Anorexia Nervosa is serious eating disorder characterized by selfstarvation, food preoccupation and rituals, compulsive exercising, and often in girls an absence of menstrual cycles. People with anorexia nervosa is hungry but denies the hunger because of an irrational fear of becoming fat.

Food and weight become obsessions, and for some, the compulsiveness shows up in strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front of others. Some people with anorexia obsess about food, collecting recipes and preparing lavish gourmet feasts for family and friends while refusing any food themselves. They may adhere to strict exercise routines to keep off weight.

Certain personality characteristics seem to be associated with anorexia, including a fear of losing control, inflexible thinking, perfectionism, dissatisfaction with body image, and an overwhelming desire to be thin. Anorexia also has been linked to obsessive-compulsive tendencies, such as a preoccupation with food.

It’s not difficult to staying healthier and living longer. Just try these healthy eating tips and be healthier:

1. Make grains the centerpiece of your meal; let meats be the garnish.
2. Select lean meats and low-fat or fat-free dairy foods.
3. Increase your fiber intake; eat a variety of whole grains, dry beans, and fiber rich vegetables and fruits such as carrots, peas, pears, and berries.
4. Choose dishes that contain servings from more than one food group, such as soups and stews.
5. Maintain your weight in a healthy range. The guidelines no longer allow for gaining weight as you get older.
6. Become more active: walk instead of drive, use the stairs, swim, bike, or do yard work. Better yet, start a regular exercise program.
7. Have fresh fruit or yogurt for dessert. Sugar contains lots of calories but few nutrients.
8. Snack on reduced-fat and low-salt multigrain crackers, cut-up fresh vegetables and fruits, rice cakes, raisins, low-salt pretzels, unbuttered popcorn, low fat cheeses, and low-fat whole-grain breakfast cereal.
9. Drink no more than two alcoholic beverages per day, if you drink at all.