The first step would be to assess the degree of malnutrition the person is suffering from, and then correct these deficiencies with supplementation. We would try to make the patient understand that micronutrients don't cause weight gain, and in this way, we could help them regain their health.

The ideal would be to take a natural therapeutic approach in phases:

PHASE 1

The person has understood that micronutrients do not cause weight gain and in this way we can improve their health (physical and mental), since they are open and willing to take supplements (we do not impose it on them, THEY ACCEPT IT).

We recommend that a doctor requests a complete analysis to assess any possible dysfunctions that may have been caused by this lack of nutrients. We also order more specific tests such as (red blood cell fatty acid profile, aminoacidogram, and MineraLTest - where we can assess each and every one of the minerals, trace elements, amino acids, and fatty acids).

After analyzing the different types of tests, we will develop dietary and supplement recommendations tailored to the individual's biochemical makeup.

From an orthomolecular perspective, it is more important to provide the correct substances that the person needs to maintain good health than to initially focus therapy on imposing or forcing the person to eat as many times as we want, the foods we want, and the calories we want (since food is their worst enemy).

Instead of counting calories and weight gain, why don't we assess deficiencies in minerals, vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, etc., and administer them?

Let's give a simple and easy-to-understand example...

Let's imagine we have two patients with the same number of kg (say 40kg), with the same dysfunctions and alterations in the organism.

A therapist focuses (apart from psychological therapy) on developing a nutritional strategy by creating a type of diet whose goal is to help his or her anorexic patient gain weight.

It establishes meal times for you, counting the number of calories grouped to provide a balance in macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats).

Let's say that in 2 months he manages to gain 8 kilos, great!

How do we know (even if they have gained 10kg) that this person does not still have countless micronutrient deficiencies?

Do we understand that a deficiency in just one of these micronutrients can cause organ dysfunction and alter mood?

Now let's say the other therapist (an orthomolecular expert) doesn't focus on weight gain, but instead investigates and finds out which micronutrients his patient needs. In this way, he will correct this deficiency, thus achieving a biochemical balance that will lead to physical and mental health.

It doesn't matter if you only gain 2 kg while the other therapist has managed to gain 8, since the one who has gained 2 will be much healthier because he has obtained everything his body needs to function properly!

What's more! Do you remember when in one of my videos I talked about RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowances) and how I laughed when I assessed the absurd amounts they recommend?

The same thing happens to me with the BMI (body mass index), a type of measurement that was created more than 150 years ago and from the point of view of orthomolecular nutrition is more than outdated and obsolete.

Let's see...

BMI of 30 = Obese

A person who is 175cm and 85kg is fat, right?

What happens to athletes who build muscle over the years, thus increasing their weight in a natural and healthy way?

Do you have a BMI of, say, 30 and are overweight? Of course not!

Or let's take the example of setting a challenge in which we claim we can achieve a BMI of 17 and stay healthier than anyone else who falls within the normal BMI range.

We'd definitely win, do you know why? Because our goal would be to provide the amount of micronutrients our body needs, regardless of whether we're consuming less than 1,000 calories a day to lose weight.

This does not mean that we are advocating for muscle dysmorphia (bigorexia) or anorexia nervosa, since these types of disorders affect many people and are a very serious problem.

I simply want you to understand that from the outset, it would be much more interesting to reestablish biochemical normality in the patient through orthomolecular therapy, rather than focusing on imposing or forcing the patient to eat.

At the same time that the person is undergoing therapy with a psychologist and gradually understanding what may have happened or what caused this false perception of reality, we can develop a strategy to help them eat food in a way that is not forced or imposed (something that the vast majority of therapists and centers that treat these eating disorders do).

PHASE 2

Develop a nutritional strategy or approach, always taking into account the type of person we are dealing with.

We can't create standard diets and give them all the same, as that would be absurd and pointless.

Just as I spoke about biochemical individuality in relation to orthomolecular therapy (giving the right amount of supplements that a person needs on an individual level), we need to do the same with regard to dietary intake.

Seek nutritional individuality.

Before establishing dietary guidelines, we'll need to assess possible allergies and intolerances, the state of the gut flora (possible intestinal hyperpermeability), hydration status, etc.

Once we understand the patient's physiological and nutritional status, we will develop a strategy to help the person find (within their limitations) a minimum level of satisfaction in food.

When the NOB team makes dietary and supplement recommendations for any type of person, we ask the following questions:

What would you like to eat?

Make me a list of the foods you like most and the ones you like least.

Within the foods that you like the most (which are usually many), we will assess which ones you need on an individual level.

Just as we have a fingerprint (and it is unique), the same is true of nutrition (we have nutritional individuality and it is unique too).

So, based on the patient's tastes and preferences, we develop dietary guidelines based on their favorite foods.

What's more, we don't have to focus so much on calories and weight gain, but rather on helping the person learn to enjoy food again, so that over time their misperception of reality disappears (as well as their anorexia).

Multidisciplinary work involving psychological therapy and orthomolecular nutrition is the key to ensuring that person regains full physical and psychological health.

What supplements should be offered to a person with anorexia nervosa?

It would be relative, since each of them presents differences in different deficiencies.

We are not going to talk about macronutrient deficiencies (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) since that is more than obvious.

What we could provide in general is a highly purified amino acid complex with a net nitrogen utilization of 99%.

It's called Son Fórmula, and it generates virtually no nitrogen waste or toxic metabolites, meaning it doesn't affect the liver or kidneys and provides all the essential amino acids in an easily assimilated form.

We could spend our entire lives taking this supplement as a source of amino acids and be much healthier than anyone who takes protein from animal or plant sources, and with fewer liver and kidney problems. The patient could be explained that this type of amino acid helps the body stay slimmer and more stylized.

A star supplement would be 5HTP to increase serotonin levels and make the person happier and in a better mood overall.

A good quality pre/probiotic to restore the proper functioning of the intestinal flora.

A quality saturated fatty acid supplement with Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids is essential, as a lack of fat in your diet is likely causing a host of dysfunctions and hormonal problems. And as I mentioned at the beginning, you should outline the specific requirements for each individual in your blood tests (minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, etc.). Then there's another problem: anorexics who don't want treatment and are completely helpless because they know they have a health problem but don't want to seek help or seek treatment in the conventional way that's done today.

Different types of people come to our clinic, each with their own unique characteristics, so we can help them avoid imposing or forcing anyone to do something they don't want to do, because no goal in life can be achieved that way.

In fact, one time an internationally renowned model came to our office and asked us to help her lose 4 kilos in 2 weeks (when she really didn't need to, since her weight was already a bit low), but instead of giving her the sermon that she was already fine, that she didn't need to lose those kilos, etc., etc., I thought...

If we tell him that, he'll go away and on his own, he'll start doing terrible things like not eating, which will affect his health.

So the smartest thing to do is to help her achieve her goal (since she will do it with or without our help) and it is better for us to help her and for her to be healthy than for her to do it on her own and get sick.)

Well, she managed to lose those pounds in a healthy way, providing her with all the nutrients her body needs to function properly, and today we're great friends. Over time, she herself has learned to eat a balanced diet to maintain the weight she needs for her job.

Two lives in an instant:

1. We would have told her that we weren't helping her because we felt she didn't need to lose weight and that would have led her to do something crazy about her diet (which is what happens 99% of the time).

2. We helped her achieve her goal, and over time, through various consultations we've had, she's come to understand the importance of eating properly, not just for physical well-being, but also mentally.

And today she has a spectacular body, being at 100% both physically and mentally.

We wonder… Are there therapists who can help people who have decided to become anorexic and don’t want to change?

Isn't it true that there are places called supervised consumption rooms (narco rooms) where drug addicts (who don't want to stop using drugs) have the opportunity to consume those drugs safely and hygienically?

And that there is another purpose to these types of places, which is to improve the survival and quality of life of these people, as well as to give them the opportunity to change by offering them access to social services, mental health, and drug treatment centers?

So the idea isn't to help the person to the extent they want (not the extent we want) and that through the empathy and trust generated through consultation visits, they begin to understand the importance of a healthy and balanced diet and that they themselves begin to change their chip, producing an internal change of attitude that leads them towards the right path?

It would be the most sensible thing of course, and this is where orthomolecular nutrition has a lot to offer.