Tiffany Haug Eating Disorder RD

01/31/2026

Starvation itself suppresses insight, flexibility, and motivation AND classic and modern research demonstrates that under-nutrition has effects of:
• Obsessive thinking
• Rigidity
• Anxiety and depression
• Reduced capacity for decision-making

These effects can only start to repair after re-feeding begins and sustainably cannot happen without beginning to restore nutrition first.

Le Grange, D., Lock, J., Accurso, E. C., et al. (2014).
Relapse from remission at two- to four-year follow-up in two treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(11), 1162–1167.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2014.07.014

Treasure, J., Stein, D., & Maguire, S. (2015).
Has the time come for a more severe staging of anorexia nervosa? The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(7), 580–582.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00125-3

Kaye, W. H., Wierenga, C. E., Bailer, U. F., Simmons, A. N., & Bischoff-Grethe, A. (2013).
Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels: The neurobiology of anorexia nervosa. Trends in Neurosciences, 36(2), 110–120.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2013.01.003

Treasure, J., & Schmidt, U. (2013).
The cognitive-interpersonal maintenance model of anorexia nervosa revisited. Journal of Eating Disorders, 1, Article 13.
https://doi.org/10.1186/2050-2974-1-13

01/29/2026

The example with lactose here is a simple one, but this is often just an example of a tip of the iceberg scenerio. These challenges might extend to whole food groups or it might be certain proteins, specific fibers or other properties within a food or countless foods that might cause legitimate quality of life impacting reactions that make it feel impossible to have a varied diet while also consuming adequate quantity. Having an RD who understands that it’s not JUST ED related food fears that make expanding variety challenging, and that being able to expand the variety without having to consider quality of life impacting side effects is ultimately a luxury (and unfortunately not something many who have EDs + chronic illness have the opportunity to be able to experience) can be validating, and most importantly open the door to game plan how we can navigate variety in the context of your health story.

01/29/2026

Show that ED who’s boss by slapping it with this cold hard science.

01/28/2026

Fasting may lead to short term weight loss, but it also causes PROFOUND negative impacts of increased fasting blood sugar and cortisol (stress hormone) by almost 1/3rd, as well as increased levels of a form of cholesterol (LDL) associated with cardiovascular disease, triglycerides, and your heart rate.

01/23/2026

I am SO pro-protein. That’s one of the things I do think were too low in the prior dietary guidelines. Even that is controversial to say. AND, being pro-protein does not mean anti carb or pro-low carb. I say this from a place of having 0 corporate interests from promoting anything. The impact of low carb diets (which is pretty much what the new guidelines are promoting) is overwhelmingly correlated with reduced longevity from decades of scientific research. Sure, everyone is different, but if we’re talking what’s the case for most people, it’s correlated with some of the worst long term outcomes. “Compared to participants with the highest carbohydrate consumption, those with the lowest intake had a 32% higher risk of all-cause death over an average 6.4-year follow-up. In addition, risks of death from coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer were increased by 51%, 50%, and 35% respectively.” Also, yes, this song has nothing to do with any aspect of this post. 😆
Reference: European Society of Cardiology. (2018, August 28). Low carbohydrate diets are unsafe and should be avoided, study suggests. ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180828085922.htm

01/22/2026

Cuz you need carbs 🍚

01/20/2026

Cinnamon is great! But when used in large doses as a main flavoring agent of replacement, even as a culinary spice, not risk-free, especially in those who are malnourished or in energy restricted states. In large doses upwards of 1 tbsp of more cumulatively per day, can exacerbate hypoglycemia (especially risky in malnutrition or energy restricted state) and even exacerbate burden on the liver through excess intakes or coumarin which is a compound particularly high in cassia cinnamon varieties (which in excess use amounts, can contribute in part to elevated liver enzymes —which side note— elevated liver enzymes can occur in a energy restricted state alone as well, even without excess cinnamon intake). Excess intakes of cinnamon can also delay gastric emptying, potentially further contributing to constipation in those already struggling with slow motility. These are in regards to excessive scenarios and not typical use amounts, however when cinnamon is being used in lieu of sweetner or other flavor additives almost exclusively, this can and this does happen. So best bet is use it as a spice, don’t replace it for sugar, and as with all foods, variety with spices is also key :)

*this account and its content are for informational purposes only and not medical advice*

Davis PA, Yokoyama W. Cinnamon intake lowers fasting blood glucose: meta-analysis. J Med Food. 2011 Sep;14(9):884-9. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0180. Epub 2011 Apr 11. PMID: 21480806.

Östman, E., et al. (2007). Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Yesukumar SJ, Bakir L, Mohamed IA, Danjuma M. (2025). Probable Cinnamon‑Induced Mixed Hepatocellular‑Cholestatic Liver Injury in a Young Woman: A Case Report. Cureus, 17(9): e93328. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.93328

01/17/2026

Long-term recovery isn’t sustained by willpower.
It’s sustained by systems built for days when capacity is low.

01/16/2026

Research shows that:
• Over half of patients with anorexia have normal labs
• Even at very low weights, abnormalities may still be absent
• Labs alone do not reflect medical or psychological severity

Clinical assessment, weight trends, behavior, and function matter far more than lab values alone. Though this study looked at this specifically with anorexia, this is often the case for chronic illnesses outside of eating disorders as well. It can definitely feel disorienting to know that labs can be normal when your body is crashing. It can feel like you must be fine, but you know, from how you feel, that you’re not. This often leads to minimizing, self-gaslighting of real symptoms, and delaying treatment. If you’re waiting until your labs are abnormal to acknowledge that your condition is impacting you and you deserve treatment, you may be waiting for th rest of your life. Labs are not the end all be all (or even close to it) of severity.

01/13/2026

I can’t stand stereotypes and hubris in healthcare.

Good medicine gathers data.
It names uncertainty.
It listens to lived experience.

01/09/2026

Further info on why recs of 2-4 servings per day of carbs as “general recs for Americans” is not necessarily a fool-proof way to help improve blood sugar and HgbA1c values. Carb intake spread through the day as part of balanced meals and snacks actually do in many ways work with the body to keep blood sugars stable. This is just science.

01/08/2026