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Eating is one of life’s necessities and also one of its greatest pleasures. Yet there are many reasons why you may not feel like eating from time to time. Most of these are minor and pose few problems. Natural remedies and changes in lifestyle often help .

However, if you experience loss of appetite for a prolonged period, seek medical advice , especially if you have also lost weight.

Many people lose their appetite for a short period of time, for example , when suffering from indigestion or a fever. Anxiety or depression may also reduce appetite (though some depressed people want to eat more). Once the underlying cause disappears, the appetite usually returns to normal , with no harm done.

Drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis supplies so many kilojoulefs that it usually removes the desire for proper nourishment . and anything that makes you nauseated- including motion sickness, gastroenteritis, early pregnancy, treatment with certain drugs , and exposure to pesticides, lead and other poisons- will keep you from wanting to eat.

A continuously poor or nonexistent appetite can suggest a more serious disorder, such as infections mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, stomach cancer, tuberculosis , hepatitis or severe depression.

Surprisingly , perhaps , people who suffer from anorexia nervosa, which can involve life-threatening weight loss, often don’t lose their appetite. While victims of this eating disorder consume only small amounts of food, most continue to feel very hungry.

If your appetite loss is a symptom of illness, you need to treat the underlying cause . Otherwise , there are many ways in which you can encourage a good appetite.

• Eat small, regular meals, and make them as nutritious and appealing as possible.
• Try a pre-meal appetizer containing a traditional , bitter –tasting appetite booster. Examples are olives, watercress, young dandelion leaves, rosemary and ginger.
• Avoid alcohol intake.
• Take your time over meals and make them as stress-free as possible.
• Opt for meals composed of several smaller courses rather than one or two larger ones.

Sipping a cup of carrot and watercress juice half an hour before meal can be an excellent appetite booster;.Juice four carrots and a bunch of watercress , then add an equal volume of water . increase the proportion of carrot juice if you find the mixture too bitter.

If your child’s appetite is poor for no clear reason , find out whether there’s a problem at home or at school. Not eating school lunches , for example , may be for social reasons, rather than because of the food.

Action steps: 

• Say no to food containing white floor and added sugar , as these lack nutrient quita of whole foods. If refined foods really are the only ones you feel like eating, take a daily multiple vitamins and mineral supplement.
• Drink caffeinated coffee and tea only after meals. Caffeine can suppress appetite. Excessive fluid intake during a meal can fill the stomach and hamper digestion.
• Exercise regularly to stimulate hunger.
• If you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products, get help to stop or at least cut down .any tobacco use can inhibit appetite.
• Ask your partner or a friend to give you a relaxing massage, using five drops of lavender oil in a two tablespoons of sweet almond oil, if stress is suppressing your interest in food.

Your choice of treatment for appetite loss depends on the underlying cause. See, for example , advice on indigestion.morning sickness and motion sickness.

Nausea and tension at mealtime: give yourself a soothing , gentle aromatherapy massage. Add two drops each of peppermint and black pepper oil, and one drop of rose attar oil, to five teaspoon of sweet almond oil. Use this mixture to massage your abdomen with slow , circular clockwise strkes.

Anxiety or depression: get expert assistance to address the source of the problem if you are anxious or depressed . in the meantime, care for yourself by preparing attractive , nutritious meals of foods that you normally like, and take a daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplement if you are still unable to eat much.

Chew fresh ginger or take it as a tea before meals. Or you can add a few drops of ginger essential oil to five teaspoon of olive oil for an appetite-stimulating abdominal massage.

Get medical help for children aged 1 to 3 years , if reduced appetite lats longer than a few days or is accompanied by other symptoms.

For older children and adults- get medical help when appetite loss lasts longer than seven days, or there is also vomiting , diarrhea, a cough, abdominal pain, rapid weight loss or other symptoms.

Get help right away for babies under 12 months if:

• Poor appetite is accompanied by fewer than five very wet nappies in a 24-hour period.
• Your baby refuses all feelings for longer than 24 hours.
• He or she vomits , cries uncontrollably or show other symptoms.

See also: ANXIETY,BREAST –FEEDING PROBLEMS, DEPRESSION, EATING DISORDERS, INDIGESTION, NAUSEA AND VOMITING , PREGNANCY PROBLEMS, WEIGHT LOSS.

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