In our past blogs we have voiced our clinical opinions regarding the need for increased screening for disordered eating. Who should be screening? Primary providers such as pediatricians, therapists and dietitians come to mind. In the news this past week it was reported that there is no clear evidence at this time to recommend specific guidelines for or against screening for eating disorders (HealthDay, 2022).
A celiac diagnosis can turn your world upside down and totally change your relationship with food. Whether you were diagnosed as a child or later in life, it can take a toll on the way you interact with food. Feelings of scarcity, hypervigilance, and even greif are normal - but this doesn’t mean you can't have a healthy and enjoyable relationship with food!
Vegan lifestyles are becoming ever so popular over the past decade. People from all walks of life are deciding not to eat animal or animal products.
HAES® is the acronym for a movement that has been around since the 1960s, otherwise known as Health at Every Size®. HAES® is a weight-neutral approach to health, emphasizing healthy behavior changes to promote health rather than weight loss. It encourages individuals to appreciate their bodies for what they can do and provide rather than for how they look.
There’s always been discussion among professionals about the brain and eating disorders. At surface level, we often see changes in mood, behaviors and of course, eating habits with our clients. But what if there was more to this story? How would it help us during the recovery process?
Although it may feel different from previous years, the holiday season is upon us. The holidays have the potential to bring warmth and the sense of normalcy we are all craving. However, it can also bring on overwhelming emotions. Given this year’s atypical cocktail of COVID mixed with a bit of food and family it may be an even more challenging time for those recovering from disordered eating.
Translation:a Sanskrit term and compound composed of two words: Isvara (or Ishvara) (ईवर) and pranidhana (णधान). Ishvara translates to “owner of best, beautiful”, ruler of choices and blessings and “chief of suitor”. Pranidhana is used in sanskrit to mean applying or giving attention to by way of meditation, prayer or desire. Together they encompass the last niyama which embodies the theme of surrender to the divine. Another term used to describe Ishvara Pranidhana is “the special self”.
Eating Disorders are complex - this we know. How or whey they start or get triggered is also complex. What we do know is that disordered eating emerges as a way to cope and manage things like emotions, stress and the environment. We must then acknowledge that those dealing with disordered eating often have experienced some level of trauma.
There has been significant controversy over the past month about fiber; what it is, how it has been used, and what constitutes excess. Tanya Zuckerbrot, founder of the F-Factor Diet, has recently made headlines for the negative consequences imposed by too much fiber in diets. While fiber intake is an integral part of good nutrition, fiber also can cause a body major distress when over-consumed. Fiber - is it friend or foe?
This story starts centuries ago, driven by racist attitudes about body size as the slave trade brought African people into Europe. Beauty standards started to shift as African women, who were naturally more full-figured, were stigmatized. White European women were encouraged to lose weight in order to show their superiority and “self control” which they believed their African slaves lacked as evidenced by their larger bodies.
An increasingly common refrain with respect to diet is that sugar in all forms is bad for you. The topic of fruit or “overfruiting” arises with increasing frequency in all circles: patients, friends, family. It usually starts with “I think I eat too much fruit...” or “portion size matters with fruit because of how much sugar fruit has”. Fruit has recently developed a bad reputation with concern largely stemming from the amount of sugar fruit contains.
There is beauty in simplicity. The smell of fresh herbs, the juiciness of a perfectly ripe peach, the crunchy satisfaction of a warm piece of bread with butter. Food does not have to be complex to be delicious. In fact, when we strip away the bells and whistles, food becomes a lot more approachable.
Translation: Tapas is based on the root Tap (तप्) meaning "to heat, to give out warmth, to shine, to burn. Tapas, the third Niyama widely translates into the concept of self-discipline, inner energy or austerity. Tapas reminds us that to stay on a path towards wholeness we need self-discipline, self-accountability and the desire to keep going.
Vegan diets and Veganism are diet styles made up of only plant-based foods. The core foundation is to abstain from eating animal products. This is also sometimes accompanied by the refusal to use animal products in any way (think leather bags) and is associated with a philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals.
Many of us like to stick to what we know. And while this has its benefits, it also has its downsides as well. Our go-to staple items are simple to make, low stress, and guaranteed to work out. But when we repeat the same meals over and over food tends to get, well... boring. The enjoyment factor decreases and food begins to feel like a chore.
