Appetite, Poor

Emotional factors, certain controllable lifestyle choices and undetected underlying illness may be involved.

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Appetite is the desire to eat food, in contrast to hunger which is a physical need for food. There is no such thing as a 'normal' appetite since each person's age, build, metabolism, daily activities, eating habits and attitude to food and stage of life influence appetite. A 'large' appetite is normal during certain stages of life, as in pregnancy or a child's peak growth periods.

Emotional factors such as depression, illness, stress, and trauma may cause a person's appetite to diminish noticeably. Certain controllable factors, such as the use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, can result in poor appetite. An undetected underlying illness, heavy metal poisoning, and/or nutritional deficiencies may also be involved.

Appetite is abnormally reduced in Anorexia nervosa and abnormally increased in Bulimia.

Nutritional and Herbal support includes:

Cellfood - the worlds most powerful oxygen producing product. Cellfood supplies your body with a diet of oxygen, 78 ionic colloidal trace minerals & 34 enzymes all at once. Improves quality of cells and thus quality of health.

Multipower - A high potency multivitamin, containing a whole food base.

Zinc - For proper functioning of the stomach and gastric acid production.

Dandelion - Stimulates digestion, helps with better nutrient absorption.

Spirulina - High in naturally occurring nutrients, including protein, essential fatty acids, and iron.

Bitters - Gentian, Dandelion, and Artichoke are all bitter appetite stimulants, appropriate to have 20-30 minutes before a meal. This may help to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.

Some interesting points on a poor appetite:

Eat a high protein diet and a moderate amount of essential fatty acids.

Eat small quantities of food at frequent intervals, containing a fair amount of protein.

Stimulate your appetite with the following herbs: Gentian; Catnip; Ginger root; Gotu kola; Papaya leaves; Peppermint leaves and Fennel seed.

Do not drink liquids before or during meals.

Include moderate exercise, walking or cycling etc.

If you have a poor appetite, ensure you do not snack between meals. Avoid sugary foods as these fill you up and will give you a false sense of fullness.

Do not smoke - smoking acts as an appetite suppressant.

Lemon juice in water first thing in the morning is a great way to kick start your digestive system for the day. ½ a lemon squeezed into ½ a glass of water is ideal.

See your health professional if you experience a significant loss of appetite, as this may be caused by an underlying physical problem.