Vitamins Are They A Help For Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are a frightening problem that hurt and even kill many of our population, especially the young. Most of us want to lose a few pounds at some time of our life and once they are gone we are satisfied. Some people, however, become obsessed with keeping weight off or losing more weight than is healthy. This can cause health damage that cannot be reversed such as thinning of the bones, infertility, injuries to internal organs and teeth, and death.

Two of the most common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. These two are not the only forms of eating disorders, just the two most common. Eating disorders are chronic and may need long-term treatment. It is important to identify eating disorders early so treatment can begin and the prospects for full recovery are better. Studies show that most patients who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25, but incidences of eating disorders in older men and women are growing more common.

There are several severe medical complications caused by eating disorders. For those who have anorexia nervosa may have breathing problems, slow pulse, and low blood pressure. Hair and nails may become brittle and break and the skin could become dry and develop a soft covering of hair. Anemia, swollen joints, and lightheadedness may be other symptoms of this eating disorder.

Bulimia can result in acid wearing down the outer layer of the teeth, and causing the body to vomit can lead to stomach rupture and heart failure. Vital vitamins and minerals are also lost when the body is subject to binging and purging regularly.

Nutritional supplements may be helpful in treating these dangerous disorders. Especially people who are restricting their food intake or purging their body after a meal need a vitamin supplement. Nutrient shortages include shortages of protein, iron, niacin, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and other essential fatty acids. Other nutrients that may be deficient are calcium, riboflavin, and folic acid.

Zinc supplements will help those patients that suffer from eating disorders to gain weight. Zinc levels in adolescent girls who were being treated for eating disorders were found to have half the required amount of zinc in their body. Zinc was also found to lessen depression and anxiety levels. If your doctor has instructed you to take extra zinc, you should also add supplements of copper. Zinc and copper levels go together. Niacin also improves mental health and improves appetite.

Serotonin is a hormone that helps to regulate food intake and appetite and is made in the brain from the amino acid. Some studies show that people who have eating disorders also may have low levels of serotonin.

Healthy dieting is important in losing weight. Eating balanced meals, exercising, and taking a multivitamin will improve your chance of losing the weight and keeping it off. An important fact to remember is that you will be more likely to keep the weight off if you take it off slowly. You also didn’t put the weight on overnight and you cannot expect to lose it overnight.