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Gastroenteritis is an upset of the stomach. Gastroenteritis causes nausea and vomiting. You may also have diarrhea or a fever. It is sometimes called”stomach flu” but it is not the flu. Germs like viruses and bacteria can cause it.

You can catch it from someone else who has it, or you can get it from food poisoning. Food poisoning can happen if you eat foods that contain harmful germs. germs can get into food while the food is growing, during processing, or when it sis prepared. you may also become ill after eating meat or eggs that weren’t cooked enough or by eating other unsafe foods or water.

You will probably begin to feel better in 1or 2 days, but you might feel bad for a week. In the meantime, get plenty of rest and make sure you do not become dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid. This can happen when you throw up a lot or have diarrhea.

How can you prevent from Gastroenteritis?
he best thing you can do to keep from catching Gastroenteritis from someone else is to make a habit of washing your hands often. This is especially important after you use the bathroom, after you change a baby’s diaper and before you eat or prepare food.

Don’t share personal items like forks and spoons, toothbrushes, tongue cleaner, and towels. Try not to be around others who have stomach flu. Keep your hands away from from nose, eyes, and mouth.

What should you do at home?

* Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water and other caffeine- free clear fluids until you feel better. If you have kidney, heart or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk to your doctor before you increase how much fluid you drink.

* Drink fluids slowly, in frequent, small amounts. Drinking too fast can cause vomiting.

* Electrolytes should also be replaced, especially if vomiting or diarrhea last longer than 24 hrs. Electrolytes are minerals in your blood that keep many systems in your body working smoothly. If you have long period and diarrhea, you can lose minerals. sports drinks, which contain a mix of salt, sugar and minerals may replace electrolytes.

I remember the first time I thought I was fat. It was in the second grade, my friend and I were standing in front of a full length mirror in my bedroom in our underwear comparing our body shape. Well actually it was mostly me pointing out how much bigger my butt and thighs were than hers. That marked the beginning of my struggles with eating disorders. Throughout elementary school I was always one of the bigger girls. I would never have classified myself as being fat, not now anyway. But then, I though I was. By the end of fifth grade I was five foot three with boobs and a full figure. I weighed in the triple digits and was freaking out. Most of the girls my age were barely 90 pounds and here I was just over 100! I started becoming depressed about my size, at that time I didn’t quite know what to do to lose weight, so some days when I particularly felt fat, I would just eat very little. I just didn’t want to be known as one of the fat girls.

In seventh and eighth grade I was very shy and ashamed of my figure. My normal outfit was a baggier shirt with baggy pants. Anything to make me look like I had a flat chest and a small butt, I would wear. I didn’t have the greatest of friends throughout that time period as well. They all had experienced something with the boys, and here I had never even held hands with one. I was pretty much the follower in the group and it took me till high school to realize that I was just there for there amusement, not as a friend. All I wanted was to fit in, be able to ‘strut my stuff’ in those tight halter tops and short shorts. But if I had worn an outfit like that, I would have felt that everyone would be looking at me in disgust, not in admiration.

Freshman year was a big step for me. I signed up for some hard classes like honors English and Spanish 3-4, and didn’t take a resource like every other freshman did. Also, times at home were going pretty bad. My older brother of 3 years was creating many fights with my parents and was sometimes violent towards me in the mornings, verbally and physically. Then he ran away right before Christmas. It was just so much. Plus, my father is an alcoholic and sometimes he would say inappropriate comments about my bubble butt, or my boobs, or how big my ass looks in a certain outfit. That’s when my self esteem started to plummet. I played volleyball and racquetball, so I figured not eating would be a simple solution to my being fat. However, after working out on an empty stomach, I would have the worst hunger pains. Eventually it just became an ongoing pattern, eat for a couple days, not eat for a couple days, repeat.

Sophomore year was pretty much the same as freshman year. However, I remember being a lot more depressed about my size and about comments my father said to me. Eventually, as kind of a rebellious act toward him, I started wearing fish net stockings, died my hair dark red and wore all black with dark make-up. Luckily though, my character didn’t change, but my eating habits were gradually getting worse.

The summer before junior year I really started to get serious about my eating habits. I would record how many calories a day I would eat to insure I didn’t get over a certain low amount. Plus it was really easy because I practically worked 40 hours a week, so I just wouldn’t eat anything throughout my shifts.

Junior year was when I started dating. I wanted to be the hottest girlfriend. So an hour and a half before school started my friend and I would run a couple miles while doing lots of stairs, crunches and push-ups. Then we would go to school where I would eat approximately 16 grapes between first and second period. After school I would either go to work or racquetball practice, and would go home to bed. I was so obsessed. I wanted to like what I saw in the mirror, little did I know, that would never happen. Finally there came a point where my ribs constantly hurt and I just had to eat for energy. When that time came, I would eat like half-a-sandwich, and then purge afterward. I figured it was like tricking my body into feeling full, but then getting rid of the substance right after.

One of the worst times I remember was the summer between junior and senior year. I had to get up to go downtown to meet a bunch of architects to help with my senior project. When I got up, well, lets just say my legs were so week I could barely stand. I had to get ready though, so I started walking slowly and realized I couldn’t clear my eyes. It was like there was a fog in my eyes that wouldn’t go away. While I walked down the hall, I kept running into the wall, I knew I was shaky, but also dizzy? I was so confused with what was going on with my body. Deep inside I was scared that something was going really wrong with my body, but I didn’t want to accept that, I didn’t want to stop what I was doing. So I ignored the signs, got ready, and left feeling like a zombie.

I knew I was addicted; I have a very obsessive compulsive personality. Plus considering my father is an alcoholic and his father was an alcoholic, that addictive gene has been passed to me. However, instead of becoming obsessed with alcohol, I’d become obsessed with my body. By this time my addiction had taken over me. It was as if I had created a monster that had me on the leash. I couldn’t stop it, I just had to accept it. I didn’t really know what was worse, the thoughts in my head when I didn’t do it, or my body’s reaction when I did. I was stuck in a very sticky situation. So I chose the easier rout: to just listen to my head and keep up with the not eating purging.

By the beginning of senior year, my ribs constantly hurt from all the exercising and lack of food. I was always so cold, even on a 90 degree day. I had two permanent bruises on my bony back from doing so many crunches every day. Yet I still wasn’t satisfied with my body. I had so many mood swings as well, that I’m really surprised my boyfriend at the time, is still with me today.

Halfway threw the year, my mother walked in on me while I was in the act. I tried to lie and say, “I just don’t feel very good.” But I knew from the look in her eye that she noticed that after every meal I would excuse myself to go to the bathroom, I knew that she noticed the bruises on my body even though there was no reason for them, I knew that she noticed my mood swings and my body weight fluctuating. I started crying, ashamed of what I’ve been doing to myself, scared that now I’m going to have to fight the beast and accept who I am no matter what the scale said. I couldn’t have asked my mom to be any better about the situation. She sat me down to talk about it and said stuff like, “This isn’t you, this is a disorder; a sickness,” and, “we’ll get through this together.” She was there for me through it all and I’m now so thankful that she caught me.

Two years later, I’m now 20 years old and can officially say that I’m passed my eating disorders. I’m at a healthy thin weight and I regularly work out to stay healthy physically and mentally. I do have my moments where I look in the mirror in disgust, but I’m not about to slowly kill myself to be skinny. I want to have children and I want to have a healthy heart to live long enough to see all that I long to see; the world. I can’t put my family through it again. At the moment I live with the love of my life and, though I may not be as perfect physically as I would like to be, I love my life and I’m happy. Remembering how depressed and emotional I was during my illness turns me away from going back.

Bulimia is an eating disorder that is increasingly common. There are many causes of bulimia. One of which is the vast influence of the media. The media has been blamed for its constant portrayal of body images that are unrealistic and difficult to attain. Its definition of what is beautiful has a significant impact on the imagery formed in the minds of young teenagers and even adults.

If you have a bulimia eating disorder, you suffer both in the mind and the body. You have a poor self image, and feel depressed. You may also feel isolated as you seek to keep your condition a secret from your friends and loved ones. Physically, a bulimia eating disorder can cause much harm to your body and including, death.

As a bulimic, you have two options in terms of dealing with your condition. You can either seek help or allowing the disorder to waste your body away. You may like to know that the statistical chance of success when you seek for help appears good with counseling and therapy. Studies show that eighty percent of all sufferers get successfully treated for their disorder. Unfortunately, many relapse, and hence, it is important that you learn about how to prevent a bulimia relapse.

Firstly, you should avoid the situation of becoming too hungry. While you should not be eating all the time, if you restrict yourself heavily, you may be all the more likely to binge eat. Studies have shown that when someone is undergoing a serious diet, they are much more likely to binge eat.

Next, binge eating on certain foods such as high cholesterol foods, can be extremely harmful. So you should refrain from eating them as much. Also, it is best not to make these foods as taboo. When you do so, you may find more and more drawn to it. And when you cannot resist the temptation anymore, you binge eat on it. Instead, you should try to cut down the portion size of the food that you are lusting for as a first step.

It is obvious that you should avoid going to places where you tend to eat by the mouthful. These may include buffets or fast food restaurants where you have a habit of upsizing your meals. Being in this environment can easily make you want to pig out.

If you find the urge to binge and purge overwhelming, try restraining yourself for thirty minutes. Then, during this time, use some positive visualization techniques. You can imagine how and what you would feel if you overcome bingeing. Imagine the happiness and the health that you will enjoy when you no longer have a bulimia eating disorder. Associate yourself with the feelings and emotions of joy so much so that when your mind gets back to your current situation, you would have lost interest in your meal.

Finally, have fun. Try to do at least one thing per day that lifts your mood. It cannot be denied that a bulimia eating disorder is a difficult problem to overcome. The mental strain that it places upon you can be difficult to deal with. Should you find it hard to overcome bulimia on your own and you suspect that a relapse is imminent, speak to a physician or a counselor immediately. Getting the support that you need can make all the difference between healthy habits and relapsing into a bulimia eating disorder once again.

Bulimia, also referred to as hyperphagia, is characterized by unnatural constant hunger or abnormally voracious appetite. Excessive eating is followed by self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.

The vicious cycle of bingeing and purging may begin in adolescence and haunt its victim through endless years of hiding and sneaking. Even ones best friend or husband may not be aware of this miserable condition. Eating disorders are one of the fastest growing behavioral syndromes in the United States, affecting rich and poor alike. Our culture aggravates this condition by placing before us abnormally thin models and movie stars to emulate. The problem is that most people ARE normal and NOT excessively thin. When we try to change our normal selves, our mind-body connection gets twisted and appetite and thinking processes are no longer natural.

To maintain the unnatural physical condition of young models, desperate women resort to inducing vomiting or excessive exercise after twisted eating patterns induce a binge. The frequency of this behavior varies from person to person, it may happen once a week or on a daily basis. Years of self-induced vomiting results in the entire digestive tract being warped. Teeth are stripped of enamel by strong digestive juices, esophagus damage occurs from repeated acid baths, the stomach no longer produces the proper acids and enzymes to begin the digestion process, the intestines no longer glean nutrients from food and waste products are not properly eliminated. This becomes a serious health issue when a person’s diet is reduced to bananas and crackers because nothing else will digest.

“When my husband leaves, I clear the cupboards,” laments a young woman. She eats everything in sight and then goes grocery shopping to replace what she has consumed. But, she also forces two fingers down her throat to expel the contents of her stomach because she wants to maintain that catalog model figure. She is miserable and wants to quit, but can’t. Her thoughts about food are not like those of an ordinary person. Foods fall into two categories, forbidden because they have too many calories or not satisfying. Hunger and desperation soon drive the mind to an eating binge where all the forbidden foods are feasted upon and then guilt finishes the cycle with a purge and emotional defeat.

The woman who exercises endlessly to compensate for eating is just as unhappy as the one who purges. She rises up early in the morning to spend two or more hours with her exercise programs and fitness equipment and maybe some more during the day if time permits. Physically and mentally she is drained by lack of sleep and physical activity that does not produce psychological satisfaction. She faces the day already exhausted and starved, primed for overeating and the imminent exercise blowout.

The desire for a certain amount of fatty or greasy foods is perfectly normal and healthy. The ordinary person wants and needs these foods. They provide energy and cause the appetite to be satisfied for longer periods of time. Moderation, of course is also a necessary component of a proper diet. A small dish of ice cream may be just what the body needs to turn off that hunger sensation and turn on the pleasure signals.

Advertising, by large companies with a substantial monetary investment in new products, has convinced many Americans that any food with even the most negligible amount of fat in it is bad. We give up taste for less calories along with artificial and unhealthy ingredients, because the advertisers told us to, not because it is true. Again, the culture that surrounds us is leading us in the wrong direction for a healthy lifestyle.

There are many clinics where help is offered for those affected by eating disorders, but they can be costly and many women do not want to make their problem known. They would prefer to cure it with the same secrecy they are suffering in. Support groups may help, but again that means bringing the skeletons out of the closet. Sometimes this is just too hard to do.

Many such women are finding help with natural products that affect the way the brain functions. One such compound is phenylethylamine, a molecule found in the cocoa bean and other natural sources. Abbreviated as PEA, Phenylethylamine is naturally present in the brain as one of a number of neurotransmitters necessary for proper brain function. As some people may be deficient in this transmitter, adding PEA to the diet in sufficient amounts can bring about desired changes in behavior and promote a feeling of well being that replaces mild depression symptoms.

If you’re super busy, your hectic life may lead to being overweight.

How is a busy lifestyle connected with emotional eating and overeating?

There are lots of ways. First, we become nervous that eating healthy will require time (more time than we have). We react to this by not even trying, by going out to eat, and by grabbing food on the run. I know that I end up eating more carbs (think, frozen pizza) when I’m crazy busy.

Second, when we’re rushed we don’t pay full attention to what we’re eating. This is why people who eat on the go or while doing work or watching TV tend to eat more.

Did you know that normal weight people underestimate what they eat by 30%? And people who are overweight underestimate their calorie intake by 60%! One reason for this is that we don’t pay attention to what we eat and then we don’t realize how much we eat.

Finally, an extremely busy lifestyle can lead to more intense emotions which can lead to emotional eating. When we’re super busy we often sacrifice sleep—and lack of sleep is a major cause of emotional instability. When we’re exhausted, we experience emotions more intensely and they often spike up quickly. We also act more impulsively without thinking decisions through.

And we’re less likely to exercise (since we’re so busy and tired) and exercise helps to stabilize mood and therefore reduce emotional eating.

So What Do We Do About All This?
You’re probably thinking that your life will not be any less busy any time soon. This is okay, but you’ll have to make some minor changes. First, recognize that if you plan and shop well, it won’t take longer to eat healthy food.

You can always prepare food for several days and freeze it and buy healthy organic frozen meals. Get prepackaged little bags of nuts and dried fruit (or make your own). Stock up on low-fat string cheese and other snacks you can grab and go.

Second, when you’re eating, eat mindfully. To begin mindful eating, take 5-10 minutes and pay attention to your food. Realize how much you’re eating. Eat slowly and savor it so a little goes a long way. The other day I ate a Take 5 bar (leftover from Halloween) while I was working on a book. After finishing it, I realized I hadn’t even enjoyed it because I was focused on what I was writing. Don’t make this mistake- pay attention to your food.

Eating disorders are not just about food and weight. Often, eating disorders will result from a series of long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. People who have an eating disorder will use food as a way of being able to feel as though they have control on their daily lives. For many, the pain of a past or current event is too overwhelming to cope with and so an eating disorder can be a way of coping with the situation by feeling “in control”. However, this disease will, in fact, damage a person’s physical and emotional health, self-esteem, and sense of competence and control.

There are numerous psychological factors that can contribute to an eating disorder. Some of these include feeling inadequate, depression, anxiety, anger and loneliness. All of these factors result in the person not feeling in control of their life.

From a personal and relationship standpoint, individuals may have difficulty expressing feelings and emotions, may have been bullied and teased and may have a history of physical or sexual abuse.

From a societal perspective it is important to note the impact that the media plays in influencing young people in regard to body shape and look. This pressure that teens feel to fit in with the right “look” can have a dramatic effect, resulting in an obsessive approach to appearance, weight, dieting, calories and so on.

The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Scientists are currently examining a link between possible biochemical and biological causes of eating disorders. It has been found that in some individuals with eating disorders, the chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite and digestion have become imbalanced.

Eating disorders can become a destructive disease if not treated so if you suspect that a loved one is displaying any characteristics related to an eating disorder, seek professional help straight away. Research has shown that when dealt with early with intense treatment, eating disorders can be overcome. If left untreated, they can be fatal.

Eating disorders can be dangerous and eventually lead to poor health. They result in a drop in the person’s confidence and performance levels and this further leads to depression. There are three major eating disorders — Anorexia, Bulimia, and Overeating. Even though the latter is not often viewed as an eating disorder, it can lead to irregular blood pressure and heart diseases.

A recent study has unveiled that a large section of society harbors body image problems, especially children. These disorders have been observed in girls and boys alike. It is essential for parents to constantly be on the lookout for signs of common eating disorders in their children.

An eating disorder is a psychiatric problem. Many experts believe that obesity is the result of an eating disorder. There are a number of ways in which eating disorders can be treated. They are successful in correcting the condition and help the patient to adopt a well-balanced diet.

A consultative approach is advisable to those people who are suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia and Overeating. They can participate in therapy programs. Most patients willingly cooperate and educate themselves through the psycho-educational programs. These programs give them information on their condition and offer corrective measures that are very effective and ensure quick results.

Dealing with an eating disorder may not be easy. But it is very important for the person and the family members to be aware of the disorder and adopt the required corrective approach as soon as possible. People living with individuals who are suffering from eating disorders are of major help. It is important for these family members to be supportive and monitor the patient’s diet regularly. They should be on a constant lookout for any possible problems, before the patients have a chance to spiral out of control.

Eating Disorders provides detailed information on Eating Disorders, Eatin

Psychologists qualify an eating disorder as something of a mental illness that affects a person’s eating habits in such a way that drastically disturbs the physical health of that person. An in-depth analysis by psychologists and psychiatrists list the types of eating disorders as Anorexia Nervosa, Beriberi, Bulimia Nervosa, Hyperphagia, Kleine-Levin Syndrome, Rumination, Binge Eating Disorder, Orthorexia, and Pica. Among these, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa rank as the most common eating disorder.

When a person is affected by eating disorders, normal consumption of food is obstructed. When this becomes the case, grave health problems occur. Individuals who are afflicted with eating disorders go through severe psychological suffering. Food, diet, and body image become their primary obsessions. They may not take it seriously, but their obsession risks their health to a much greater extent.

Cases of eating disorders are not to be taken for granted. Professional help is always available. There are also numerous self-help books to consult. Eating disorder treatment methods are categorized into three groups: diet regulation, medications and psychotherapy ranging from individual to family therapy. The treatment will not cause an abrupt change, as the problem may have been deeply rooted. What matters is the concerned individual’s willingness to be cured.

It is necessary to analyze your own eating habits. More so, it proves essential to find out if your friends and family members are engaged into some sort of eating disorders. They need help. They have to be treated or else these disorders will lead to more complicated physical conditions and possibly death.

Eating disorders are caused by abnormal eating patterns. These could be overeating or inadequate food intake. Many people tend to eat more food to suppress extreme emotions and depression. They use the snacks and food indulged in as escape routes to deal with emotional stress or bad relationships. Some common eating disorders are anorexia, compulsive eating, binge eating and bulimia. These eating disorders are curable if they are detected in time and medical advice is followed. It is also possible to have multiple eating disorders. People who suffer from eating disorders become very weak emotionally. They use food as a medium to relieve themselves. Emotional support is the most essential requirement to treat these individuals.

Self-esteem problems are at the core of many eating disorders. They also play a role in other conditions, such as depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, self-injury and suicide. Depression may precede eating disorders and contribute to their onset. It has also been observed that living with the eating disorder leads to depression.

Depressive disorders are known to affect the way an individual eats, sleeps and feels about himself and others. Without treatment, the symptoms may last for weeks, months or even an entire lifetime. Proper and timely treatment can help to eradicate the cause for depression. Depressive illness often interferes with usual functioning and causes pain and distress.

Psychotherapy, medication or a combination of both is helpful. Psychotherapy involves talking about specific feelings with a qualified professional equipped to help individuals to alter relationships and thoughts.

Medication that treats severe and disabling depression is available. At times, several medicines are tried out before the doctor finds the one that works best. A regular and monitored well-balanced diet is the safest way to battle these disorders and in the bargain deal with depression effectively.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia, binge-eating, and bulimia, are characterized by an individual displaying extreme behaviors and attitudes about their weight and food issues.

Many feel that eating disorders are common in young girls who have developed these issues through their pubescent years. This, however, is incorrect thinking.

The fact is eating disorders do not discriminate and can be developed by both males and females, as well as those of all ages and races. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 5-15% of individuals that have been diagnosed with an eating disorder and approximately 35% of those diagnosed with binge-eating disorder are male.

While it may be considered more common for females to be diagnosed with eating disorders, males of all ages are being diagnosed, as well. According to research, the two main risk factors for males is their exercise status and their sexual orientation. The media plays a large part on how males, as well as females, think of their own bodies.

Eating disorders do not discriminate on the basis of age, either. While eating disorders seem to be more common in young females, the fact is eating disorders can affect those in their elderly years, as well. More treatment centers are beginning to see women in the fifties and beyond and the unfortunate issue with eating disorders in the elderly is they become more deadly.

Ten years ago a study done by the University of British Columbia concluded that 78 percent of deaths related to anorexia nervosa were that of older people. These eating orders also do not discriminate against race, either.

Many may feel that eating disorders are more common in young, white females. Eating disorders, however, affect people of all races. Research shows that women and men of all races are susceptible to eating disorders and in some countries, such as Argentina, the amount of individuals with eating disorders are three times greater than the United States.

The main stigma attached to eating disorders is that they mostly affect upper or middle class white women. The fact is eating disorders can affect any one and they do not discriminate.

Anybody can develop these mental illnesses. Eating disorders affect those from all socioeconomic groups, as well as all ethnic and cultural groups. Unfortunately, eating disorders are often misdiagnosed, are greatly misunderstood by society, and are becoming a problem for many all over the world.