Scientists have recommended consumption of specific proportions of each type of foods a day. Among the reasons advanced for the suggestion include maintenance of healthy lives and avoidance of dietary associated diseases. Scientific discovery has proven that some types of fats are essential to health and are important in reduction of risk to cardiovascular diseases (Willett & Stampfer, 2003).

Further evidence has pointed to the fact that heavy consumption of carbohydrates is dangerous to ones health. The idea of the scientist is to promote good health through intake of well balanced diets in people. The USDA pyramid that emphasized on intake of complex carbohydrates was found to be heavily flawed as it relied on outdated science. The healthy eating habit pyramid today emphasizes on daily exercise and weight control (Harvard School of pubic health, n.d.).
Consumption in certain amount of each type of food per day enables one to eat a well balanced diet and to avoid excessive intake of carbohydrates and fats. Excessive consumption of these could be detrimental to ones health by exposing one to the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This kind of consumption has for a long time been blamed on the current incidences of obesity in the American population. This is the argument behind consumption of a portion of each part a day.

The idea is also geared towards promotion of less consumed foods which include fruits, low fat foods, non fat dairy, green vegetables, and whole grain food. This will go along way towards improving the heaths of people besides reducing the risk to cardiovascular disease and other dietary disorders.

These allotments are designed by USDA and HHS to protect the health of Americans by suggesting the best diet combinations needed for health life. They also aim at assisting people to make informed dietary choices in consumption. The Harvard school of public health has also been making its own contribution in designing of the allotments. Its purpose is to research into the best dietary habits for the benefit of the public and to disseminate the information to the public.

Binge eating is one of the most prevalent eating disorders in the United States today, and recent research indicates there is a direct link between the nationwide problem with obesity and underlying binge eating disorders.

Clinical research has shown that binge eating patterns occur as a result of several factors, including psychological and sociological factors, which “trigger” the need to eat in individuals prone to binge eating. The ability to recognize and control these triggers is at the heart of overcoming binge eating.

Learning to identify your personal binge eating triggers takes a lot of self-examination, and in some cases, professional therapy may also need to be used to fully examine the root causes of binge eating behavior.

For most individuals suffering from binge eating disorders, the factors that cause overeating are largely emotional, tied in to poor self-image or external stresses that are internalized through bingeing. The most common emotional stressors that lead to severe, sporadic overeating are explored below.

Anxiety

Worry and stress about finances, a presentation at work, an upcoming reunion or any one of a million other events can cause binge eating in those prone to the disorder. In a world filled with stresses, it’s no wonder anxiety is the number one cause of binge eating in America.

Loneliness

Individuals who do not see themselves as part of a larger group and who do not have regular and easy access to the support of family, friends or loved ones may turn to binge eating as a source of comfort. Feeling lonely can also lead to deeper feelings of isolation. Because many individuals who suffer from eating disorders also have a poor sense of self-esteem, often due to a poor or distorted body image, seeking out friends and joining in social situations can be extremely difficult.

Hopelessness

Hopelessness includes a lack of control or depression. All parts of the same whole, these feelings are among the most common triggers of binge eating, as well as other eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. Even individuals who believe they have their eating disorder under control may binge during periods of extreme or unusual stress, such as holiday time or when facing an unpleasant or otherwise anxious period of their lives.

Anger or Disappointment

Maybe you were overlooked for a promotion at work, or you feel your work or other input was under-appreciated by coworkers, your boss, or family or friends. Feeling disappointment or even anger is a natural response, but one that can lead binge eaters to reach for food.

Boredom

This factor often occurs in tandem with loneliness. When not engaged in a stimulating activity, either alone or with others, boredom can quickly find an outlet in eating.

Feeling like an outsider

Like loneliness, individuals in new, unfamiliar or seemingly unfriendly situations can turn to food for comfort. Changing jobs or schools are two common triggers that can cause individuals to feel like they don’t belong.

In addition to these emotional triggers, researchers have determined that there are certain foods which, for some individuals, may cause some types of binge eating. Foods like chocolate, for instance, can cause feelings of happiness and even mild euphoria in some individuals, due to its chemical content. Other individuals may crave salt or fatty foods. In these instances, the cravings are largely learned behaviors, which have developed over time as an individual reaches time and again for his or her favorite food during times of stress. If you find yourself consistently reaching for the same type of unhealthy food when you face one of the triggers listed above, consider removing foods of that type from your home, and avoid purchasing them in the future. If you feel you must eat something, try substituting fruit or raw vegetables for the unhealthy option until you can learn to develop behaviors that do not involve consuming any food.

Once you learn to identify your individual triggers that cause you to binge, most therapists and eating disorder experts recommend writing down a list of alternative behaviors that you can use to combat the initial feelings that eventually lead to binge eating. For instance, feelings of boredom can be erased by learning a new craft or skill. Taking a walk at the first signs of stress releases natural chemicals in your brain that can make you feel better and actually help suppress those initial pangs of hunger.

After you’ve made your list of alternative behaviors or activities, consider writing each idea on an index card and posting it conspicuously where it can be easily seen when an emotion begins to overcome you. Or keep them in a notebook in a purse or briefcase where they are always at hand.

Karen Zabel is a freelance writer who writes about self improvement by seeking out binge eating help.

The best way to living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy and forming healthy eating habits for the long run, has always come from within, within the home that is. We cannot look to others, books, magazines and publications for making us a healthy family or giving us the healthy lifestyle we would want to live. Sure these publications could give us the inspiration and motivation to take that step ourselves and to live a healthy lifestyle of choice. Everything still ends up with the home and family and we need to take that extra step in being courageous consumers when it comes to our choice of food.

One of those choices would be whether we want to continue eating obese foods, such as fast food, refined foods, processed foods or bleached foods. We need to take the responsibility and get back to what Mother Nature provided us, with food in its natural form, without any instructions to refine or process these foods. Obesity is directly linked to bad food choices in the form of highly refined carbohydrates and sugars which really is only a form of poison to our bodies. Gone are the days when considering those foods nutritious or beneficial to our families.

A solution each of us have available is to return to the bygone years of food production, or processing at home, sure it is less convenient, but the benefits are overwhelming an in a sense, you don’t have to watch what you eat really if you are consuming natural, high fibrous and unprocessed food. These foods will not only provide a healthy lifestyle, but will enable you to take care of a healthy family through healthy cooking and eating.

Ways to produce healthy food for your family would be to look at obtaining a grain mill and natural whole wheat grains which you can mill in your own time and for purposes you need such as baking and providing daily natural and fresh bread to your family. Another would be to start a victory garden, or vegetable garden in your back yard or in smaller pots in order to provide your own vegetables and salad items for the table. These foods are so healthy and nutritious for your family that you would reap the benefits almost immediately without worries of consuming unnatural processed and refined foods from the store.

Make healthy cooking and eating a priority for your family and the benefits will be seen before long. Benefits would include healthy digestion, disease fighting nutrition, obesity suppression etc. which will lead to a healthy family and lifestyle you will be grateful for. Not to mention the fun and satisfaction in producing your own food, being independent wholly from buying all your food from the supermarket. You can start your journey on the road of independence and take charge of your healthy eating habits, cooking and eating to promote your healthy family

A last word on healthy eating habits is this: there are many ways to promote the healthy family lifestyle you want and deserve, look at fresh produce you can grow in your own yard, storing whole grain which will last years, and when milled will give you the best and freshest whole wheat flour you can use for all your healthy cooking requirements. Canning vegetables and sauces is very easy too and is a skill you can learn in a very short time.

In a day and age where the economic future is uncertain, being able to produce and store your own healthy food is vital to your health and lifestyle you would like to preserve.