Healthy Foods - Roanoke,VA

Does she know that brown rice is a lot healthier than white. I mean, whole grains actually have nutrients! She can eat Brown rice and veggies.

added: Yes, sounds very fishy to me, watch her carefully. Eating disorders are very dangerous.

((My first recipe is for her to READ what happens when one starves one's body of the nutrients it needs - proteins, lipids, minerals, & vitamins- since she's getting plenty of carb. Other recipes to follow at the bottom))

My biggest concern is for her heart. The rice is providing the sugar her brain needs, but without any protein in her diet, her body is going to be breaking down muscles, including heart muscle which is extremely dangerous.

My 2nd concern is going to be for the rest of her organs. Just to highlight TWO of the many systems involved: In order for a muscle to flex it HAS to use calcium. Our bones store up the calcium we intake and transfer it to the blood (kind of like a bank). Without fresh infusions of calcium out bones become very brittle. In order for a muscle to relax it has to use potassium.

Our bodies are these whirling galaxies of chemicals that have been broken down from the foods we eat. When we're not eating foods our body starts eating ITSELF. Fat alone does NOT provide all the nutrients our body needs to be healthy (even when breaking down fats purely for energy a very bad thing called ketosis happens... which leads to heart attacks -made more likely by the body eating heart muscle- and strokes and was a HUGE problem during the atkins crazy)... so our body starts breaking down our organs.

The most common cause of death in anorexics is heart attack ((from being weakened from no influx of *complete* proteins (muscle, or grain+legume, or nuts/eggs are sources of complete proteins)... although proteins can be found in veggies... proteins are complex molecules... without complete proteins our bodies still break down our own muscle tissue))... the 2nd most common cause of death is multisystem organ failure. Even just VERY limited times of starvation (which is what your daughter's diet is, since it only has carbohydrates in it... it is starving her body of proteins, lipids, minerals -like calcium-, vitamins) the organ damage from the body eating itself can have life long effects.

Even though your daughter may ***absolutely not*** have an eating disorder, she's eating like she does: which means the BEST way to look at what is happening to her body is to look at what happens to a person with an eating disorder (even better than 3rd world or torture victim starvation issues, because both will even eat bugs in order to get protein in their diets).

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/anorexia-...

The above article (complications of anorexia) is a VERY good look at what is happening to your daughter's body.

Here's a cut/paste version:
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HORMONAL CHANGES
One of the most serious effects of anorexia nervosa is hormonal changes, which can have severe health consequences.
Reproductive hormones, including estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), are lower. Estrogen is important for healthy hearts and bones. DHEA, a weak male hormone, may also be important for bone health and for other functions.
Thyroid hormones are lower.
Stress hormones are higher.
Growth hormones are lower. Children and adolescents with anorexia may experience retarded growth.
The result of many of these hormonal abnormalities in women is long-term, irregular or absent menstruation (amenorrhea). This can occur early on in anorexia, even before severe weight loss. Over time this causes infertility, bone loss, and other problems.
HEART DISEASE
Heart disease is the most common medical cause of death in people with severe anorexia nervosa. The effects of anorexia on the heart are:
Dangerous heart rhythms, including slow rhythms known as bradycardia, may develop. Such abnormalities can show up even in teenagers with anorexia.

Bradycardia is a slowness of the heartbeat, usually at a rate under 60 beats per minute (normal resting rate is 60 - 100 beats per minute).
Blood flow is reduced.
Blood pressure may drop.
The heart muscles starve, losing size.
A primary danger to the heart is from imbalances of minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, which are normally dissolved in the body's fluid. The dehydration and starvation that occurs with anorexia can reduce fluid and mineral levels and produce a condition known as electrolyte imbalance . Certain electrolytes (especially calcium and potassium) are critical for maintaining the electric currents necessary for a normal heartbeat. An imbalance in these electrolytes can be very serious and even life threatening unless fluids and minerals are replaced. Heart problems are a particular risk when anorexia is compounded by bulimia and the use of ipecac, a drug that causes vomiting.
EFFECT ON FERTILITY AND PREGNANCY
After treatment and an increase in weight, estrogen levels are usually restored and periods resume. In severe anorexia, however, even after treatment, normal menstruation never returns in some patients.
If a woman with anorexia becomes pregnant before regaining normal weight, she faces a higher risk for miscarriage, cesarean section, and for having an infant with low birth weight or birth defects. She may also be at higher risk for postpartum depression.
Women with anorexia who seek fertility treatments have lower chances for success.
EFFECT ON BONES AND GROWTH
Almost 90% of women with anorexia experience osteopenia (loss of bone calcium), and 40% have osteoporosis (more advanced loss of bone density). Up to two-thirds of children and adolescent girls with anorexia fail to develop strong bones during their critical growing period. Boys with anorexia also suffer from stunted growth. The less the patient weighs, the more severe the bone loss. Women with anorexia who also binge-purge face an even higher risk for bone loss.
Bone loss in women is mainly due to low estrogen levels that occur with anorexia. Other biologic factors in anorexia also may contribute to bone loss, including high levels of stress hormones (which impair bone growth) and low levels of calcium, certain growth factors, and DHEA (a weak male hormone). Weight gain, unfortunately, does not completely restore bone. Only achieving regular menstruation as soon as possible can protect against permanent bone loss. The longer the eating disorder persists the more likely the bone loss will be permanent.
Testosterone levels decline in boys as they lose weight, which also can affect their bone density. In young boys with anorexia, weight restoration produces some catch-up growth, but it may not produce full growth.
NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS
People with severe anorexia may suffer nerve damage that affects the brain and other parts of the body. The following nerve-related conditions have been reported:
Seizures
Disordered thinking
Numbness or odd nerve sensations in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
Brain scans indicate that parts of the brain undergo structural changes and abnormal activity during anorexic states. Some of these changes return to normal after weight gain, but some damage may be permanent.
BLOOD PROBLEMS
Anemia is a common result of anorexia and starvation. A particularly serious blood problem is caused by severely low levels of vitamin B12. If anorexia becomes extreme, the bone marrow dramatically reduces its production of blood cells, a life-threatening condition called pancytopenia.
GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
Bloating and constipation are both very common problems in people with anorexia.
MULTIORGAN FAILURE
In very late stages of anorexia, the organs simply fail. The main warning sign is high blood levels of liver enzymes, which require immediate administration of calories.

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My daughter, who just turned one, was diagnosed with Celiac disease and as a result, almost all foods that are SAFE for her to eat are natural and unprocessed. I have a similar concern...you don't want your daughter to lose any more weight (or maybe gain a little back) and I want my baby to gain weight! :) So, I've asked several people for advice on what to feed her, and here are some quick ideas you could share with your daughter. I will assume she's not vegan/vegetarian, as well...let's hope...

any kind of fresh meat (you may have an easier time encouraging her with seafood, esp. tuna and salmon which are high in healthy fats, I believe)

brown rice...white rice really isn't good for you. I mean, are we talking bleached, refined white rice? That's doesn't really jive with what she's trying to do, which just goes to show you how much teenagers think they know. I love it! :) (I was one too, once, and I knew everything.) hee hee

eggs

fresh fruits and veggies (think about ones that are higher in fat...avocados, for example, or ones rich in vitamins...the more color, the better)

nuts, flaxseed, granola (buy organic bulk)

Encourage her with organic dairy...milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. I happy to love coconut milk...super delicious, can have twice the calcium of cow's milk, etc

Beans/lentils, etc

But I agree with a few others...this white rice thing sounds odd. White rice is so not healthy for you...your body essentially converts it to sugar, and as far as I know (I might be wrong...but I don't think so) white rice is super processed.

On a more positive side, I only wore a size 3 at 17, weighed maybe 105...and I am a very healthy (and still trying to lose baby weight) adult. Some kids just go through stages, and it's not an eating disorder. I never had one, but around that age the ONLY thing I ate (for about two years) were bean burritos from Taco Johns and Dr. Pepper. Every day.

she may be trying to eat healthy but if she loves soy sauce she is defeating the purpose. soy sauce is basically dark,liquid sodium! theres nothing wrong with her trying to change her eating habits but maybe you guys can sit down and research some better ways she can obtain her goal without hurting her self. because her blood pressure will be sky high shortly if it;s not already. or maybe try going to a health food store and asking for advice. best wishes.

I answered the duplicate to this question, but just wanted to add that I would ditto the recommendation for both of them to see a nutritionist. They need to understand what healthy eating is and what it isn't. Like someone else mentioned, soy sauce has a ton of sodium in it. She could switch from white rice to brown rice to get a nutrition boost and still add some steamed veggies and tofu or grilled chicken or grilled tuna to it. A couple of years ago my stepson (15 at the time) decided that he wanted to be vegetarian, except that he really didn't like many vegetables or other healthy foods, and his mother was not willing to accommodate him - so he ended up just eating cheese pizza (no veggies or other toppings on it) and French fries all the time. Not very healthy!

egg whites are hardly bad for you.... eating about 4 a day is barely nothing to your calories but great in protein. So that should help. She should be careful to not slip into any eating disorder.... I suggest you watch it closer.

From the land of 'it takes one (me) to spot one', I would say it could so easily slip into an eating disorder, even if it doesn't start out as one. The great qualities that you describe in your daughter - strong will, wanting to help her sister, etc - are also strong triggers once things go over the edge. There is a great feeling of control that comes with a very strict diet that is so terribly difficult to let go of once you realize (if you realize) that you do need to eat more/different/etc. There is also a great sense of control and loss/victory in helpiing someone else by putting yourself in that spot. I don't mean to sound alarmist or mean, but I did a very similar thing at a very similar age and for similar reasons and landed myself in a hospital at age 20 weighing about 30lbs less than i should have once i realized I could not let go of the control of eating so little variety and so little food, etc. So she may not have an ED - maybe neither does - and that would be great. I think your idea of a nutritionist is great b/c if they are presented with healthy options that can 'cleanse' or whatever the goal is right now, then they have a guide and you can better measure her/their ability to follow that plan vs just one of control. Listen to your gut....L

I would take her seriously but let her know that there are right and wrong ways to do this. Fasting and cleansing can be wonderful processes but only if done right. Is there a naturopath nearby who you could turn to? If you search for a chiropractor, you'll come across those who practice whole body nutrition. A consult should cost about $100. Set up an appointment and let her talk to a nutritionist about her goals and she can establish a relationship with that person (because your word as mom means nothing lol) and let that person guide her in her detox regimen. It's great that she wants to get off processed foods but obviously anything this extreme for more than a few days isn't going to work.

My oldest son (age 13) really likes his "voodoo witch doctors" (as he affectionately refers to the practitioners at the office we go to) and anything that Dr. Ann or Doctor Elizabeth says is the word of God to him. Maybe if she gets the sense that you are treating her like an adult and are trusting her to handle her health and make good choices with appropriate information and guidance, she'll be open to sound advice. As you know, food is one of those areas where we literally can't control what our children put in their mouths (or not) so it's important to approach this in a way that lets her know that she has control and you trust that she can make healthy choices.

I am late on this but what about adding in some fruit smoothies made with full fat (organic) yogurt or organic greek yogurt? Greek yogurt actually has quite a few calories. Also, nuts, organic peanut butter, etc. has some calories too while still being incredibly good for you.

Well, what does she mean by processed? White rice is rather processed from brown rice to make it brown... Is cheese processed? Does she drink milk?

Perhaps using this website will help?

http://www.recipesfromscratch.com/

I am going off to look for a slim fast or boost recipe...

Found a few:
http://www.mybodybuildingcoupons.com/homemade-protein-sha...

Hi GB,

Remind her it is not healthy to eliminate all fat from her diet. Avocado is a great fat and is almost a perfect food. Olives also are almost all fat and do wonders for the body. Our local nutritionist/MD has a teaspoon of olive oil every morning. She's radio syndicated all over the US and has a tremendous following. A baked sweet potatoes is good as well and a pat of organic butter will not toxify her system. A human being could get all his nutrition from that.

Hope all goes well. I think seeing a nutritionist is a great idea.

M.

Like others have pointed out, what she's saying and what you're describing are two different things. White rice is definitely the opposite of what she's talking about, lol.
mrslavallie posted a fabulous list.

We try to minimize the processed foods in our house, and that basically means avoiding buying boxed or bagged meals and most things that come in a can. If we buy bread, we look for whole grains and no HFCS. The biggest exception we make is boxed pasta, though we try to stick with whole wheat.

There's no reason that eating "clean" foods should mean calorie reduction. It's plenty easy to go overboard on a yummy roast or a batch of granola! ;-)

I am glad to see your are going to a nutritionist and you might also consider a eating disorders therapist.
For some healthful smoothie recipes, see lilyfresh.net. I would make the green smoothies.

Okay, well, I just want to say that you have 2 girls with 2 different body types (or that is what it sounds like to me). The important thing is that they both have a good and healthy diet. If Savannah feels like Alex is prettier because she is tall and more lanky, then Alex losing weight won't help either of them. Alex is being a good big sister to model healthy eating habits, but she also needs to keep a healthy weight. I am overweight, but as a kid I always felt badly about myself because I just don't have that tall slim body type. If I was fit, I would still be really curvy. I kind of gave up on myself because of bad self- esteem. Now, I'm more happy with who I am and am determined to get into shape. But, you don't want Savannah to come to that realization when she's an adult. So, this is what I would suggest:
1.) You make a commitment that the entire family eat healthy meals. Rice isn't bad, but meat and vegetables are better. The calories rice has are largely empty carbs.
2.) You have a talk with both girls about different body types. Savannah is possibly never going to look like Alex, but she has to be happy with the way she looks and Alex has to also be happy with the way she looks at an ideal weight. Also, Savannah is 13. She ought to understand that even if she doesn't stretch much more that 13 is an awkward age and she will grow into her beautiful self.
3.) I think taking them to a nutritionist is a good idea and coming up with an ideal weight for both the girls.
4.) If Savannah is stress eating, help her to find another way to release stress (i.e. exercise on one hand or meditation on the other) and also try to make sure that she's eating healthy snacks.
5.) Sports and exercise are the key -- in other words, being fit, not skinny is what is really attractive. So, Savannah might feel really good about her body if you can get her to succeed in something athletic.

All the best -- sounds like you have two great kids!