Bulimia is an eating disorder that involves binge-eating food in a short time period, followed by immediate regurgitation, which is self-induced.  There is an obsession with food that often times lead to needless weight loss and a distorted perception of the body image.  People with Bulimia purge the body by self-induced vomiting or using laxatives.  What is common among people with Bulimia is that they feel out of control during binge-eating.  By having such a preoccupation with food and weight, this creates mental stress and other emotions or aspects of their lives are unresolved. 

There are several symptoms that people with Bulimia display.  Binge-eating is a very common symptom, but so is the desire to lose weight the doesn't need to be lost.  People with Bulimia commonly reveal an obsession or fixation with food, calories, and cooking very specific meals.  Other symptoms include the following:

• Intense Fear of Weight Gain
• Self-Esteem related to Body Image
• Binge-Eating/Purging 
• Avoidance of Friends or Families (often times people isolate themselves)
• Having Ritualistic Eating Patterns 
• Distorted Body Image
• Dramatic Weight Loss
• Hoarding Food or Food-Related Items

Bulimia is commonly caused by Western culture and the media.  With so much focus on a certain body image (women are affected by this more than men), people who don't fit that image feel like they are out of place.  In turn, they take matters into their own hands and convince themselves that the presented "magazine body" is what they need to resemble.  Bulimia can also be a genetic issue or a learned disorder by watching a family member or friend go through it.  This is not to suggest that there is a genetic link, but people with who have bulimic family members are more likely to experience the disorder. Perfectionism or emotional sensitivity are commonly associated with Bulimia, and these are the traits that are commonly inherited by family members.  The disorder is not inherited. 

• Culture or Society
• Witnessing a Family Member go through the disorder
• Abnormal Biochemical Makeup in the Brain
• Low Self-Worth
• Depression
• Obsessive Compulsive Traits
• Decreased Serotonin or Dopamine Levels
• Vitamin or Mineral Deficiency

• Therapy, be it individual or group, can be beneficial for those with Anorexia.  By talking it out with a therapist, the individual can get to the root of why there is such an obsession or focus on food and weight loss.  Seeking out support groups can often be help the individual more than group or family therapy.  It provides a comfortable space to talk about struggles and progress. 
• Exercise can help fight the emotional causes of Bulimia.  If the person already has Bulimia, it is important not to exercise excessively as the person can become easily fatigued and can possibly faint, due to the lack of nutrients from food.  Yoga is a calming and therapeutic exercise that helps Bulimia or other common eating disorders.
• Massage therapy has been known to reduce symptoms of Bulimia.  Getting massages once or twice a week relaxes the body, helping to lower stress levels, calm anxiety, and helps stimulate dopamine levels, which helps to establish a more positive, healthy body image.  You can also massage yourself with coconut or olive oil before you go to bed.  Target the bottoms of the feet, neck, and shoulders.
• Because vomiting is a violent act that is done to the body, it is important to replenish the body with probiotics. Vomiting brings stomach acid into the throat and can compromise the integrity of the stomach lining.  Taking probiotic supplements or eating foods high in probiotics helps to promote good bacteria that was purged from the body. 
• Keep a journal or a log of the foods that you consume.  This can help a bulimic keep track of what he/she ate and help nutritionally plan what needs to be eaten.  By looking at a log, the person looks at the intake objectively and solely by the facts, which can help the purging cycle and lead to normal eating habits. 

• Oranges
• Coconut Oil
• Spinach
• Fermented Foods (kimchi or sauerkraut)
• Ginseng
• Aloe Vera Juice