Of course from my current perspective, 30 years later, I realize that my friend probably suffered from an eating disorder, most likely a form of orthorexia. Her dogs did too but had no choice. Like it or not, food is such a basic human need that it has undeniable social, emotional, and cultural components. It is perfectly normal and healthy to anticipate a good meal, and to delight in food that is pleasing to the eye, the nose and the palate. The problems occur when we develop an unhealthy relationship with food and begin using it to meet other needs, for example to distract from feelings of unhappiness or anxiety, to dull pain, or as an antidote to boredom or stress.

An overall philosophy of mindful eating aims to restore a healthy, balanced relationship with food that honors its importance to our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. When we take food into our bodies, it assimilates into our inner most beings, mingling with saliva and stomach acids while moving through the digestive tract and into our blood. Therefore eating is a personal and intimate act that should not occur without due appreciation, contemplation and a little meditation. People need to be present, moment by moment, for each sensation that happens during eating, and to think about where our food came from, how it grew, and what path it took before reaching our plates. The path to our plates is much shorter and easier to comprehend for fresh, whole foods. These foods not only provide superior nutrition, but help us appreciate food in its own right rather than for its ability to meet other social and psychological needs.

Why Whole Foods?

It is crucial to serve whole foods whenever someone gets treatment. They provide an important ingredient to the “healing brew” that makes up the use of whole, unadulterated, unprocessed foods.

Whole foods should be a big part of any healthy diet, but for women recovering from eating disorders, they are absolutely essential. When a woman is recovering from an eating disorder, she is generally malnourished. Eating high quality, nutrient- and fiber-rich foods makes sure that she is getting the nutrition she needs and not just packing on the pounds.

The term “whole foods” conjures up memories of Saturday mornings in the Unitarian Church basement with huge bags of wheat berries, mung beans and carob. Fortunately, whole foods have come a long way since then and are now more varied and widely available in supermarkets and health food stores as well as farmers’ markets.

Many people confuse whole foods with organic foods, which are much less available. Whole foods are about where food comes from, and organic foods are about how it is grown.

Whole foods are very simply “foods that appear as they do in nature when we eat them and that are minimally processed and free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives”.

Visit a kitchen serving whole food and you won’t see trays of frozen entrées ready for the microwave. Instead, mountains of fresh vegetables and fruit and a wok sizzling with fresh fish, chicken, turkey or tempeh. Savory dishes such herbed fish with risotto and yams, roast turkey with stuffed acorn squash, or chicken or tempeh stir fry with soba noodles, miso soup and rice, to name a few, can all be tempting. Besides healthy, mindful eating, classes in nutrition, cooking, and gardening are wonderful.

A holistic nutrition philosophy is as follows: To help people develop good life skills and enough knowledge of food to make good choices that will continue not just through their recovery, but throughout the rest of their lives.

I don’t think that I’ve ever met an eating disordered client that didn’t struggle with digestive issues. The digestive tract is directly affected by binging, purging and restricting. The discomfort from digestive problems is a common obstacle to recovery. It’s such a challenge for women to adhere to their meal plans when their bodies are rebelling.

Women with eating disorders often experience heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating and constipation. Fortunately, naturopathic supplements are very effective in assisting efficient digestion. Using digestive enzymes with meals assists in the breakdown of foods. A probiotic supplement can reduce gas, bloating and constipation. Drinking aloe vera juice can calm heartburn. And I often prescribe a magnesium citrate supplement to ensure regularity.

The whole foods approach is healing in itself. Whole foods supply needed fiber. Many people have too little fiber in their diets. I may encourage the use of ground flax meal to increase one’s fiber intake. Water is important for regularity, especially in the desert environment. A minimum of half your weight in ounces should be ingested each day.

Finally, the most important “supplement” is reducing stress and anxiety. Our program emphases the creation of stress-management tools for each client. Yoga, bodywork and healthy exercise are encouraged as lifestyle changes. I also help women train their bodies by allowing regular bathroom time. These are all important and effective components of healthy digestion.