It is an excellent regulator of food intake as it makes us want to eat foods we need in some variety. It acts somewhat like a thermostat in that it regulates the kinds of quantities of nutritional substances needed for total body health. Unless digestion and absorption are efficient, however, the most carefully balanced diet fails to accomplish its purpose. A lack of vitamins, especially B vitamins, results in loss of appetite. Without vitamin B a marked reduction in gastric digestive secretions is noted, especially hydrochloric acid.
Digestion is thus defective, intestinal putrification occurs, and body toxins accumulate.
Emotional adjustments must be made even to the point of psychological or psychiatric care. Underlying pathologies must be attended to, and all drug therapy not of an emergency nature must be discontinued. Detoxification procedures must be instituted, adequate natural nutritional routines established, and above all, proper use of concentrated, natural food supplements in sufficient quantities is mandatory. Zinc deficiency is strongly related to anorexia nervosa.