Comments on: Could Protein Help With Eating Disorders? http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143 An Uplifting Journey to Recovery from Bulimia - with Tips and Coaching for Your Own Recovery. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Crystal http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-24705 Crystal Sat, 31 Mar 2007 11:23:25 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-24705 Hi Heather! Thank-you so much for your wisdom and encouragement!! I will definitely take the steps you have listed!! April 3 will be 10 months sober for me!!! Thanks again for your help!!! Crystal Hi Heather! Thank-you so much for your wisdom and encouragement!! I will definitely take the steps you have listed!! April 3 will be 10 months sober for me!!!
Thanks again for your help!!!
Crystal

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-24284 Heather Thu, 29 Mar 2007 20:54:54 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-24284 Hi Crystal, Thank you for writing. I can understand exactly what you are saying about emotional roller coasters -- and certainly at those times, how it can seem relieving to binge and purge. Of course, we both know it's a vicious cycle. Today, when I get really stressed and caught up in fear, along with lack of sleep, I sometimes feel that "bingey" feeling. What can help stop me now is knowing that the cycle is vicious -- and that I can get through what I'm feeling in the moment without it. I never used to be able to do that before. I DO think that a grounding, healing nutritional plan backed up with working on thoughts, beliefs and emotions can definitely help. I don't think it's simply about amino acids, although we do need the essential amino acids in order to get the tryptophan (an essential amino acid our body doesn't make but we get from food) that converts into serotonin (the feel good hormone we are often deficient in with eating disorders). But first, we have to DIGEST the protein to get those amino acids. There are many reasons why we might not digest protein and other nutrients for that matter. So if we correct digestion, it can create a grounding feeling that helps us feel balanced in mind, body and spirit. There is more and more evidence of the gut-brain interaction - if our gut/intestines/digestive system is out of whack, our minds often go out of whack with it. I can't say which happened first, but when dealt with together, it is often very effective. The Body Ecology diet helped me correct my digestion and get that "grounded" balanced feeling that has helped me make it through a lot of stressful times when I may have otherwise turned to binging and purging. So while yes, amino acids can help, they wouldn't on their own solve a problem of not digesting or absorbing nutrients. As a bulimic, I wanted to NOT digest -- never realizing that the key to being slim naturally was actually having healthy digestion. Ironic, huh? By the way, it is very common for alcoholism and bulimia to be experienced together. I congratulate you for becoming sober. That takes a lot of strength, so I acknowledge you for that. About 50% of recovering alcoholics turn to eating disorders. Donna Gates, author of the Body Ecology Diet says it's because we have the systemic fungal infection, candida (my medical tests showed I had it), which makes us feel driven toward sugar (alcohol has sugar). Sugar feeds the candida (pathogenic yeast in the digestive system). Candida keeps us from absorbing and making B vitamins, which most bulimics are low in...no matter how much B vitamin foods we eat (i.e., we aren't absorbing it). Crystal, I wish you all the best as you search for answers. I'd recommend trying EFT (see my entries on it) for emotions and the Body Ecology Diet to help heal your digestion. You only have to stick to it for 3 months...you may want to stick to it longer, but after 3 months the candida typically goes away and you feel much better. With love, Heather Hi Crystal, Thank you for writing. I can understand exactly what you are saying about emotional roller coasters — and certainly at those times, how it can seem relieving to binge and purge. Of course, we both know it’s a vicious cycle.

Today, when I get really stressed and caught up in fear, along with lack of sleep, I sometimes feel that “bingey” feeling. What can help stop me now is knowing that the cycle is vicious — and that I can get through what I’m feeling in the moment without it. I never used to be able to do that before.

I DO think that a grounding, healing nutritional plan backed up with working on thoughts, beliefs and emotions can definitely help. I don’t think it’s simply about amino acids, although we do need the essential amino acids in order to get the tryptophan (an essential amino acid our body doesn’t make but we get from food) that converts into serotonin (the feel good hormone we are often deficient in with eating disorders).

But first, we have to DIGEST the protein to get those amino acids. There are many reasons why we might not digest protein and other nutrients for that matter. So if we correct digestion, it can create a grounding feeling that helps us feel balanced in mind, body and spirit.

There is more and more evidence of the gut-brain interaction – if our gut/intestines/digestive system is out of whack, our minds often go out of whack with it. I can’t say which happened first, but when dealt with together, it is often very effective.

The Body Ecology diet helped me correct my digestion and get that “grounded” balanced feeling that has helped me make it through a lot of stressful times when I may have otherwise turned to binging and purging.

So while yes, amino acids can help, they wouldn’t on their own solve a problem of not digesting or absorbing nutrients. As a bulimic, I wanted to NOT digest — never realizing that the key to being slim naturally was actually having healthy digestion. Ironic, huh?

By the way, it is very common for alcoholism and bulimia to be experienced together. I congratulate you for becoming sober. That takes a lot of strength, so I acknowledge you for that. About 50% of recovering alcoholics turn to eating disorders.

Donna Gates, author of the Body Ecology Diet says it’s because we have the systemic fungal infection, candida (my medical tests showed I had it), which makes us feel driven toward sugar (alcohol has sugar). Sugar feeds the candida (pathogenic yeast in the digestive system). Candida keeps us from absorbing and making B vitamins, which most bulimics are low in…no matter how much B vitamin foods we eat (i.e., we aren’t absorbing it).

Crystal, I wish you all the best as you search for answers. I’d recommend trying EFT (see my entries on it) for emotions and the Body Ecology Diet to help heal your digestion. You only have to stick to it for 3 months…you may want to stick to it longer, but after 3 months the candida typically goes away and you feel much better.

With love,
Heather

]]> By: Crystal http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-23231 Crystal Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:51:50 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-23231 Like Theresa I have also been bulimic for 25 years and my mother was also bulimic for 30 years. I still struggle and my emotions are also on a roller coaster most of the time because of this. When I get upset or stressed I go on a binge and purge and I do get relief but then I feel guilty because I am afraid I will pay greatly for this and have problems down the road. I have seen doctors and tried numerous things. I am also an alcoholic and have been sober now for 9 mos. Do you think the amino acids would help balance me out? Like Theresa I have also been bulimic for 25 years and my mother was also bulimic for 30 years. I still struggle and my emotions are also on a roller coaster most of the time because of this. When I get upset or stressed I go on a binge and purge and I do get relief but then I feel guilty because I am afraid I will pay greatly for this and have problems down the road. I have seen doctors and tried numerous things. I am also an alcoholic and have been sober now for 9 mos. Do you think the amino acids would help balance me out?

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1270 Heather Thu, 28 Sep 2006 03:14:26 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1270 Hi Teresa, thank you for writing and sharing your story. I acknowledge you for being resilient on the road to recovery -- the fact that you continue to search for answers says a lot about your will and spirit. Perhaps you could let me know in which area you would most benefit from support? There are so many places to begin -- whether emotional, spiritual -- or physical, as this post discusses. You could either post here or e-mail me (contact me section of this blog). With love, Heather Hi Teresa, thank you for writing and sharing your story. I acknowledge you for being resilient on the road to recovery — the fact that you continue to search for answers says a lot about your will and spirit.

Perhaps you could let me know in which area you would most benefit from support? There are so many places to begin — whether emotional, spiritual — or physical, as this post discusses. You could either post here or e-mail me (contact me section of this blog).

With love,
Heather

]]> By: Theresa http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1255 Theresa Wed, 27 Sep 2006 06:27:11 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1255 Hi, I've been bulimic for for nearly 28 years. I went through an partial inpatient treatment program in Pittsburgh, PA for three months. I relapsed after completing the program . This behavior has been a part of my life for so long and is so ingrained in me, I don't know what to do to free myself. I've read numerous books and have tried unsuccessfully many times to stay on the road to recovery but I always detour. HELP ! Thanks for listening, Theresa Hi, I’ve been bulimic for for nearly 28 years. I went through an partial inpatient treatment program in Pittsburgh, PA for three months. I relapsed after completing the program . This behavior has been a part of my life for so long and is so ingrained in me, I don’t know what to do to free myself. I’ve read numerous books and have tried unsuccessfully many times to stay on the road to recovery but I always detour. HELP ! Thanks for listening, Theresa

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1219 Heather Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:56:46 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1219 Hi Em, Hooray -- look at that, you are already changing lives! I think you will be branching out with your healing services and helping people on a number of different levels and we -- the world -- are so lucky to have your talents! If you've walked this path for a reason, it may be to come full circle into your powers as a healer, with all the compassion and awareness -- and trust -- that you can do anything! With love, Heather Hi Em, Hooray — look at that, you are already changing lives! I think you will be branching out with your healing services and helping people on a number of different levels and we — the world — are so lucky to have your talents!

If you’ve walked this path for a reason, it may be to come full circle into your powers as a healer, with all the compassion and awareness — and trust — that you can do anything!

With love,
Heather

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1218 Heather Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:54:20 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1218 Hi Sarah, You're right, it is passed down from generation to generation. Actually, it can also start with the mother's pregnancy. A baby has no inner ecosystem (no friendly bacteria to help keep him or her germ free and digesting well) when born. So all kinds of things can happen if the mother doesn't have a healthy inner ecosystem and gives birth to her baby. It can really set the baby up for a lot of problems -- including colic, autism, eczema -- and possibly, a future eating disorder, Chron's or digestive illness. Thank heavens we know that a healing diet can help our bodies come back into balance. And the good news is -- we can realize we are not "crazy" -- there are reasons we get out of balance in mind, body or spirit -- and ways to get back! With love, Heather Hi Sarah, You’re right, it is passed down from generation to generation. Actually, it can also start with the mother’s pregnancy. A baby has no inner ecosystem (no friendly bacteria to help keep him or her germ free and digesting well) when born. So all kinds of things can happen if the mother doesn’t have a healthy inner ecosystem and gives birth to her baby. It can really set the baby up for a lot of problems — including colic, autism, eczema — and possibly, a future eating disorder, Chron’s or digestive illness.

Thank heavens we know that a healing diet can help our bodies come back into balance. And the good news is — we can realize we are not “crazy” — there are reasons we get out of balance in mind, body or spirit — and ways to get back!

With love,
Heather

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1217 Heather Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:50:49 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1217 Hi Karen, I think what you saw in OA is pretty typical. I heard a statistic that about 50% of alcoholics turn to food addictions upon recovery. Donna Gates thinks it's very much related. I've been reading this great book that says there's a big connection with the liver for eating disorders and alcoholism, so it makes a lot of sense. With love, Heather Hi Karen, I think what you saw in OA is pretty typical. I heard a statistic that about 50% of alcoholics turn to food addictions upon recovery. Donna Gates thinks it’s very much related. I’ve been reading this great book that says there’s a big connection with the liver for eating disorders and alcoholism, so it makes a lot of sense.

With love,
Heather

]]> By: Heather http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1216 Heather Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:48:29 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1216 Hi PTC and Em, I'm glad you liked this article. Funny thing is, protein is really hard to digest -- probably more so for people with ED. So how do we get our protein if we can't even digest it when we eat it? In fact, most Americans have trouble digesting protein as they get older. I've been taking HCl or using apple cider vinegar in order to digest my protein better and I think it's really helped. Even better, I think the sunny climate you are in Em, is really healing. Vitamin D from sunshine helps stop inflammation and helps make serotonin, which we all need to heal. I think that's why Saba has always felt so healing to me -- all that sun, everywhere. Also, I just learned that eating protein with grains or sugar has some really weird effects. If you mix protein and sugar or grains, it forms a consistency that is like glue. Slugs are made of protein and sugar -- so if you step on one, just try to get it off your shoe. So that adds another problem to protein digestion. I figure if we do nothing else, fixing digestion and proper food combining could really help with assimilation of the protein we need to heal. Love to you both! xo, Heather Hi PTC and Em, I’m glad you liked this article. Funny thing is, protein is really hard to digest — probably more so for people with ED. So how do we get our protein if we can’t even digest it when we eat it? In fact, most Americans have trouble digesting protein as they get older.

I’ve been taking HCl or using apple cider vinegar in order to digest my protein better and I think it’s really helped. Even better, I think the sunny climate you are in Em, is really healing. Vitamin D from sunshine helps stop inflammation and helps make serotonin, which we all need to heal. I think that’s why Saba has always felt so healing to me — all that sun, everywhere.

Also, I just learned that eating protein with grains or sugar has some really weird effects. If you mix protein and sugar or grains, it forms a consistency that is like glue. Slugs are made of protein and sugar — so if you step on one, just try to get it off your shoe. So that adds another problem to protein digestion.

I figure if we do nothing else, fixing digestion and proper food combining could really help with assimilation of the protein we need to heal.

Love to you both!

xo,
Heather

]]> By: Emily http://transcendbulimia.com/archives/143/comment-page-1#comment-1212 Emily Sun, 24 Sep 2006 17:29:00 +0000 http://transcendbulimia.com/?p=143#comment-1212 I only just now read Julia's article. I was so inspired by it that I wrote to Julia's center in Marin to find out about treatment and certification options! I would LOVE to learn more about her approach and be able to help others with this information! My goal in my practice is to focus on and help people with digestive and body image issues and help them to feel more balanced, centered, and at peace in their bodies (and minds). Interestingly, I seem to be attracting these kinds of people already. I had a client yesterday who struggles with emotional overeating, anxiety, and insomnia. I thought of you, Heather, as I realized I was doing a little bit of coaching with her, and how you'd told me I might want to incorporate coaching into my practice at one point. I think you were right. (By the way, she emailed me later in the day to tell me the treatment had left her feeling so much better!! Yay!!! :)) I am so excited about the things that are manifesting and unfolding for me in life at the moment! It is exhilarating! Once again, I want to thank you for all your support and encouragement! You have contributed more than you know to me being where I am right now! in gratitude, Emily I only just now read Julia’s article. I was so inspired by it that I wrote to Julia’s center in Marin to find out about treatment and certification options! I would LOVE to learn more about her approach and be able to help others with this information! My goal in my practice is to focus on and help people with digestive and body image issues and help them to feel more balanced, centered, and at peace in their bodies (and minds).

Interestingly, I seem to be attracting these kinds of people already. I had a client yesterday who struggles with emotional overeating, anxiety, and insomnia. I thought of you, Heather, as I realized I was doing a little bit of coaching with her, and how you’d told me I might want to incorporate coaching into my practice at one point. I think you were right.
(By the way, she emailed me later in the day to tell me the treatment had left her feeling so much better!! Yay!!! :) )

I am so excited about the things that are manifesting and unfolding for me in life at the moment! It is exhilarating! Once again, I want to thank you for all your support and encouragement! You have contributed more than you know to me being where I am right now!

in gratitude,

Emily

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