. You can achieve professional results at home on a shoestring budget.

Skin care products are among the most popular beauty treatments. From cleansers to toners to lotions, the more they claim to do the more expensive they generally are. Many of the store bought products often contain toxic substances, many of which are synthetically derived from petrochemicals. These ingredients have the potential for causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, allergic respiratory reactions, and skin and eye irritations. Many chemicals found in cosmetics don't cause immediate visible signs of toxicity, but affect our health negatively over time through repeated use.

Making your own beauty products saves you money and ensures complete control over the ingredients. This is especially useful if you have sensitive or allergic skin. It is surprisingly simple to achieve excellent results with relatively little effort and expenditure. Many every day food items such as honey, eggs, cucumber, fruits, and others have been used as beauty enhancers for centuries. Eggs are very versatile. To tone and tighten skin, apply a beaten egg white to your face and rinse it off after it dries. To remove excess oil, whip an egg yolk and mix it with six tablespoons of honey to make a peel off mask. Masking is the oldest of all the beauty arts. Masks rejuvenate and revitalize skin by removing accumulated dead skin cells and restoring normal epidermal function. Regular use of a facial mask tightens pores and stimulates the circulation of blood to the face, thereby bringing oxygen and other essential nutrients to the skin.

Honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent and moisturizer. It contains trace minerals and amino acids which are beneficial to skin and hair. It may be used on the face as a mask (clover honey is recommended for dry skin, while oily and combination skin benefits from orange blossom honey) and on hair as a conditioning treatment to add shine and moisture. For a honey hair rinse, combine one teaspoon of honey with four cups of warm water and one drop of your favourite essential oil or perfume. Apply this mixture to freshly washed hair and let air dry.

For a refreshing facial, pour boiling water over dried chamomile flowers in a bowl and inhale, holding your face a few inches above the water. You can even use the left over liquid to rinse your hair with afterwards. Apart from the benefits to your skin, this treatment also has health benefits for nose, throat and lungs and is especially beneficial for colds and bronchial infections.

For an all over beauty treatment, add half a cup of powdered milk to a tub full of hot water. It acts as a skin softener. For added benefit and relaxation, add a muslin bag filled with your favourite herbs to the bath. For a soothing effect, try chamomile flowers or rose flowers. Basil, bay, rosemary, or thyme have an energizing effect. Sage and strawberry leaves relieve muscle aches and painful joints. A handful of oatmeal and two teaspoons of sea salt make an invigorating body scrub.

Massage has a relaxing effect on the body and the mind. It loosens tension and blockages and stimulates blood circulation and the lymphatic system, which plays an important role in the body?s immune system. Massage oils consists of a carrier oil (or oil blend) to which essential oils are added. Carrier oils are vegetable oils used to dilute the concentrated essential oils. They help to slow down the evaporation of the essential oils and help absorb them into the skin. For maximum benefit, ?extra virgin? or cold pressed vegetable oils should be used. Popular carrier oils include sweet almond, grape seed, sunflower, sesame, wheat germ, olive and peanut oil. Nut allergy sufferers are advised to avoid nut based oils. Jojoba oil is a very popular oil due to its nutritional properties. Its structure is very close to human sebum so it is easily absorbed. Jojoba oil allows the skin to breathe, unlike other oils. It nourishes the skin and moisturizes it at the same time. Jojoba is actually a liquid wax, not an oil.

Making your own beauty products saves you money and let's you be in control over what goes onto your skin. Even better, it?s easy and fun. Happy mixing!

Katharina Bishop is a freelance writer. She is the owner of Wondrous Gems, a business specializing in crystals and designer jewelry. http://www.wondrousgems.com