So even if you re taking supplements, it s important to work with a specialist to learn how to eat normally again. Food Factors P art of the recovery process for people with eating disorders is making peace with food instead of battling with it. Here are some tips that many experts believe might prove helpful. Say no to joe and sugar. It's very common for people with eating disorders to use caffeine and sugar to boost blood sugar levels to combat feelings of fatigue and depression, says Joseph D. Beasley, M.D., co-author of Food for Recovery and director of Comprehensive Medical Care in Amityville, New York.
Electrolytes are minerals that, when dissolved in the body s fluid, become electrically charged.
They are responsible for controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Potassium and sodium are the body s major electrolytes. Although potassium deficiency is not common, rapid weight loss and dehydration can cause potassium to plummet, leaving you at risk for serious heart problems, including heart attack. People with eating disorders need to have these nutrients stabilized as quickly as possible, says Dr. Beasley, who often recommends supplements of potassium as well as magnesium , another electrolyte that can lead to serious heart problems if deficient. I have never seen an eating disorder patient who didn t have major deficits of these nutrients.