What many of the women I see in my medical practice who have struggled with an eating disorder didn’t expect was that they’d find themselves facing long-term consequences in the form of a slow-functioning thyroid1 and imbalances in the adrenal stress response, with symptoms like: When your nutrition levels are low, your energy levels are also low. This sends the body into survival (aka fight-or-flight mode), causing your metabolism and energy expenditure to lower3. Here’s why it happens and how it works: This can lead to nervousness, sweating, cold shakes, brain fog, and other symptoms of anxiety. These side effects are a result of excess adrenaline, which are encouraging you to jump into food-seeking action. This puts you into a state of anxiousness, with symptoms like irritability, increased muscle tension, sleep disruption5, poor digestion, and a weakened immune system6. Here are five ways you can start replenishing your health, starting immediately: Practiced for even 15 minutes each day, meditation and deep relaxation can support the adrenal system by creating an inner sense of safety and decreasing cortisol levels. If meditation is not your thing, try other activities that bring you joy and peace. Dancing, painting, journaling, taking a hot bath, reading a novel, etc. Whatever it is, give yourself permission to pause, replenish your spirit, and relax every day.
