>It's not about food Often with bulimia, we get caught in thinking that food is the problem; we think that if cookies, chips, and other junky "binge" foods didn't exist, we wouldn't have a problem. But, food is merely a silk-screen and recognizing that is key to healing. Food restriction may lead you to binging behaviors, but bulimia is also a means to avoid or purge ourselves of uncomfortable emotions. Developing awareness and mindfulness of your emotional state, and establishing normal eating habits are important to finding freedom from bulimia.

Find lightness

Purging may be an attempt to establish lightness and purity in the body after a heavy binge; it relieves the sense of heaviness that often follows overeating. At the core, this is a natural impulse to re-establish balance in the body. Vomiting is actually an important way to cleanse in Ayurveda, but only once or twice a year under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

In bulimia, vomiting is no longer therapeutic, but obsessive. Developing other ways to find lightness can be helpful. Sipping some fennel, coriander, and cumin tea helps creates a sense of lightness and relief in the body. Exercise such as walking and following a kapha-pacifying dietary regime can also prove helpful strategies in our search for a lighter, more balanced feeling in response to heaviness.

Learn to Appreciate your Body

Our bodies are absolutely incredible; they are our vehicle in the world and the lodge of our soul. Often times, when caught in the cycle of binging and purging cycle, we see the body and its needs as the enemies. Ayurveda helps reestablish our connection and appreciation of our bodies.

Bulimia may also be an attempt to resolve inner conflict by mental control. Binging serves to numb the body and is often accompanied by an intense feeling of self-loathing, while purging inspires a fleeting sense of relief.

Shame and guilt often accompany both sides of this highly addictive binge/purge cycle, but it is important to know that you are not alone and Ayurveda can help you break free. Yet, overcoming the psychological factors associated with bulimia may require the help of a qualified clinician or support group, and involves making peace with your emotions, your body, and food.

Eat Breakfast

One of the first steps to healing the physical trauma caused by bulimia is to eat breakfast. Bulimics tend to restrict food during the day which triggers binging at night. Then, feeling guilty for bingeing the night before, they skip breakfast the next day and the cycle continues. Eating first thing in the morning breaks the restrict/binge cycle and reassures the body that it will receive daytime nourishment and does not need to frantically binge at night. Establishing patterns of consistent, daytime feeding helps reaffirm your body's ability to trust itself and minimizes some of the biological components that fuel bingeing.

Long Term Effects

Bulimia ultimately compromises digestive function. Stomach acids may erode, literally auto-digest, the esophagus and teeth. Generally, restoring digestion may involve restoring fluids and electrolyte imbalance, and easy to digest, nourishing foods. Professional assistance may be necessary.

Disclaimer: 'Bulimia, past or current' could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor.

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COMPUTE MY DIET FOR BULIMIA, PAST OR CURRENT
OR, GET A GENERAL DIET FOR BALANCING BULIMIA, PAST OR CURRENT

Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Bulimia, past or current'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine. Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

DIET TIPS

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics (gunas). Biocharacteristics are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Bulimia, past or current', you should select foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Digestion:

Antiemetic

ANTIEMETIC

Herbs that reduce nausea or stop vomiting. Generally refreshing, aromatic herbs.

SEE ALL 'ANTIEMETIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Sialogogue

SIALOGOGUE

A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.

SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

SEE ALL 'REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:

Ojas

OJAS

Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.

SEE ALL 'OJAS' FOODS / HERBS

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4

BULIMIA, PAST OR CURRENT IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #4 - TISSUE DISEASE

If you have symptoms in this category it means your imbalances have overwhelmed your body's resistance causing a full-fledged disease. Once imbalance reaches this stage it is more likely to cause acute or chronic conditions. You might be tempted to focus your attention on fighting symptoms in this category, but dismiss earlier warning signs of imbalance - i.e. symptoms in the stage 1 category. It is ideal to find and address the root causes weakening your system and remove them first. This ensures you are not adding fuel to the fire of disease. Once the root causes are removed, you can work on addressing the disease head on along with strengthening your body. This typically yields a quicker recovery and prevents recurrence. Ayurveda's preventative approach suggests you pay careful attention to every stage of disease development. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Ayurveda, one or more of the following doshas and biocharacteristics may aggravate 'Bulimia, past or current'. If you have an excess of one of these doshas or biocharacteristics below, Ayurveda recommends reducing foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate them. Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Bulimia, past or current'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Diet by taking the free diet quiz:

TAKE THE DIET QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Bulimia, past or current'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Bulimia, past or current were less aggravated than 64% of other symptoms. From the 3,506 people who reported Bulimia, past or current average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Bulimia, past or current

Complications of Those Reporting Bulimia, past or current

5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
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