Types of Eating Disorders

There are many types of eating disorders, many of which don't have anything to do with dieting or weight loss. While several eating disorders are disorders that evolve from a fear of gaining weight, there are eating disorders that are caused by a fear of eating unhealthy food and disorders that have nothing to do with psychological issues. One eating disorder has been linked to a nutritional deficiency.

Function
One of the best-known eating disorders is anorexia nervosa. This illness is a psychological disorder that causes a severe fear of being overweight. The sufferer will limit their food intake more and more until they are eating little or nothing in a quest to become thinner and to avoid weight gain. The disorder is often considered a young woman's disease, but 10 percent of its sufferers are male. In the most severe cases, the sufferer will starve to death or die from heart failure due to poor nutrition.

Significance
Bulimia nervosa is an illness that can result into similar fears of gaining weight and being fat. Instead of restricting calories, the bulimic seeks to purge the calories from their body. This can be done by throwing up in order to remove the food from the system. It can also be done by the use of diuretics and laxatives to try to take the calories from the body before they have been absorbed. Some bulimics exercise obsessively to try to rid themselves of the calories. Many bulimics combine two or more of these techniques.

Types
Orthorexia nervosa is a different type of eating disorder that is often not rooted in a fear of gaining weight. It can come from a fear of being unhealthy or becoming sick. Sometimes, it arises in someone who is already sick and trying to become well. Orthorexia can cause nutritional deficiencies when sufferers try to eat diets that are limited in variety. Choosing a few healthy items and eating little else can result in nutritional deficiencies and too few calories being eaten.

Features
Pica is a different type of disorder that has been linked to iron deficiency. The disorder leads sufferers to eat items that are non-nutritional. This can be anything from rocks and plaster to chalk or paper. Some sufferers of pica crave raw potatoes and ice. Others crave laundry starch. In rare cases, eating dangerous items such as glass or nails has been discovered. Anemia has been linked to the disorder but few formal studies have been conducted.

Misconceptions
What is eaten isn't the only indicator of an eating disorder. What time a person eats most of their food can also be an issue. Night eating disorder consists of eating most of a person's calories at night. This can result in higher weight, depression and feelings of guilt for the sufferer. It has been linked to depression and other mood disorders.

Three Yoga Poses to Keep You Healthy

A regular yoga practice can be key to staying healthy. A consistent yoga practice can aid in digestion, help release and remove toxins, build strength, release tension and even improve blood circulation and circulation of the lymph fluids. With a wide variety of yoga styles and poses to chose from, there are a few that will help you get the most out of your yoga practice.

Downward Dog
Downward Dog keeps you healthy by toning the entire body, while releasing tension through the neck, spine and back of the legs. Come onto your hands and knees on a yoga mat. Tuck your toes as you straighten your legs and lift your sit bones towards the ceiling, making the shape of an upside down "V." Push into your hands, lift your hips and press down through your heels. This activates the arms, legs and core and lengthens through the back of the legs and neck. Hold for 10 breaths before lowering back down.

Seated Twist
In yoga, twists are not only great for releasing tension around the spine and hips and toning the core, but also for cleansing the organs. It is believed that the twisting motion rings out the organs, much like wringing out a dish towel when it's wet, to remove toxins and stimulate digestion. Sit with your legs extended and together. Cross your right leg over your left and draw your right knee towards your chest. Lengthen your spine and twist to the right. Hold for 5 breaths and switch sides to repeat.

Legs Up the Wall
The lymph fluid in the body does not move on its own like blood does. It relies on stimulating the lymph nodes through exercise to push the fluid through. Due to its immobile nature, much of the fluid gets built up in the legs and ankles and can cause swelling. Lifting your legs up and placing them against the wall can help release this build up and promote better circulation. Sit next to a wall on your mat. Swing your legs up onto the wall and lie back as you scoot your bottom forward until it is right up against the wall, with you hips in almost in a 90-degree angle. You can place blankets or pillows under your lower back if you need to. Hold for 2 to 5 minutes before lowering.

Savasana
After any yoga practice, or even just on its own, it's important to let all of the systems re-integrate and to let the body rest. Savasana, or corpse pose, is the final pose in a yoga practice. It is designed to relax your mind and body and allow the health benefits of your practice to sink in. You simple lie on your back with your legs open and your arms by your side, palms facing up. Close your eyes and stay here, motionless, for at least 5 minutes.

10 Symptoms of Stress

Stress is a serious problem for many people. It contributes to a number of life-threatening illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer, and accounts for 75 to 90 percent of all medical and psychological doctor visits, according to Robert Simon Siegel, MS, CEO and founder of Global Optimal Health Group. Find out if your symptoms could be stress related.

Tension
Stress can shows up as physical symptoms such as tension in the muscles of the head, neck, shoulders and other areas. Stress activates the "fight or flight" mechanism, causing the muscles to contract in anticipation of the need to flee. Massages and baths can help relieve muscular tension.

Anxiety
Anxiety releases the hormone adrenaline, which super-charges the body for action. Anxiety can make you feel jittery or give you a buzzing feeling or "butterflies" in the stomach. It can also be much more intense, like a feeling of being smothered, in the case of an anxiety attack. Anxiety can be relieved by relaxation techniques and, in some cases, anti-anxiety medication.

Irritability
Irritability can occur when the adrenaline rush of stress is over. An irritable person is easily angered and lashes out unpredictably. Irritability can cause mood swings from hyperactive to morose.

Headache
The muscular tension, release of adrenaline and subsequent barrage of chemicals can affect the blood vessels in the brain. Doctors believe changes in brain chemicals are to blame for most tension headaches.

Insomnia
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Stress can cause the mind to race, hampering its ability to relax and allow the sleep center to take over. Secondary insomnia is the term used to describe sleep problems that occur due to a primary reason such as a medical condition, mental health issue or stress.

Inability To Concentrate
Mental problems are a major symptom of stress. With all the racing thoughts, raging chemicals and physiological changes, it may be hard to concentrate on tasks or remember details.

Digestive Issues
Stress and anxiety can often cause digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. Digestive problems are often the first sign of stress in young children.

Fatigue
Feeling tired, weary, exhausted or even depressed can indicate undue stress. Adrenal exhaustion is often associated with high levels of stress. Prolonged bouts of stress can result in an imbalance of the normal interactions of the body's systems and produce fatigue.

Chest Pain
Unexplained chest pain can be frightening. Stress chest pains can mimic the pain of a heart attack, sending many people to the emergency room. When tests turn up nothing abnormal, the pain is usually attributed to stress, although many times the specific causes are unknown.

Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, such as binging and anorexia, can also indicate a high level of stress. Eating too much or too little are ways some people use to help them feel in control of their circumstances. However, eating disorders, like stress, can become life-threatening if not addressed.

Negative Effects of Holding Your Breath

Holding your breath is unhealthy, but there are various, seemingly helpful activities in which you may may end up holding your breath. People tend to swim during the summer, and swimming is great cardiovascular exercise. Yet, being under water requires you to hold your breath. Also, some people are gun hobbyists. There are shooting techniques and trainings that require you to hold your breath for momentary aim stabilization. Even some yoga techniques require you to hold your breath. Holding your breath can adversely effect your body.

Deprivation
Holding your breath deprives your body its natural exchange of necessary elements. It does not allow for oxygen to enter nor carbon dioxide to exit your body. Nitric oxide is also prevented from entering the body when holding your breath. Nitric oxide has an important role in the immune system such as fighting different disease-causing infections. Also, it is a message transmitter among your nerve cells, allowing you to react properly to any stimuli. Holding your breath disturbs your natural biochemistry. Instead of being more alkaline, the body becomes more acidic and more prone to disease.

Temperamental Behavior in Children
A study in the "Indian Journal of Psychiatry" shows that children who hold their breath have behavioral complications. Their tolerance levels or become low, thus they act out or release emotion the best they see fit. Holding your breath can induce excessive crying. Emotional reactions pertain to the way you breathe. Children are easily influenced and easily frustrated. The same case study in the "Indian Journal of Psychiatry" showed that 56 percent of children who have breath-holding spells react with temper tantrums, some to the extent of banging their heads. People who hold their breath tend to be angry, irritable and annoyed. It may be hard to calm or distract them when they are in a bad mood. If there are no breathing improvements, these traits could transition into adolescence and adulthood.

Inadequate Body Function
Your body functions from breathing. You will die if you do not breathe. By depriving your body of the air and element transference needed, your cells do not get adequate amounts of oxygen. Billions of your brain cells perform minimally from the lack of oxygen. As long as your breathing is staggered or held in increments, your brain is basically running on survival mode --- only the minimal being afforded. Your body also does not oxygenate your many muscles and organs appropriately if you hold your breath. It is important for you to breathe during aerobic exercises. Oxygenation is the purpose behind aerobic workouts --- burning calories and fat by getting enough oxygen into your body and bloodstream. If you hold your breath while running, you would eventually become light-headed or pass out. Running requires energy, which you would quickly lose if not replenished by more oxygen.

Toxicity in Breath-Holding
Breathing expels several toxins from your body. Holding your breath keeps these toxins inside, allowing more time for them to distribute themselves around your body and manifest. The lack of oxygen is proven to be a main problem among people with cancer or other serious illnesses. Toxins take away from the energy you could have. They keep you looking aged or ill. When you hold your breath, you hold onto illness, when you could simply release it. Better breathing improves your skin's appearance. Maximize your breathing efforts by releasing unwanted toxins to improve your health.

How to Modify Bikram Yoga Poses

Performed in a heated studio, Bikram yoga involves the same 26 yoga poses during every 90-minute class. The overall goal of the practice is to improve strength, flexibility, balance and mental clarity. The particular sequence of asanas is meant to target every muscle, joint, ligament, organ, nerve and gland in the body. Although Bikram yoga might be a bit intimidating for yoga newbies, the 26 poses can be easily modified to suit anyone’s abilities.

Things You'll Need

• Yoga strap
• Yoga block
• Towels
• Blankets

Tips

1. Perform the Standing Deep Breathing pose, Corpse pose, Wind Removing pose and Final Breathing Exercise to the best of your abilities. There are no real modifications for these simple postures.

2. Use a wall for balance or extra support. Lightly put one hand on the wall during Awkward pose, Eagle pose, Standing Bow Pulling pose and Balancing Stick pose. If you’re still struggling with stability, try them with your back against the wall for extra support. You can also put your back against the wall for Tree pose and Toe Stand to increase stabilization.

Brace your back heel against the wall in Triangle pose and Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee pose. This simple position change should help you keep your heel on the ground during the move.

3. Support your heel on a ballet barre or another stable surface as you balance in Standing Head to Knee pose. Although this modification interferes with the pose’s balance-boosting benefits, it will allow you to get a feel for the position without putting your safety at risk. As you become more familiar with the pose, remove the heel support and simply try resting your tailbone against a wall.

4. Loop a yoga strap around the soles of your feet for Hands to Feet pose, Bikram Yoga Sit-Up and Head to Knee pose with Stretching pose. Grasp the yoga strap instead of your feet or toes and use it as leverage to pull your torso closer to your legs.

5. Support your body with folded blankets or towels. Position them under the crown of your head or forehead in Rabbit pose. As an added benefit, the towels also stabilize your neck during the pose.

Tuck folded blankets or towels under your sitting bones in Spine Twisting pose. During Half Tortoise pose, position them between your thighs and calves if you’re having trouble sitting on your heels.

Position a rolled-up towel under your thighs for extra assistance during Locust pose, Full Locust pose and Bow pose. Make the poses easier by elevating only one leg at a time.

6. Position a yoga block on the inside of each foot to modify Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose. Rather than grabbing your ankles, simply grasp the top of the yoga block.

7. Mind your body's limitations. Rest your lower arm on the thigh of your bent leg in Triangle pose. As you feel more comfortable with the pose, try reaching toward the ground.

Lift your chest only as far as comfortable in Cobra pose. As your flexibility improves, you will be able to lift your chest further -- but there’s no reason to risk injury by pushing yourself too quickly.

Rather than resting your elevated foot near your groin or on the upper thigh in Tree pose, simply elevate it as high as possible -- whether that’s just above your ankle or near your knee. Just avoid pushing your foot directly into the side of your knee.

8. Modify Fixed Firm pose in two major ways. First, position a yoga strap around your thighs. Pull the strap quite tight; this will keep your thighs from sliding apart as you hold the posture. If you can’t recline fully onto the ground behind you, folded blankets under your back can provide extra height and spine support. Use as much height as necessary -- over time, slowly decrease the height until you’re resting fully on the ground.

9. Ease into Camel pose, rather than trying to perform the pose perfectly as a Bikram beginner. Gently pressing the crown of your head into a wall as you bend backward can help support your neck. If you can’t reach your heels, position a yoga block on the inside of each foot. Place the yoga blocks at their tallest height and hold on to them instead.

How to Stretch the Psoas Muscle

The psoas muscle connects the lower middle spine to the top of the leg, making it one of the most important muscles in your body. You may not give this muscle much thought, as it's deeply embedded within your body; but when it's tight or injured, you experience a range of discomforts and injuries, including low back pain, sciatica, disc problems, hip degeneration, knee pain and pelvic pain.

A tight psoas can also compromise the range of motion you have in your low back, shoulders and hips. Stretching this hip flexor muscle is simple and necessary if you participate in activities that regularly shorten it, such as sitting for long periods or sports including running and cycling.

Function of the Muscle
Running, walking and sitting all engage the psoas muscle. When you raise your knee, the psoas contracts. When the leg swings back, as during a running stride, it lengthens the muscle. Sitting for hours at a time leaves the psoas in a contracted position -- habituating it into tightness. When it's tight, you suffer posturally from an arched lower back, anterior pelvic tilt and hunched-forward shoulders. These postural abnormalities can lead to compression of the lumbar discs of the spine.

The psoas doesn't work alone. It joins the iliacus at the hip, which travels from the hip to the thigh; the iliacus and psoas together are often referred to as the iliopsoas. Stretch this region daily or aim for at least three days per week on non-consecutive days. Stretching is especially necessary after psoas-tightening activities such as running.

Simplest Stretch
A way to determine if a psoas muscle is extremely tight is to lie on the floor with both legs extended in front of you. Hug one knee into the chest and, if the other leg lifts off the floor, chances are that the psoas of the extended leg is overly tight. Try this on both sides, as one side may be tighter than the other.

Stretch after doing this analysis. While on the floor, bring both legs to a 90-degree angle; ensure your tailbone stays on the floor. Draw the extended right leg toward your chest using your hands and place the left foot on the floor, knee bent. Slowly inch your foot along the floor, extending the left leg, to stretch the psoas. Go just to the point of mild sensation -- not pain. Hold for 20 seconds or longer and repeat on the other side.

Warrior I
The yoga pose of Warrior I, when you focus on not tilting the pelvis anteriorly, provides a solid stretch for the psoas. Stand in a lunge position, feet 3 to 4 feet apart, with the front knee bent deeply and the back foot set down at a 45-degree angle. The front heel aligns with the inner arch of the back foot. Lift your arms overhead and lean back slightly to feel the hip flexors push forward.

Yoga International suggests doing the pose in a doorjamb or against a pillar, with the right leg behind you and the left leg forward. Your hands reach up to hold the doorjamb or pillar and help pull your chest toward the wall and the naval and pelvis away. Working against the wall helps you tilt the pelvis posteriorly to effectively stretch the psoas.

In either version of the pose, hold for about five deep inhales and exhales, or approximately 30 seconds.

Low Lunge
A simple kneeling lunge also stretches the psoas. Kneel on the floor or a mat and bring one foot forward so that the ankle is under the knee and the leg forms a 90-degree angle. Tuck your pelvis as you lean your body forward into the lunge. Avoid arching your lower back. If you feel comfortable doing so, raise your arms up and overhead, leaning back more. Treat the lunge as a dynamic stretch and press into it for 2 to 3 seconds at a time for 20 repetitions on each side.