my guide on ED harm reduction
disclaimer: i am not a doctor, simply a human that has had eating disorders for about 10 years. ive been hospitalized many times and i do a lot of research to try to stay healthy. so this is my advice for anyone who is struggling but still wants to take care of themselves.
seek professional help. that is the most effective way to help your own specific case.
take vitamins. it’s important to eat at least something when you take them. these are the ones i recommend and their benefits:
calcium: for bone health and immune function
vitamin b12: for red blood cell production, brain health
zinc: for efficient nutrient usage
vitamin d: supports calcium absorption, can help depression symptoms, boosts immunity
vitamin c: for immune function and it acts as an antioxidant, while also helping skin
vitamins can also be found in food, so make sure the food that you’re eating is nutritious. vitamins are not made to replace the nutrients you get from food, but to help meet daily value goals.
don’t wash or even brush your hair daily. every other time you wash your hair, condition it. only brush it when it’s dry. avoid using heat or bleaching hair.
teeth care is probably more important.
brush your teeth every day. floss every 1-2 days. use a hydrating mouthwash. make sure to drink a LOT of water. your mouth should never be dry. limit consumption of acidic foods like lemons, soda, coffee.
if you purge, please do not brush right after. that just rubs acid into your teeth. rinse your mouth a few times with clean water. swish it well. put a teaspoon of baking soda in some warm water and swish that in your mouth. it will help neutralize the acid in your mouth and on your teeth. then rinse with clean water a few more times. keep drinking water periodically for the next hour, then brush your teeth at least 1 hour after you purged.
it’s not good for you at all. if you already purge, i want to encourage you to stop. i know it is extremely difficult but your body will thank you.
if you don’t purge, never start. it becomes addicting.
if you still decide to purge, please never insert any foreign objects into your throat. cut your nails beforehand and wash your hands. make sure to use some water on your hands before so it’s not so abrasive to your throat. if you see bright red blood, you’ve cut the inside of your throat or mouth- so stop. if you see dark red/brown/black blood that looks like coffee grounds, you’re bleeding internally. go to the hospital. make sure to drink a lot of water before and sip on it after. if you have Gatorade or an electrolyte beverage, sip on that too.
don’t ever abuse laxatives. if you do, make sure you stay hydrated with water and Gatorade. make sure you don’t take large amounts of laxatives in small windows of time. your liver and kidneys can fail and you can die a painful death.
make sure at least some of the foods you eat are nutritious and rich in vitamins. drink a lot of water. i suggest smoothies to get more calories and nutrients per day.
don’t low restrict/fast. eat at least 800 calories per day, but over 1200 is best. you will still lose weight. if you do fast, the best amount to fast for losing weight (without compromising organ function) is 12-24 hours.
don’t exercise a lot especially if you’re fasting or low restricting. that puts a lot of stress on your heart.
overloading on caffeine is dangerous especially for us, since our hearts are probably already impaired / will end up impaired. try to stick to 200mg per day, which is around 2.5 cups of coffee.
know that you can and many have died due to their eating disorder. please seek help. you don’t have to be underweight to deserve help. you deserve help if you are sick, that is the only criteria. you don’t have to be underweight to die of an eating disorder or have physical complications.
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