Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (92 page)

Emotional and psychological imbalances; common character traits of anorexics include obsessiveness, low self-esteem, perfectionism, approval seeking.

Trauma or abuse in early life.

Relationship problems.

The need to gain control. Feeling powerless can trigger the need to have control of some aspect of life; the food that enters the body is one thing that can be controlled.

Nutrient deficiencies (particularly zinc) and neurotransmitter imbalances.

Action plan

The aim is to restore a healthy attitude toward food with three regular meals a day and to restore the body to a state of health. Nutritional therapists can help to devise eating plans to aid weight gain and restore health. Don’t try to do it alone.

EAT/DRINK

Liquid algae and liquid zinc. You will have more of an appetite for food once you normalize zinc levels. Zinc supplementation can go a long way toward helping you to get well. So eat raw shelled hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and herring.

Nutrient-packed foods, including avocados, miso soup, watercress, bananas, brown rice, quinoa, nut butters, and hummus.

Smoothies with superfood powders or flax seeds thrown in.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Gentiana, from health-food stores, will help digestion and stimulate appetite and digestive juices.

A combination of ginseng and astragalus can aid recovery.

Burdock helps to stimulate appetite.

Zinc, magnesium, fish oils, B vitamins, probiotics, and digestive enzymes may all be useful.