Medical researchers find a new discovery that anorexia (the male version is known as manorexia) is not limited to women and that the idea of starving yourself in order to achieve the perfect body is crossing gender lines. Manorexia is a serious eating disorder which needs to be detected at its early stages.

What is Manorexia?

Manorexia is an eating disorder. Dietary restriction is the most significant manifestation of the disorder/disease. It sometimes occur in its pure form however appears in the form of alternating crises restriction and bulimia with vomiting. The body is viewed as too big, despite been extremely thin. This physical state due to malnutrition is often times fatal.

Who is affected by Manorexia?

While anorexia is typically thought to be a disorder affecting only teenage girls or women, experts estimate that about 1 million American men suffer from manorexia and the figures seems to be rises.

At what stage in life?

Risk of manorexia is particularly said to be high during two main periods i.e. between ages 12 and 13 and then between ages 17 and 18. This latter part is made significant because it is at the end of high school when ‘serious’ dating occurs i.e. you want to get attention from girls.

How does it start?

For many it often starts as a simply attempt to get fit but it quickly turns into a deadly battle for the perfect body.

What are the underlying and predisposing factors of Manorexia?

In as much as there are biological factors, external factors like early like interactions e.g. family values, identity development and sense of worth/self esteem are vital I triggering the disorder. Pop culture is also a great influence here with some aiming to be wiry — think Mick Jagger, some want to be lean, muscular Brad Pitt, James Bond while other just want to be big and chiseled like Arnold [Schwarzenegger], the governor.”

Warning signs?

A sudden feeling of insecurity followed by a change in eating habits, an obsession with the mirror, an rate of loss of weight leading to general weakness are all signs of manorexia that should not be taken fore granted.

Are there consequences?

Since Manorexia is essentially depriving your body of nutrients dangerous consequences such as stated below may follow – abnormally slow heart rate, low blood pressure, changes in the heart muscle, risk of heart failure, electrolyte imbalance, anemia, changes in bones density (meaning your bones can break more easily, dental problems, loss of muscle tone, general weakness, severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure, hair loss is common, death.

What should I do now?

It is important not to isolate yourself. The first thing to do is talk to a doctor. There are also a number of associations for parents of children with anorexia which offer good support and are good sources of information.

If you are going through it and you have a problem with manorexia, put away the pride, put away the ego, and don’t be afraid to seek the necessary treatment for it. It’s OK. It’s fine. Just because you are a guy doesn’t mean, ‘I can’t ask for help.’ Do not procrastinate consulting a medical practitioner as an early treatment facilitates cure.

There are a wide variety of possible problems that one can have with the digestive system. They may include a number of organs. Here we are discussing a basic sluggishness, weakness or inability to digest and / or assimilate our food nutrients. Symptoms might be bloating, flatulence, frequent burping, discomfort after eating, pain in the abdominal area. Ulcers and gastritis will require more specific instructions.

SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES

1. Hereditary weaknesses in the digestive organs. This does not mean that you are doomed to suffer. You can learn how to live wisely and not suffer at all from such a problem.
2. Poor dietary habits which have weakened our digestive system.
3. Nutritional deficiencies.
4. Blockages in the spinal nerves, which regulate the functioning of the digestive organs.
5. A lack of digestive enzymes and / or friendly bacteria in the intestines.
5. Emotional tension, which is affects these organs.

EFFECTIVE NATURAL SOLUTIONS

1. Eat properly and at regular times of the day, so that your digestive system can prepare itself.
a. Do not eat between meals.
b. Eat only when hungry.
c. Do not eat again until the previous meal has been digested.

2. Do not drink liquids with the meal. They dilute the digestive juices.

3. Follow the guidelines for proper food combining, especially concerning not eating sweet fruit with or after the meal.

4. If you have serious problems, then eat only one food at each meal for a period of time.

5. Do not eat food cold from the refrigerator.

6. Chew slowly making your food a liquid in your mouth before swallowing.

7. Garlic and lemon aid in the digestion of vegetables and proteins. (Watch out if you have an active ulcer).

8. Occasionally fast or eat only one food (apples, peas, watermelon, grapes, brown rice) for a few days. This will help your digestive system to rest and detoxify and revitalize itself.

9. Drink hot or warm water between meals (at least 3 hours after the meal and 15 minutes before).

10. Herb teas often help: mint, chamomile, anise, garlic.

11. Make sure that you have one or more bowel movements everyday.

12. Engage in some light activity after eating before lying down to rest.

13. Get plenty of daily exercise and take walks in nature if at all possible.

14. Never eat when emotionally upset. Do some breathing or relaxation first and then eat.

15. Learn to massage your own abdomen with shiatsu or “ambuko” massage. (Be sure that you do not have appendicitis)

16. Massage the soles of your feet where there are the reflex points for the various digestive organs. You can use a foot roller or round bottle to roll the bottom of your foot on in order to stimulate these points.

17. Spiritual Healing is especially beneficial. Place your hands on your abdominal area and send light, love and healing energy through your hands to your organs and yourself.

18. Harmonize your emotional life by changing beliefs and attitudes through reading, self-analysis, meditation, prayer and group work.

19. If your liver or gall bladder is sluggish you can use a castor oil pack to stimulate your liver, gall bladder, stomach and small intestines. (This method is described by Edgar Cayce in various books.)

20. Consult a yoga teacher for specific exercises, which relax, tonify and rejuvenate the organs of digestion, assimilation and excretion.

21. Do deep relaxation daily and contact the peace in the center of your being.

When we care for our bodyPsychology Articles, it serves us more joyfully.

Your child never misses his or her lunch or dinner. But are you sure he/she is not skipping breakfast? Modern lifestyle has its pros and cons. Among the cons, ‘unhealthy eating habits’ is the most prominent. Eating breakfast should be a habit. Like all other habits, it takes time to develop, and little or no time to forget. Adolescents and teens skip breakfast more than any other age group. Young girls skip breakfast more than boys, that is very surprising fact.

Modern lifestyle gives no time for people to have breakfast at home; most have to consume it away from home. Just having breakfast is not enough; one has to ensure that breakfast is nutrient-rich, and not a platter full of sugary, fatty food. By helping your child develop the habit of eating breakfast at home, you can make better choice of food that follows the dietary guidelines. After all, healthy breakfast means healthy children. While family dynamics have a little, but evident role in determining the food choice, it certainly should not stop you from giving your child breakfast food that is healthy.

Here are some tips, which if followed, can facilitate a routine that has breakfast on its menu every day.

Educating Parents

It is a myth that only the more literate ones are aware of the importance of eating healthy. Research points out that even the most well-to-do families skip breakfast. Educators and health experts should spread the good word around. Schools can organize camps and debates to promote healthy breakfast.

Prepare in Advance

You can prepare breakfast the night before so that your child does not skip breakfast.

Tasty, yet Nutritious food

Children do not like eating food that does not look good. Here is the smart solution. Include items such as peanut butter on apple, berries put in low fat yoghurt, and oatmeal with pecans.

Family Dynamics for Healthy Breakfast

Parents should ensure they eat breakfast in front of their children. Involving children in breakfast choices as well as breakfast preparation can also help develop love for breakfast in your child. Using family dynamics to model healthful breakfast practices

School Breakfast Program

Encourage children to benefit from the school breakfast program. A small percentage of children (less than 50%) take advantage of the school breakfast program.

Read Labels

Parents should educate their children about food labels. Teach them how to read a label to find out of the food item is healthy or not.

Ready to Eat (RTE)

Contrary to popular belief, RTE cereal is inexpensive. Including Ready to Eat cereal in breakfast can help your child derive the most out of breakfast.

Alias for Breakfast

Think about the word ‘breakfast’, and you would perceive it as a ‘meal’. By changing the way we view breakfast, we can lay the foundation to a lifestyle of which breakfast is an important component.

With child obesity on the rise, healthy breakfast is a simple, yet powerful solution. Breakfast is the first meal of the day. Let us stick to that.

It is common knowledge that people who live around the Mediterranean region tend to live longer and have less overweight related diseases than people in the developed countries except perhaps, Japan.

Not very long ago, the Mediterranean climate was thought to be the reason why people live longer and are healthier in the region. Now it has become rather clear that while the weather of the Mediterranean area may be pleasant and refreshing, it is the diet of the people in the Mediterranean that account for their longer lives. Read the rest of this entry »

Depression can have a number of triggers, including a reaction to a stressful time in a person’s life, medical conditions or even hereditary illness. Because there are many different types of depression that can be experienced by sufferers, there are also many different drugs that can be taken to suppress the depression.

Drugs, however, are not the only method for coping with depression. Read the rest of this entry »