Health Aspects » Exercise

Flax Not A Fluke as a Natural Skin Care

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Not so long ago, the use of flax became a buzz word in health and fitness circles. In fact, even the great Mahatma Gandhi was once quoted as saying that flax is awonder seed. Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health., Gandhi proclaimed.
Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health-promoting supplement next to a multivitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil’s natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as the joints.
Flax seed oil comes from a blue flowering plant that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich seeds. Also known as Linseed Oil, flaxseed oil is highly recommended as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that are needed to sustain health. Flax seed is composed of oil, fiber, protein and mucilage.
Twelve percent of flax seeds is mucilage which makes it a gentle, non-irritating, natural laxative. Flax mucilage is perfect for those who have a sensitive stomach, acting as a buffer for excess stomach acids, soothing ulcers or irritable bowel disorders.
Flax seeds are natural skin care components that are very rich in Omega-3 oils, those essential fatty acids that are so important for our health, especially to the skin. There are many skin problems today such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis that may be caused by the lack of omega 3 essential fatty acids. As a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, flax seed is able to replenish the correct body levels of these fats and so it is a natural skin care gift from nature.
A lot of people are also using flax seed oil directly on their skin in order to make it smoother and less dry. Some even report that directly applied flax seed reduces skin inflammations, but much more research is needed before we can know for sure whether this is true, brought on by a completely different factor, or simply a case of placebo effect. Skin products made from flax seed oil can easily become rancid, especially pure flax seed oil where no preservatives have been added. Heat, light and oxygen will break down flax seed oil. To preserve its efficacy, flax seed oil should be placed in an air-tight container that should be kept away from direct sunlight. A spray top bottle with an extra lid is better than a normal bottle with a single lid because the spray construction reduces the possibility of air getting into the bottle. To prevent natural skin care products such as flax seed oil skin from turning bad, you should always store them in the refrigerator. The best flax seed oil skin products are usually those processed at low temperatures in dark environments.
Flax oil and flax seeds are being rediscovered as true health foods. They definitely merit being included on any top ten list of natural skin care products that are good for everyone.

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Women At Risk Of Heart Stroke Due To Panic Attack

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:15:00 +0000

When you feel like your beginning to breathe very rapidly and complain that your heart is jumping around in your chest, you may be experiencing panic attack. Such rapid pulse and shortness of breath of a panic attack can feel like a heart attack, and may signal a brewing heart trouble, a study of more than 3,000 older women reveals. Episodes of panic attack are frightening and may occur at random or after a person is exposed to various events that may trigger the condition.
Based on the study, women who reported at least one full-blown panic attack during a six-month period were three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next five years than women who didn’t report a panic attack. After taking into account other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, inactivity and depression, researchers have also found out that emotional and mental health issues chracterized by fear, hostility, and anxiety which have been linked to previous research on heart problems, said study co-author Dr. Jordan Smoller of Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital.
Postmenopausal women who are experiencing panic attacks may be a subgroup with elevated risk, Smoller said. She added that monitoring the health condition of postmenopausal women is critical to the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Monday’s Archives of General Psychiatry published the study which wasn’t designed to explain the link but speculated that a panic attack may trigger heart rhythm problems or that stress hormones released during an attack may harm the heart.
Susie Rissler, 51, of Terre Haute, Indiana, wasn’t a bit surprised by the study. She’s been a panic attack sufferer since childhood who had already experienced three mini-strokes. You feel like the whole world is caving in, Rissler said of her panic attacks, which can include symptoms like racing heartbeat and chest pains. I’ve had shaking, sweating, curling up in a ball totally afraid to even look around. Panic attacks can really destroy a person in a lot of different ways, she said.
According to Smoller, some of the reported panic symptoms such as racing heart, chest pain or shortness of breath, experienced as a panic attack, may have been heart problems in disguise and may have been caused by an undiagnosed heart problem. One study doesn’t settle a question, he cautioned. Smoller said that the number of events seen in this sample was still relatively small.

From 1997-2000, the study enrolled 3,243 women and followed them for five years. Forty-one in the analysis had a heart attack or death from a heart problem. An additional 40 had strokes. According to Dr. Joann Manson of Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital who is not part of the team, though the weakness of the study may be its reliance on the women’s memories, rather than doctors’ diagnoses, it’s more likely that the findings point to a real connection between panic and heart problems.
It does tie together very well with what we know about the biology and physiology of the stress hormones, Manson said. I think it does suggest that this is something to discuss with your doctor, Manson said.

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Understanding Acid And Alkaline PH

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:15:00 +0000

The notion of acid and alkaline is one of the most misunderstood concepts in nutrition. It is commonly referred to as terrain medicine, a reference to treating the whole individual. It has been established that PH in the blood, saliva, urine, and other areas is a critical factor for building health.

How can you determine an acid or alkaline condition?

Blood work, saliva tests, hair analysis, muscle resistance and urine are just some of the tests being recommended by current nutrition experts. Most of these tests can show relative amounts of acid or alkaline, which is very interesting to compare.

But what people do not know is that there are so many varieties of acid and alkaline appearing in the system that to get any conclusive results about acid and alkaline status. It is still best to read the intracellular fluida test rarely performed.

Most current diagnostic tests show the acid wastes are present in the body fluids such as blood, lymph, urine, mucus and saliva. The problem with such tests is that they do not show how much acid waste is within the cellular fluids since these fluids are running through tissues and removing acid wastes.

It might be possible to measure the relative acid or alkalinity of body fluids. But it is rare and more complicated to evaluate the acid or alkaline quality of body tissues such as skin, organs, glands, muscles, ligaments, arteries, and vessels. The majority of standard tests focus mainly on saliva, urine, or blood.

What does all these mean?

The tissue quality of skin, organs, glands, muscles, ligaments, arteries, and vessels is the determining factor of your health. When acid wastes are not eliminated, they are reabsorbed through the colon, gets filtered through the liver, and end up being re-released into the general circulation. Simply means that you are re-circulating waste, when it is supposed to be cleansed and rejuvenated already.

Even measuring a person’s blood for acid and alkaline variations is not an easy task. When acid is introduced into the blood, alkaline minerals from other parts of the body are immediately mobilized to maintain a crucial pH balance of 7.35 to 7.45. The blood cannot tolerate elevated acidity. It must alkalize.

To do this, it goes on an alkaline borrowing spree immediately, with no intention of paying back the bone, tissue, and digestive juice mineral donors. This means that to do a blood test for an accurate acid and alkaline reading, testing would require your doctor to take blood samples at numerous intervals throughout the day and only after eating one particular food to obtain a good reading.

Very exhausting, costly, and still not that reliable.

A number of nutrition writers suggest testing acid and alkaline levels with litmus paper saliva or urinalysis sticks urine. Determining acid and alkaline though pH testing is assumptive, simplistic, and misleading.

Saliva or urine is not reflective of your overall acidity. Such arbitrary and unpredictable testing does not read the cellular fluid or tissue quality of skin, organs, glands, muscles, ligaments, arteries, and vessels. It can only give in a partial evaluation.

The proof of your body’s acid and alkaline condition can best be determined by your own experience, not by peer-reviewed studies, medical establishment support, or static dietary guidelines.

Without getting too technical, the most practical advice would be to experiment for several weeks with a food plan that stays close to the middle of the acid and alkaline scale. Check out some diet that is high on both. You will notice dramatic and positive changes that can only be attributed to your experiment. This will be your best doctor.

There are supplements and products that will help you become less acidic and more alkalinic. Some say that certain health problems can only occur if the body is too acidic. Also look at some charts of common foods and see if what you eat and drink
may be closer to a 2 ph than a 7.

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Why Use A Sports Bra?

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Many people equate the use of a sports bra with someone who is highly athletic such as a runner or someone who participates in a great deal of sports activities. Though this is the general belief of many women, this is not factual information. Any woman who participates in even regular exercise should invest in a sports bra. A good sports bra is just as important as a good pair of the proper type of shoes for the purpose, yet 73 of women who exercise on a regular basis are not wearing them.

There are a great deal of myths that exist concerning the care of the breasts. One of these is that the breast has no muscles. The fact is that glandular tissue and fat comprises most of the female breast, which is held in position by very delicate ligaments. This means that an excessive movement of the breast such as that which occurs during exercise causes strain on these ligaments. Over time, the ligaments will stretch, and in the long term, the breasts will begin to sag. Once the ligaments stretch, there is no exercise that will return the breasts to their former position. Even if you have small breasts, exercise will cause a movement of 40mm away from the body, so the need for support during exercise is important no matter what size breasts you have.

Another problem that is the result of inadequate breast support is sore and tender breasts following exercise. A survey conducted of general practitioners showed that 80 agree that the support of a sports bra will reduce stress on the ligaments and help delay the long-term sagging breasts. Though many women are of the mistaken notion that an ordinary, everyday bra can provide the same support, studies have shown that breast movement is reduced by only 38 as opposed to 74 when a sports bra is worn.

If you are athletic or even exercise regularly, you should certainly invest in a sports bra in order to prevent the movement of your breast during periods of activity or exercise. It is also a welcome addition after childbirth when it is recommended that you keep your bra on twenty-four hours a day since a sports bra is much more comfortable for sleeping and prevents the breasts from moving around during sleep.

The use of sports bras among women is grossly underutilized, especially among those who regularly exercise. If this is not changed within a very short time frame, the future is going to show an increase in the number of women with weak and sagging breasts. The time to work toward preventing this is in the early years of life before any permanent damage has been done. As already stated, no exercise is going to reverse stretched ligaments that are the result of a lack of support. The solution to the problem is prevention rather than cure. Keeping this in mind be sure that before you attend your next exercise session, you purchase a well-fitting sports bra that will reduce the amount of breast movement as you work out or perform sports.

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Stop Pulling My Leg

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

Whenever we feel pain, it means that our body is reacting to something that is not normal and needs immediate attention. Pain is a signal that something is not right. The cause may be a physical injury, a disease, or could be an emotional upset.

Leg Pain

Leg Pain is something that is a common complaint and a common symptom for a lot of different causes such as muscle spasms or cramps, injuries, dehydration or depletion of minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium. It can also be classified as inflammatory, orthopedic, neurologic, and vascular.

Muscle Spasm

Sometimes, we feel this terribly intense pain at the back of our leg while asleep. This is called a charley horse or muscle spasm which is characterized by a tightening of leg muscles that seems like forming into a hard knot, making your leg difficult and painful to move. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.

Tired, over-used or injured muscle is prone to spasms. When working out, always take a lot of liquids to avoid dehydration or low levels of minerals which can also predispose a person to muscle spasms. Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. Activities like swimming, running and jumping are prone to muscle spasm.

When muscle spasms strike, stop your activity at once. Try to stretch and massage the affected muscle area. Both heat and ice are natural pain relief which can help relax the muscle and soothe the pain. Pain medications such as non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs can reduce discomfort when muscles continue to be sore. In severe cases, consult your health care provider for anti-spasm medications.

Some helpful tips to prevent muscle spasms
Stretching and massage improves flexibility.
Workouts and exercise programs should be within your capabilities.
Take lots of fluids during exercise
Eat fruits rich in potassium like bananas and oranges

Restless leg Syndrome

Another type of leg pain is restless legs syndrome RLS which is a neurological disorder that brings about a compulsory desire to move the limbs accompanied by a burning or tingling sensation as if there are insects crawling in the lower legs. Such sensations may vary depending on its severity, from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Unfortunately, trying to relax would only activate the symptoms resulting to difficulty getting and maintaining sleep. This condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue when ignored.

Since research considers this condition as “idiopathic” which means that the cause is unknown, treatment depends on identifying the associated or underlying medical conditions. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia are sometimes associated with restless legs syndrome. Those who experience sleep disturbance will have to manage and modify their lifestyle such as minimizing if not totally avoiding alcohol or caffeine intake. Medications such as athritis pain relief or skeletal muscle relaxant drugs may be administered to those with associated medical conditions like arthritis.

Blockage of Leg Arteries

Tiredness or burning pain in the legs is caused by poor circulation and blockage of blood in the leg arteries. This pain is brought on by exercise, and relieved by rest. Sometimes, limping occurs due to leg cramps. This is called claudication.

Narrowed or blocked arteries can occur anywhere in the body. Oftentimes, after a period of walking, the blockage occurs in the legs, most commonly in the calf or the foot. This is called intermittent claudication and is relieved by enough leg rest.

Home Care and Treatment

A healthy diet is important and a daily program of walking for short periods, and stopping when there’s pain or cramps, may help improve your condition. Avoid wearing tight shoes.
However, make sure to let your doctor check any non-healing wounds on the lower legs and feet. When leg pain does not go away, remains hot, red and swollen, seek medical help immediately.

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The Power Of Cinnamon

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

More than 170 million people throughout the world suffer from diabetes and the number continues to climb. Could it be that many of these people could benefit from an easily accessible product such as cinnamon?

This spice, which most of us have in our kitchen, has been shown to have the power to cut blood sugar levels nearly as much as statin drugs!

The magic ingredient in cinnamon is believed to be a substance called MHCP. The MHCP is thought to be the reason cinnamon reignites the ability of fat cells in diabetics to respond to insulin and dramatically increase glucose removal.

In addition, two new studies reveal new evidence for the beneficial effects of cinnamon as an anti-inflammatory agent and support earlier research of its power as an anti-oxidant agent and an agent able to lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose, and improve the functioning of insulin.

However, before you run out and buy a case of cinnamon, keep the following in mind. Eating mouthfuls of cinnamon straight from the bottle may not be the best solution. Table cinnamon is not water soluble, which means it can build up in the body with unknown consequences.

Also, some of the beneficial qualities of cinnamon, such as lowering total cholesterol, only occurred by taking the capsule form. It is believed that a persons saliva may have some harmful effects on cinnamon.

Do not despair; there are still plenty of benefits if you dont have time to get cinnamon capsules. It is my guess that most of us will just use the cinnamon we have sitting in the cupboard.

Just a half a teaspoon a day is all you need to get the blood sugar reducing benefits. You can also get the effect by simply soaking a cinnamon stick in your next cup of tea.

While many type II diabetics are finding a great improvement in their health with cinnamon supplementation, the good news does not end with help for diabetes. Many non-diabetics are discovering the energy boosting properties of this wonderful spice and use cinnamon as a daily energy tonic.

There is also speculation by researchers that cinnamon can help people with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a disease were unusual amounts of insulin are produced by the pancreas in response to a cancer tumor. This causes insulin resistance in the cells and prevents the cell from getting glucose. In theory, researchers think cinnamon might help overcome this resistance.

Insulin resistance may also be involved in diseases such as Alzheimers according to some scientists. Studies are ongoing to test this theory.

The powers of cinnamon cannot be denied and its help for some diabetics and pre-diabetics has been nothing short of miraculous.

Of course, this does not mean to rush out and gorge on cinnamon rolls and cinnamon flavored pie. There is too much sugar in that diet. The best options are taking capsules or sprinkling a half teaspoon of cinnamon on what you normally would eat.

Dont forget to inform your doctor before taking cinnamon as it might have interactions with other medications.

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Hemroids

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

Hemroids
Hemroids or hemorrhoids are also known as piles and it is causes due to the swelling of rectum veins. It causes bleeding though anus while passing the stool. There are mainly two types of hemorrhoids- external hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids.
As the name known, internal hemorrhoids affects internal rectal region. In the case of internal hemorrhoids the veins are rectal bleeding starts due to the enlargement of the veins, which abstracts the stool while passing. The most popular treatment for internal hemorrhoids are injection therapy, hemroidectomy, infrared coagulation, rubber band ligatio.
In case of external hemorrhoids the symptoms are felt out side the body like irritation, burning sensation around the anus area and itching and passing of stool along with bleeding. Warm Bath can give you some relief from external hemorrhoids. For this you have to sit in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. You can do it twice or thrice times in a day. Or you can also use ice packs for temporary relief from external hemorrhoids.
Here is the important thing is to know what is the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoid symptoms are primarily noticed at rectum and adjoining areas. The commonly known hemorrhoids symptoms are Itching in rectal area Swelling of anus or inner anus area Obstruction in passing stools Formation blood clots in inner side of anus-which can be felt by touch is hemorrhoid symptom. Strangulated lumps-prolapsed from anus advance stage of internal hemroid is a hemorrhoids symptom.
hemorrhoids occurrence depends on so many things like eating habits, bowel habits, abdominal disorders and working conditions and nature of jobs.
Now a question comes in mind that what is the treatment for hemorrhoids. There are various treatments for treating hemorrhoids. The best option is precaution to carry out early treatment so that it is prevented from further development. Some of the temporary treatments are surgery, herbal medicines and various creams. The herbal medicines and creams are prepared from various trees such as horse chestnut tree, butcher broom tree and the pagoda trees that are mostly found in Japan.

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Hybrid Bicycles – The Best of Mountain Bikes and Comfort Bikes in One

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

When I was a kid, my first bicycle was the typical banana seat with training wheels. My next bicycle was a 10-speed which I rode around the neighborhood not knowing how to actually use the gears. When I became an adult I stopped riding all together until a good friend of mine decided we should start bike riding to help shed some extra weight. I thought it was a great idea as there are bike trails in my neighborhood.

Since I had not rode in years, I didn’t realize just how many types of bikes are available. You have everything from racing bikes to mountain bikes. I wanted something that could handle some rough terrain here and there while still allowing me to be comfortable on a long ride. Before I purchased my current bike, I was given one by my parents. It was a mountain bike that they were given and I figured I would be fine using it on the local bike trails. After a few rides, I realized that a mountain bike was not going to cut it. I was constantly leaning forward placing all of my weight on my wrists causing pain after only 20 minutes of riding. It was meant for maneuvering rocky areas and hills, not flat concrete bike trails. I quickly realized I would need to invest in a more comfortable bicycle.

My friend suggested I purchase a comfort bike. She had one and was extremely happy riding it for long periods of time. I went to my local bike shop and came across another version of a comfort bike which is called a hybrid. The hybrid is a mix between mountain bike and comfort bike. This was just my style as I like having the option of being able to ride on other surfaces other than flat concrete. I picked out my bike and took it for a test ride. It was a perfect sized frame and the handles were tall enough and adjustable to where I was not leaning forward the way I was on a mountain bike.

The only other adjustment I made was to put on a comfort seat as the stock seat was extremely uncomfortable even for short rides. I also like the tires on my hybrid bicycle because they did not have chunky tread the way my previous mountain bike did. You really don’t need that type of tread unless you are doing actual mountain biking. Another great thing about hybrid bicycles is that you can customize them to lean more towards being a mountain bike or being a comfort bike. While my hybrid is more about comfort, I can still take it out on a mountain bike trail and feel fine. I have rode for a couple hours at the most on my hybrid bicycle and had no pain or discomfort after. Now bike riding is a fun part of my exercise regimen and helps me to maintain a healthy weight. If you want the best of both worlds when it comes to bike riding, I suggest checking out a hybrid bicycle and customizing it to your taste.

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Benefits Of Weight Training

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

Weight training isnt just for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone anymore. Its really a system of exercise and health benefits that are available to everyone. If you go to a local gym and observe, you can find everyone from teenagers to great-grandmas exercising and strength training.

Weight training doesnt mean just using barbells it involves much more than that and is most often combined with aerobic activity during the circuit.

The natural benefits of weight training include

- Slowing down bone loss
- Making your bones stronger
- Toning and firm up your body
- Increasing your muscle strength

Most people will tell you that strength training and using weights makes them more energized and happier, along with reducing stress. Its amazing how much better youll feel when working out after a hard day at the office! The endorphins your body creates in response to exercise like this is very much addictive, and youll find that beyond being less-stressed, youll actually crave your workouts and look forward to them!

One of the benefits I have personally found in strength training is that its made my back stronger. Prior to beginning my workout, if I had to lift a lot of boxes or move heavy things, I really felt it the rest of the day, and sometimes the rest of the week. However after just a month of weight training, I found that I didnt need to take an anti-inflammatory medication every time I moved some boxes around.

Of course, all professionals will tell you to consult a doctor before beginning your workout habit; youll want to make sure that there are no impediments to beginning this new part of your daily routine. Most doctors will tell you to use caution and listen to the trainers, but nearly none will eliminate exercise altogether for their patientsthere are simply too many benefits from the exertion.

If you go to a chiropractor, ask him or her how strength training and weight lifting can help you and what specific exercises would benefit your back and joints. Again, she will probably have some specific suggestions for your body and spinal issues, but generally, a chiropractor will tell you that strengthening back and abdominal muscles will benefit you greatly.

If you do find that you overdo it initially, scale it back just a bit until youre ready to move on. You can use cold and heat to minister to the aching muscles, and take an anti-inflammatory agent to help in the recovery. But if you do ache a bit, dont take it as your bodys way of saying that you shouldnt workout. What your body is telling you is that you havent worked out enough and that its not used to the exertion!

If you plan your workout well, you will find that weight training machines can be a great part of your exercise plan and your health will improve greatly in very short order.

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Is Binge Eating Making You Feel Alone?

Health Aspects — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

If you have Binge Eating Disorder, you understand the feelings of loneliness. You know what it is like to live in a secret world that no one knows about. You have a big secret, but no one is allowed to see that side of you.

At restaurants with friends, you order just the right amount of food and cant finish it all because you are so full. Little do your friends know that you had already eaten enough food for three people just two hours before meeting them for another dinner.

You talk to your friends about why you are overweight. You dont know why, you say. They are just as stumped as you are. They see what you eat and it is small portions. Not even unhealthy foods most of the time.

But what they dont know is that you have Binge Eating Disorder. You have something that is constantly looming over your head. Food. Food is a dream and a nightmare mixed into one. Food makes you feel better and then makes you feel worthless the very next minute.

You dont want to let your friends into your secret world though. This is your world and they will not understand. They may just tell you to stop eating so much. They wont understand.

But, if they are your friends, they will understand. You cannot let any self-limiting beliefs stand in your way anymore. Your friends love you and will stand by your side when asked for help. You mean everything to them.

The first step that you can take is to tell someone that you trust. Stop dealing with this big problem on your own. Ask a friend to just listen to you when you need them. Often talking about problems and just getting things off of your chest will make you feel so much better. Plus, if you are hanging out with someone and talking about it, you are less likely to turn to food. It isnt as available and you are not alone. You are forcing yourself out of your comfort zone and that is okay.

Get help and find a trusted confidant. Expose your secret world to them little by little, or by however feels right to you. Listen to yourself and let that be the judge. Once they know where you are coming from, they will be able to help you to where you hope to go in the future.

Dont let binge eating disorder get the best of you; seek a friend to talk to and watch you start to feel better about yourself and your situation.

By Kristin Gerstley

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