How Your Feelings Fuel Food Addiction

There are all sorts of emotions that can affect our wellness and this includes worry, fear, anger, grief, sadness and guilt.  Feeling that you are not accepted, a personal failure or that you are being overwhelmed by large financial burdens. 

The bottom line is that who we are is always in a delicate balance between chemistry and energy and when any type of energy, even if it is just emotional, becomes blocked and we become addicted to emotional eating.

What is Emotional Eating?

Emotional eating refers to people who eat because of the way they feel rather than when they are

hungry. Many people who overeat do so because they become obsessed with overeating a certain type of food. They associated gorging on this food with nurturing oneself. Yet others eat of anger or in defiance of someone who wants them to go on a diet. Some overeating behaviours are almost vengeful; the person is “biting back” at a world that they feel is swallowing them whole. 

Stuffing Your Anger

Many people overeat because they are “stuffing your anger.”  When we are infuriated we want to fill our mouths with something warm, salty and chewy.  This relates to the primal drive in us that evolutionary biologists say goes way back to our caveman days where we associated eating raw fresh kill with comfort. It is a very primal hard-wired urge that can help soothe us when we feel deprived. Many studies have shown that people who go on diets that are too strict do not tend to stick to themIn essence, you are an emotional eater if you find yourself using the eating of food (usually too much food or fatty, sweet and salty foods) to cope with the usual stresses of life. Many people eat every time they experience a rush in adrenalin.  They will give themselves the permission to break their diet because they associate the concept of celebrating with food with achievement.  This means that even extremely happy moments can lead a person to stray from their diet.Despite the fact that there are other ways of producing these feel good chemicals in our brains such as exercising, getting out to see friends and indulging in hobbies we like, many of us still become addicted to food.  Eating fatty, salty and sweet foods are there surest ways to change our brain chemical composition so that we feel  good” However the “high” does not last long and like an addict, we eat some more to get another hit of escapism through being a foodie.

By the way, meditation and exercise can go along way towards satiating the dissatisfaction that seems to come with going on a vegan diet at first.  .So if you can, it is best to try and deal with your emotional eating disorders and issues in other ways and consult with a dietician or naturopaathic doctor who can help you with this issue, which if left unchecked can lead to all kinds of health problems.For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

Naturopathic Care of Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis develops from a condition called diverticulosis and is common after age 40. They are small, bulging pouches in your digestive tract about the size of a marble.  The can occur in the oesophagus but are most common in the intestines.

If waste matter becomes trapped in these pouches they can become infected or inflamed.  This is a very painful condition that often gets worse because it becomes far too difficult for the person to eat anything.  The result is a vicious circle with the condition getting worse because the sufferer of diverticulitis is not able to eat without distress.

When digestive distress at this level, there are many ways that a naturopathic doctor can help including acupuncture for pain management and IV therapy to help supply the ailing individual with nourishment that bypasses the digestive system.

Symptoms and Causes of Diverticulitis

A pain in the lower left side of your abdomen usually characterizes diverticulitis. The pain can either come on suddenly or be mild and ache over a period of several days.  This is often accompanied by abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, and constipation or diarrheal

Less common symptoms are vomiting, bloating, bleeding from the rectum and pain while urinating. Some people also feel pain while wearing a belt or bending over.

Diverticula usually develop when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. What causes this is not exactly known but it is believed to be the result of a decrease of strength and elasticity in the bowel wall that comes with aging.  This comes from not eating enough fibre in the first place.   A lack of exercise can also contribute to this condition that can becomes chronic.

Care and Treatment

Treatment and recovery time depends on the severity of your signs and symptoms.

You may also be advised to temporarily avoid all whole grains, fruits and vegetables so that your colon can rest and heal. Symptoms usually improve in two to four days.

In addition, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to help kill the bacteria causing your infection, however you should know that a naturopathic doctor could suggest alternative remedies that may not kill off all of the friendly bacteria in your gut like antibiotics do.

Hospitalization may be required if you have a severe attack that puts you at risk of bowel obstruction or peritonitis. Food matter can get caught in the pouches of the intestine and cause infection.

If you have a fistula or recurring diverticulitis, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the diseased part of your colon employing a technique called primary bowel resection.

To prevent attacks eating more fibre, drinking large amount of fluids, responding immediately to bowel urges and exercising more often is advisable.

Mild cases of diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes in your diet, herbal remedies, acupuncture and IV vitamin drips.

For more information or to book a consultation about digestive issues or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Centre website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.