Health
Eating Disorders
Overview
There is a commonly held misconception that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are actually serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
Anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia nervosa may see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight. People with anorexia nervosa typically weigh themselves repeatedly, severely restrict the amount of food they eat, often exercise excessively, and/or may force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder. While many people with this disorder die from complications associated with starvation.
Symptoms include:
- Extremely restricted eating
- Extreme thinness (emaciation)
- A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body image, a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape, or a denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Other symptoms may develop over time, including:
- Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
- Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dry and yellowish skin
- Growth of fine hair all over the body (lanugo)
- Severe constipation
- Low blood pressure slowed breathing and pulse
- Damage to the structure and function of the heart
- Brain damage
- Multiorgan failure
- Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time
- Lethargy, sluggishness, or feeling tired all the time
- Infertility
Bulimia nervosa
People with bulimia nervosa have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these episodes. This binge-eating is followed by behavior that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these behaviors. People with bulimia nervosa may be slightly underweight, normal weight, or over overweight.
Symptoms include:
- Chronically inflamed and sore throat
- Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area
- Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid
- Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems
- Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
- Severe dehydration from purging of fluids
- Electrolyte imbalance (too low or too high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium, and other minerals) which can lead to stroke or heart attack
Binge-eating disorder
People with binge-eating disorder lose control over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S.
Symptoms include:
- Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as a 2-hour period
- Eating even when you’re full or not hungry
- Eating fast during binge episodes
- Eating until you’re uncomfortably full
- Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
- Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating
- Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss
Risk Factors
Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, body weights, and genders. Eating disorders frequently appear during the teen years or young adulthood but may also develop during childhood or later in life. These disorders affect both genders, although rates among women are higher than among men. Like women who have eating disorders, men also have a distorted sense of body image.
Researchers are finding that eating disorders are caused by a complex interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Researchers are using the latest technology and science to better understand eating disorders.
One approach involves the study of human genes. Eating disorders run in families. Researchers are working to identify DNA variations that are linked to the increased risk of developing eating disorders.
Brain imaging studies are also providing a better understanding of eating disorders. For example, researchers have found differences in patterns of brain activity in women with eating disorders in comparison with healthy women. This kind of research can help guide the development of new means of diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
Treatments and Therapies
It is important to seek treatment early for eating disorders. People with eating disorders are at higher risk for suicide and medical complications. People with eating disorders can often have other mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety) or problems with substance use. Complete recovery is possible.
Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and may include one or more of the following:
- Individual, group, and/or family psychotherapy
- Medical care and monitoring
- Nutritional counseling
- Medications
Psychotherapies
Psychotherapies such as a family-based therapy called the Maudsley approach, where parents of adolescents with anorexia nervosa assume responsibility for feeding their child, appear to be very effective in helping people gain weight and improve eating habits and moods.
To reduce or eliminate binge-eating and purging behaviors, people may undergo cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is another type of psychotherapy that helps a person learn how to identify distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns and recognize and change inaccurate beliefs.
Medications
Evidence also suggests that medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers may also be helpful for treating eating disorders and other co-occurring illnesses such as anxiety or depression. Check the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website: (http://www.fda.gov/), for the latest information on warnings, patient medication guides, or newly approved medications.
Source: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Calories, Carbs, and Health Benefits of Orange Juice
Drinking orange juice is a very popular way to consume oranges and the drink is often served with breakfast. While it does contain naturally occurring sugar, the beverage is also high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Nutrition Facts
The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for 1 cup (8oz) of orange juice.1Included below are the approximate values of a cup of orange juice. Be aware that different brands will have slightly different amounts of each nutrient.
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 9.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 0.96g
- Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 2g
Carbs in Orange Juice
Most of the calories in orange juice come from carbohydrates. There is almost no fiber or starch in orange juice. This means that most of the carbs in orange juice are provided in the form of sugar.
Pure orange juice provides naturally-occurring sugar. That is sugar (fructose in this case) that occurs naturally in foods such as fruit. However, some brands of orange juice may add extra sugar. That sugar is called “added sugar” and health experts recommend that we watch our added sugar consumption. Also, pure fruit juice may offer additional health benefits, but more research needs to be done to determine exactly what these are.2
The glycemic index of orange juice (containing no added sugars) is estimated to be 50.3 Keep in mind that the glycemic index takes serving size into account. So if you drink more than a single serving (one cup) the GI will be higher.
Fats in Orange Juice
There is almost no fat in orange juice
Protein in Orange Juice
Orange juice is not a good source of protein, providing less than two grams per serving.
Micronutrients in Orange Juice
One serving of orange juice has all the vitamin C you need for a whole day. Orange juice is also high in potassium, and it’s a good source of folate and thiamine, two of the B-complex vitamins.
Health Benefits
The vitamin C found in orange is essential for healthy blood vessel walls and connective tissue that lies below your skin. It’s also essential for normal immune system function.4 Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that is thought to have health benefits by protecting your cells from free radical damage. More research is needed to determine all of the specific health-protective roles fruit juices may play in our bodies.2
Orange juice is also a good source of folate that’s necessary for red blood cell formation and to help prevent a birth defect called spina bifida. And it’s high in two important minerals, potassium, and iron. Potassium is essential for nerve and muscle function, and it works against sodium to maintain body fluid balance and blood pressure.
Keep in mind that you’ll gain many of the health benefits of orange juice if you simply consume an orange. By comparison, one average-sized orange has about 60 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fiber.5 But it also only has 70 milligrams of vitamin C. That’s still a substantial amount, but you’ll get more vitamin C with a glass of orange juice.
Eating oranges is an excellent way to get your daily dose of vitamin C and potassium, plus fiber. Although most oranges are consumed as juice at breakfast time, there are plenty of ways to get more fresh oranges into your day. For example, you can eat an orange out of your hand as an afternoon snack, or add orange sections to a salad served with a tangy citrus vinaigrette.
Common Questions About Orange Juice
Can orange juice prevent or cure a cold?
Probably not. While vitamin C is essential for immune system function, there isn’t any evidence that drinking orange juice will help prevent a cold nor will it make your cold go away any faster.4 It is important to stay hydrated when you’re not feeling well and drinking orange juice can help with that.
Can drinking orange juice prevent cancer?
It’s possible that some of the compounds in orange juice may help prevent cancer, but so far the only research has been done on lab animals so it’s not known if drinking orange juice will prevent or delay any types of cancer.6
Will drinking orange juice make a person gain weight?
As long as you keep your daily caloric intake where it needs to be so that you maintain or lose weight, drinking orange juice won’t cause you to gain weight. If you consume more calories than you burn every day, then you’ll gain weight no matter if the calories are from orange juice or something else. Keep serving sizes in mind and budget your calories appropriately.
Should I just eat an orange instead of drinking juice?
An orange has fewer calories and carbs than orange juice, and it has more fiber. But it doesn’t have as much vitamin C. As long as you get enough vitamin C from other sources such as strawberries, peppers, and other fruits and veggies, the whole fruit is probably the way to go.
Is freshly squeezed orange juice more nutritious than store-bought?
Yes, it is. Ounce for ounce, freshly squeezed orange juice can have about 50 percent more vitamin C and almost twice as much folate and thiamine.
Should I drink calcium-fortified orange juice? If you feel that you often fall short in your calcium intake from foods such as dairy products, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables, then drinking calcium-fortified orange juice can help you meet your calcium needs.7 Be sure to read the Nutrition Fact label on the product to see how much extra calcium you’ll get from each serving. Note that some brands also add vitamin D as well
Known for adding flavor, freshness, and acidity to drinks and foods, lemons are the most commonly used citrus fruits. Lemons are also used for garnish and flavoring desserts. They can be juiced, cut into wedges, or grated to make lemon zest.
This versatile fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C. They are naturally low in calories and carbohydrates and available all year long. Lemons are a perfect fruit to keep on hand for salad dressings, seafood recipes, flavoring water, and more.
Lemon Nutrition Facts
The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for one lemon (without rind) measuring approximately 2 1/8″ in diameter (58g).
- Calories: 17
- Fat: 0.2g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Carbohydrates: 5.4g
- Fiber: 1.6g
- Sugars: 1.5g
- Protein: 0.6g
Carbs
One whole lemon contains 17 calories and just over 5 grams of carbohydrate. The carbs are primarily fiber (1.6 grams) and sugar (1.5 grams). Note that the juice of a whole lemon provides only 0.14 grams of fiber, according to USDA data, but almost the same amount of sugar. The glycemic load of a whole lemon is estimated to be 1, making it a low-glycemic food.
Fats
There is a very small amount of fat in lemons, under 1 gram if you consume the whole fruit.
Protein
Lemons are not a good source of protein, providing less than 1 gram per fruit.
Vitamins and Minerals
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, providing over half (30.7mg) of your daily recommended intake. There are also very small amounts of thiamin, vitamin B6, and folate in lemon.
Lemons are not a good source of minerals, but they do contain small amounts of calcium, iron, and potassium.
Health Benefits
The health benefits of lemons are attributed primarily to the high level of vitamin C that the fruit provides.
Prevents Deficiency
Lemons have been used throughout history to manage vitamin C deficiency.
Improved Heart Health
Studies indicate that a higher intake of vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease and stroke. The National Institutes of Health states that the benefit is likely due to the antioxidant content of lemon which helps to prevent oxidative damage that can lead to cardiovascular disease.3
But authors of one large review were careful to put their findings into perspective. They concluded that while research suggests that vitamin C deficiency is associated with a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease and that vitamin C may slightly improve endothelial function and lipid profiles in some groups, studies do not provide enough support for the widespread use of vitamin C supplementation to reduce cardiovascular risk or mortality.4
Slower Age-Related Decline
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage caused by oxidative stress. There is ongoing research about the possible impact that antioxidants can have on the aging process. There is some evidence that they may help improve skin health or even help prevent certain types of diseases associated with aging. So far, however, study results have been mixed.5
Improved Eye Health
Additionally, researchers are investigating whether a higher intake of vitamin C can help treat or prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts—common causes of vision decline in older adults. So far, study results have been inconsistent but research is ongoing.3
Better Immune Function
Vitamin C has been shown to play an important role in immune function. And while some people take vitamin C supplements or use lemons to prevent or manage the treatment of the common cold, studies regarding its effectiveness have yielded mixed results.
A few large studies have shown that taking a vitamin C supplement of about 250 mg per day may help certain specific populations reduce the duration of the common colds, but other studies have shown no benefit in the general population.3Also, it is important to note that studies investigating the relationship between the common cold and vitamin C examine supplements, not lemons.
Cancer Prevention
Antioxidants, such as those in lemon, are being investigated for their potential impact on cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, increased levels of antioxidants may be able to prevent the types of free radical damage that have been associated with cancer development. Free radicals are chemicals that can cause cellular damage in the body. Exposure to certain environmental toxins (like cigarette smoke) may increase the free radicals in your body and even cause the body to make more free radicals.
But researchers still don’t know if antioxidants have the power to combat or prevent cancer. More research needs to be done investigating the impact of antioxidants from food versus antioxidant supplements. For now, there is not enough evidence to know for sure if there is any benefit.
Allergies
People with an allergy to citrus fruits should avoid lemon or products made with lemon or lemon zest. Citrus allergy is not common but can be problematic in some people. There are also reports of asthma as a reaction to inhalation of lemon or orange peel. If you suspect an allergy to lemon, seek care from a qualified allergy specialist.
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