Behind the Scenes with Summer Helene

Questions redacted from Behind the Scenes with Summer Helene with featured guest, Dr. Kenneth Russ.

Listener from Penguin, Tasmania

"I have a cousin that had a seizure and hit her head after years of anorexia. She cannot speak properly anymore and has limited movement but still remembers not to eat and consumes non-edible fillers such as hand cream. Her anorexia continues yet she has lost her speech and many motor skills, why is this? Why was that specific part of her brain not damaged and rest was? Or is the anorexia just that deeply rooted?"

Thank you for your concern for your cousin. Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder because the nutritional deprivation can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as protein shortages. Kwashiorkor is the end-result seen in young children with undernourishment and manifests with a large abdomen and blank stare. Your cousin has seemingly suffered brain damage from trauma and undernourishment and continues with her eating disorder. Medical treatment and nutritional support are definitely mandated.

Listener from Twentynine Palms, CA

"How do I fight my hunger cravings at night? I stick to my diet throughout the day then at night I'm starving and eat bowl-after-bowl of cereal."

You might try mindfulness. Focus on the five senses to get you out the craving state of mind. Hearing, seeing, smelling, touching or tasting. Then substitute an enjoyable, less destructive activity in it's place. There are also prescription anti-craving medications such as, Contrave, a combination of Naltrexone and Wellbutrin. Also, The New Palm Springs Diet sublingual spray will soon be available.