 Eating disorders are complex, chronic illnesses largely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. The most common eating disorders - anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa - are on the rise in the United States and worldwide. No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders. However, all socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural groups are at risk. More than ninety percent of those with eating disorders are women. Further, the number of American women affected by these illnesses has doubled to at least five million in the past three decades. Eating disorders are one of the key health issues facing young women. Currently, 1-4% of all young women in the United States are affected by eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, for example, ranks as the third most common chronic illness among adolescent females in the United States. Eating disorders have numerous physical, psychological and social ramifications, from significant weight preoccupation, inappropriate eating behavior, and body image distortion. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is a dangerous condition in which people can literally starve themselves to death. People with this disorder eat very little even though they are already thin. They have an intense and overpowering fear of body fat and weight gain, repeated dieting attempts, and excessive weight loss. This particular eating disorder affects from 0.5% to 1% of the female adolescent population with an average age of onset between 14 and 18 years. Anorexia is identified in part by refusal to eat, an intense desire to be thin, repeated dieting attempts, and excessive weight loss. To maintain an abnormally low weight, people with anorexia may diet, fast, or over exercise. They often engage in behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. People with anorexia believe that they are overweight even when they are extremely thin. A Person with Anorexia may: Eat only 'safe' foods, usually those low in calories and fat, have odd rituals such as cutting food into small pieces, spend more time playing with food than eating it, cook meals for others without eating, engage in compulsive exercising, dress in layers to hide weight loss, spend less time with family and friends, become more isolated, withdrawn, and secretive . Bulimia Nervosa Individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa follow a routine of secretive, uncontrolled or binge eating (ingesting an abnormally large amount of food within a set period of time) followed by behaviors to rid the body of food consumed. This includes self - induced vomiting and/or the misuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics (water pills), excessive exercise or fasting. Bulimia afflicts approximately 1% - 3% of adolescents in the US with the illness usually beginning in late adolescence or early adult life. As with anorexia nervosa, those with bulimia are overly concerned with food, body weight, and shape. Because many individuals with bulimia 'binge and purge' in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often hide the disorder from others for years. Binges can range from once or twice a week to several times a day and can be triggered by a variety of emotions such as depression, boredom, or anger. The illness may be constant or occasional, with periods of remission alternating with recurrences of binge eating. A person with Bulimia may: Become very secretive about food, spend a lot of time thinking about and planning the next binge, take repeated trips to the bathroom, particularly after eating, steal food or hoard it in strange places, engage in compulsive exercising. These are very serious conditions and can lead to rapid degeneration of health. There are many resources available to help you or someone you know. Help is right around the corner. Article reprinted with permission 
Relieve Pain Today Magnets and Pain What Causes Pain Everyone knows that many, many conditions like osteoarthritis and rhumatism can be very painful. But what is pain and what causes it? Pain is the body's warning signal to the brain that something is wrong, such as an injury or inflamation. It can sometimes be amplified when the body is experiencing stress or tension. Pain starts when the body, at the point of injury or irritation, instantaneously secrets a peptide that starts nerve fibers sending pain signals through the central nervous system to the brain. A slight acidic condition is produced in the cells surrounding the area of pain minorly changing their normal alkaline state. As long as this condition exists, signals are continually sent to the brain. Drugs can dull or mask pain, aspirin products can temporarily relieve it, but healing generally is required to get these cells back to their normal alkaline state. Pain is considered chronic when it has persisted for 30 days or more. Magnet therapy, acupuncture and osteopuncture are new and old techniques that have been used to ease the discomfort of pain. Magnets and the Body Magnets have been used to treat the body for centuries. In the last few years, evidence of the positive effects of magnetic fields on the body has prompted several medical studies. Here are some things that have been learned about permanent magnets as presented in the recently published book "Magnet Therapy - The Pain Cure Alternative" by Dr's Lawrence, Rauche and Judith Plowden. They state that magnets: - increase endorphins, the body's own painkillers - increase blood flow - relax muscles - speed fluid exchanges by improving capillary action - flush away the pain's chemistry (acid) from the pain site Identify The Cause Of Pain Magnets should only be used to treat pain when a medical practitioner has diagnosed and identified the cause. Pain is a warning signal that you should not ignore or try to treat yourself without consultation and more knowledge. Do not replace prescription medications that may be very necessary for your recovery. Consider magnets as an additive that may aid in reducing your level of pain. Also, check out Cetyl Myristoleate If you have kids and you like art, here's A Great Gift Idea featuring the work of Michael Castronova. Learn How To Eat to Burn Fat Click here for an Affordable 12 Week Transformation Package? 
If you don't see color and/or pictures, click here for an on-line copy. Please feel free to pass this information on to others who may wish to receive it, and thank you for helping promote health and wellness! Although our information is distributed nationally, our local distribution is made up of BNI, Cardinal Club, CED, the Chamber of Commerce, Forever Bridal, Triangle Society, and WITI and via the provision of business cards and/or e-mail addresses. If you would like to be removed from occassional mailings (once monthly), please simply add the word "Remove" to the subject line of a Reply sent back to us. |
Can You Guess Which One is the Snickers Bar?! All listed "per serving" (1) Calories = 210 (2) Calories = 240 (3) Calories = 250 (4) Calories = 220 (5) Calories = 170 (6) Calories = 200 Don't be fooled by a label that calls itself "HEALTHY!" If you can't tell the difference from the nutritional label, there isn't a difference. Healthy foods are generally called that because they are low in saturated fats. They can still have tons of sugar and simple carbohydrates. If you don't burn it off as you consume it, guess what it turns into?? In order above, (1) Strawberry Yogurt Zone Bar, (2) Peanut Butter Power Bar, (3) Roasted Peanut Trim Advantage Bar (purchased exclusively through personal distributors) (4) Chocolate Brownie Slim Fast Bar, (5) Snickers Bar, (6) Balance Chocolate Bar. Surprised? READ THE LABELS. Don't take anything that goes into your body for granted.  The Body Sculptress 
Calling All Providers!! We are looking for more providers. Our clients are looking for Chapel Hill, Cary, Durham, etc. If you're interested in or are already providing in-home wellness services in the Triangle, and would like help getting new clients, please go to Triangle Home Fit-Spa for listing information. We're looking for the very best. If you're not serious about helping others, please do not apply.  PILATES Once the secret of dancers, celebrities, and Olympic athletes, pilates is now benefiting people form all walks of life. If you are a fitness guru, or one that keeps up with the press, you are probably wondering what the pilates hype is all about! The beauty of the approach is that it attracts people of EVERY age and EVERY fitness level (from the San Francisco 49ers to Sting to petite dancers). Sports medicine professionals across the country are recommending pilates for: *The serious athlete desiring to improve performance by increasing their strength, flexibility, and coordination * The gym-goer who is tired of doing the same repetitious exercises and not seeing results (reached a plateau) *The individual with back discomfort who wants to address postural imbalances, and in turn, achieve a longer, leaner posture *Pregnant women who want to stay fit and/or moms desiring to focus on their mid-section *The individual who is rehabilitating from an injury or managing chronic pain *ANYONE desiring improvements in their level of physical fitness and their ability to concentrate/focus Pilates is a non-impact total body workout that tones and strengthens the muscles without adding bulk. Unlike conventional exercises, pilates focuses on strengthening the deepest innermost muscles of the skeletal system. My clients leave their workouts feeling "energized", "limber", "stronger", more "confident", "focused" and the list goes on. In addition to the physical and mental benefits, people experience the benefit of loosing inches (particularly in the waist and hips). Pilates is driven by a definite need for results and safety, not by hype. Fitness fads will come and go, but exercise procedures and training designed to prevent injury and improve performance will stand the test of time. Missy Grant is a certified pilates instructor who teaches pilates mat classes individually and corporately. She has a studio with the pilates equipment where she trains people one on one. She has a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Co and over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry. During the 10 years, she played college and professional tennis.She can be reached at (919) 389-1545. 
What's Splenda? Splenda is the new kid on the block when it comes to "artificial" sweeteners. The interesting thing about Splenda, however, is that it IS sugar. It's actually made from sugar by replacing three hydroxyl groups wtih three chlorine atoms. I don't know what that means either, but I can tell you that (1) it's the only "artificial" sweetener I've ever used and (2) per a Muscle and Fitness May 2001 article, it "received the most broad-sweeping approval ever granted by the FDA for food and beverage use of any food ingredient." It's undergone hundreds of studies over the years, and each one has found "sucralose" to be safe -- included in the studies were pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children. For more information go to 
Home Spa: Try this double-scrub treat which will leave your skin nicely-buffed! Blend 2 sprigs of fresh mint and 2 cups crushed macadamia nuts. Add 1/2 a cup of honey and a little bit each of almond oil and water. Mix it into a paste, and gently rub all over your body. Rinse and pat skin dry. Enjoy! |