There may be spots in the chain of carbon atoms making up a fatty acid where a carbon is not bound to the usual number of four hydrogen atoms. In such cases, the spare carbon forms a double bond with its neighbour. If there is only one double bond in the molecule, it looks like the molecule and is called a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The most common monounsaturated fatty acid has 18 carbon atoms, with the double bond occurring on the 9th carbon atom from the methyl end of the chain. This is known as oleic acid. It is one of the most abundant fatty acids and is the principal fatty add in olive and canola oils (called ‘canola’ for ‘Canadian oil’ to get around the embarrassing marketing problem of the term ‘rape-seed’).

If there is more than one double bond in the fatty acid. These are called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The most common source of PUFAs are oils such as sunflower, safflower, com, sesame and soy bean.

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Digestive Tract

Stomach pain

Abdominal swelling

Pancreatitis

Cramps

Nausea

Vomiting (involuntary)

Rupture Malnutrition

Electrolyte imbalance

Hair loss

Softening or discoloration of fingernails

Weakness

Dental decay Neurological Changes

Depression

Mood changes

Disturbed sleep

Abnormal brain waves

Muscle spasms

Tingling sensations

Endocrine Changes

Thirst

Dehydration

Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)

Due to Vomiting

Fluid loss

Edema

Burning sensations in the mouth and esophagus

Dental decay

Electrolyte imbalance

Scars on the hands (When fingers are thrust in the back of the throat to trigger vomiting, they can involuntarily be bitten.)

Due to Laxatives, Diuretics, Diet Pills

Malabsorption

Cramps

Kidney damage

Swelling in the fingers

Withdrawal symptoms (constipation)

Increased (rebound) appetite

Mood swings, increased irritability

Death

When you eat vast amounts of food in a short period of time, you place a severe strain on your body’s ability to function. The stomach is only so large; when stretched too far, pain and nausea may result, as may involuntary vomiting. There are rare reports of people who have died when their stomachs burst from overfilling.

As food enters the body, the gastrointestinal organs begin the process of digestion and send feedback signals to the brain to regulate the process. However, overstimulation caused by a food binge can disrupt body function. The pancreas, for example, secretes some of the enzymes necessary to break down food in the stomach. When forced to overproduce, such as during a binge, the pancreas becomes irritated. The resulting condition, known as pancreatitis, causes abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting.

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“So one day, I put on my headset and went for a walk,” says Denise, 36, of Fresno, California. “And you know what? I absolutely loved it!”

But hers aren’t count-the-minutes-until-you’re-done walks where she paces along the same boring route day after day. She ventures into places where she has never been before—new streets, new neighborhoods, new parks. “Suddenly, I was seeing all of these things that I never knew existed,” she says.

For Denise, walking has become a sensory adventure. She’s thrilled by the feel of cool morning air, the smell of just-washed laundry hanging out to dry, the sound of lawns being mowed, the sight of frost on grass. “I look for something new every day and file it away in my brain,” she says.

She has even made up a game to play along her route. She imagines that she is blind but has been given the gift of sight for one day. So during her walk, she has to soak in everything that she can.

“Open your eyes and be aware,” says Denise, who walked off 60 pounds in less than a year. “There is so much out there to see. It’s very empowering.”

WINNING ACTION

Head off the beaten path. Denise has the right idea.

Walking can get boring if you cover the same route day after day. No matter where you live, you can find new places. For example, check out urban historic districts, botanical gardens, boardwalks, zoos, and college campuses. Maybe you can’t find a new route every day, but take the challenge to come up with 10 different ones. That way, you’ll cover the same territory only two or three times a month.

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