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Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa (anorexia) is an eating disorder that manifests itself with both physical and psychological symptoms. The main symptom of anorexia is severe and often quick weight loss. A person with anorexia becomes obsessed with limiting their intake of food, almost to the point of starvation. An anorexic person is typically concerned with their social body image and is fearful of gaining weight. The outcome of anorexia is a serious malnutrition that may become irreversible or even lead to death.

There are several causes that seem to play into anorexia but no definitive one has been linked to causing anorexia by itself. Social and psychological pressures coupled with a physical response seem to trigger the disease. Biology and genetics may play a role in the development of anorexia if a family member has had the disease, though reasons for its link are unclear. Stressful events can also be a trigger that ultimately results in the development of anorexia.

Persons concerned with developing anorexia should seek medical attention if they begin to have severe or unusual weight related thoughts. People with anorexia tend to reduce the amount of food they ingest severely, especially unhealthy or fatty foods. Anorexia also usually leads to a serious weight loss, so much so that the body becomes excessively thin and abnormally shaped. A distorted body image happens when the person still loses weight but cannot see their body as anything but overweight.  People with anorexia also tend to over-exercise, and hide their eating habits and patterns from others, including friends and family.
A healthy diet is the most important thing that people can do to prevent development of disease or weight gain. In turn, a healthy diet does not have to be a restrictive one, nor does a healthy diet have to only consist of foods that aren’t tasty or a regular part of a person’s normal diet. Healthy diets most generally consist of a variety of foods, rather than a restriction against eating certain foods. Different types of foods provide the best chance for the body to achieve maximum nutritional intake.
 
A healthy diet should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. These foods all tend to be very high in fiber, vitamins, complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) and minerals. These types of foods are also usually low in fat and cholesterol free.  The secondary bulk of a healthy diet should be made up of low fat meats, including poultry and fish, and dairy products.

Exercise is an integral part of a healthy diet, but doesn’t need to be too strenuous to have beneficial effects. A healthy diet should always include a proper amount of food in conjunction with exercise or activity. A person should not eat more than their body needs to, in other words. The more exercise a person does, the more food their body needs.

A healthy diet should contain a low-fat intake, though fat can account for 30% of daily consumption. Fat tends to be highly concentrated in meat, especially red meats and poultry skin. Fat can also be found in many dairy products. Limiting both dairy and excessive meat input is a necessary part of a healthy diet. Other fatty foods to be avoided include oil, butter, mayonnaise, many salad dressings, and any fried food.  Saturated fat should be severely limited in healthy diets and is mainly found in animal products.

Limiting cholesterol input is also an important aspect of a healthy diet. Cholesterol is primarily found in animal products, dairy, and egg yolks.

The majority of food ingested in a healthy diet should be made of complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates provide slow acting sugar supplies to the blood.  Foods high in complex carbohydrates include whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, vegetables and fruits. Complex carbohydrates are a good exercise “fuel” and can also provide essential fiber to the digestive system.

Other important parts of a healthy diet include avoiding too much sugar, including green, orange, and yellow fruits & vegetables, limiting protein input, and having a variety of types of foods each day.

Vitamin supplements can be helpful in a healthy diet, especially those providing E and C vitamins. Sodium (salt) should be limited. Calcium, either in the form of foods or supplements is important in bone health and should be included in any healthy diet. 

Alcohol has been seen to be beneficial, but only in small amounts, one drink for women and two for men per day. Excessive alcohol intake can seriously damage the body.
The primary way to maintain a healthy diet is through variation and eating good tasting foods. The healthy diet is the most important and easiest way to look good, and live a long life.

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