Metrowest Nutrition and Therapy

The Blessing of Food

AMY GARDNER / February 11, 2011

I’m reading a book by psychologist Wendy Mogel, PhD called ‘The Blessing of a Skinned Knee’.  Drawing from traditional Jewish teachings and years of work as a family therapist she provides readers with strategies for raising compassionate, self-reliant children.  The book is a...

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Women and Emotional Eating

AMY GARDNER / January 31, 2011

There are many reasons to eat.  We eat to fill a physical need; our stomach growls and we know it’s time to refuel.  We eat when we’re happy, sad or angry and sometimes because we’re bored.  We eat to pass the time or...

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Infusing Compassion into the “War” on Obesity

AMY GARDNER / January 21, 2011

A dietitian posted this article on twitter and it is so well-written, I decided to include it here.  We have to look at the effects of this “war” on obesity and ask ourselves “what are we really fighting?”.  So often...

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Cleansing

AMY GARDNER / January 21, 2011

One of the latest trends in dieting is cleansing.  The idea behind cleansing is that you can detoxify your body by eating exclusively fruits and vegetables in either in whole or liquid form for a certain period of time.  There are many...

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How Mothers Can Help Daughters with Body Image

AMY GARDNER / January 20, 2011

A mother’s willingness to look at and work on her own food and body issues goes along way to help her daugher.  You don’t have to be perfect!  In fact, it would be surprising if living in our culture, you...

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Tackling Fear in Eating Disorder Recovery

AMY GARDNER / January 14, 2011

Fear can either motivate you or paralyze you.  Many psychologist use the phrase “feel the fear and do it anyway” in relation to taking risks in life.  I often use this phrase myself with clients.  Eating disorders are by nature avoidant...

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Weighty Dinner Conversations

AMY GARDNER / January 1, 2011

I find it ironic yet not surprising that people end up talking about dieting around the dinner table. These conversations are particularly common during the holidays. As a culture we’re obsessed with food and weight. We love to eat but...

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The Vitamin D Debacle

AMY GARDNER / December 20, 2010

Do we need more vitamin D?  Some clinicians say yes and the more the better.  However, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report on November 30th cautioning the public about high doses of vitamin D supplementation.  Although the review panel...

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Ghrelin, potential treatment implications in Anorexia Nervosa treatment

AMY GARDNER / December 11, 2010

Anorexia Nervosa starts as a coping mechanism but sets off a cascade of physiological events making it difficult for the individual to begin eating normally.  Loss of hunger and gastrointestinal discomfort present challenges to the refeeding process.  Ghrelin, a hormone naturally made in the stomach to stimulate...

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