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Posts tagged ‘weight loss’

Toxins Are Making You Fat…

Excess adipose tissue around a male's mid-section.

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It’s that time of the year again when people make New Year’s resolutions (that they can hopefully stick with until the motivation goes south). Perhaps, the best thing to do is to plan ahead but take things a day at a time. If things don’t go your way or to put it another way, if you blow it, just forget about it and go back on your merry way. No use crying over spilt milk, as the old saying goes.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. It’s not as easy as it used to be when simply cutting down caloric intake could do the trick. Nowadays, one has to consider the role that toxicity, stress, hormonal imbalance, inflammation, food sensitivities, and yes, even chronic pathogens, play in people’s health problems, including that of obesity.

Let’s first discuss the role of toxins in the obesity epidemic. Toxins are natural or man-made products that could wreak havoc on our physiology. With well-functioning organs of elimination, it’s not usually a problem. However, since we’re dealing with so many toxins in our food, air and water, it’s important that we assist these organs of detoxification and elimination in any way we can. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies are among the things we could use to facilitate that. Other activities that could help include exercise, fasting, massage, dry skin brushing, enemas/colon hydrotherapy, and Ayurverdic practices such as pranayama and abhyanga.

Toxins, if not metabolized and excreted, could accumulate and affect every system in the body. The once thought to be impenetrable blood-brain-barrier (protecting the brain) could actually be “infiltrated” by circulating toxins.

One popular theory behind the accumulation of fat in certain areas of the body is that these fat cells are actually trying to protect vital organs from these toxins. It’s a adaptive mechanism, if I may put it that way. Toxins are basically stored in fatty tissues. These toxins are subsequently released during a weight loss program. This explains why most people feel bad in an unsupervised, non-holistic weight management program. A holistic approach would consider adding a liver support protocol, among other things. It’s also wise to have someone’s baseline body composition measured prior to starting a program. Doing this initially and at regular intervals during the program guarantees that a person is losing fat and not muscle tissue.

Anyway, a natural result of detoxifying the body is fat loss. Therefore, anyone considering losing weight should begin with getting rid of junk internally (from their bodies) and from their environment (basic clean food, air and water).

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Acetyl L-carnitine: Powerful Stuff!

Healthy fatty acids from plants

Image by BASF - The Chemical Company via Flickr

One of the nutrients that has been used to improve memory is acetyl L-carnitine, a vitamin-like nutrient that is derived from L-carnitine. It plays a major role in the healthy functioning of the mitochondria, the energy powerhouse of the cell. Acetyl L-carnitine also acts as a transport mechanism for free fatty acids as well as act as an acetyl-group donor for energy metabolism. It is primarily found in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Among the many different functions of acetyl L-carnitine are: it improves concentration, memory and focus; supports nerve cell function; enhances cardiovascular health; enhances sperm cell health in men; and supports antioxidant defenses to promote healthy aging.

A typical starting dose is 500 mg/day, taken on an empty stomach. The usual maximum dose is 2000 mg/day, taken in divided doses. It is generally safe to take but caution should be exercised if a person’s pregnant, nursing, has a history of seizures or taking prescription drugs. Always consult with a nutritionally-minded physician before incorporating this into your healthcare program.

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Fall Changes

Organic vegetables at a farmers' market in Arg...

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Yup, it’s that time of the year. Things around us are changing. That includes the weather, the trees and leaves, our moods (because of impending winter when days are dark and gloomy), among many other things. It’s also that part of the year when I recommend a thorough detoxification or cleansing program. The process of “detox” or detoxification is not just something an alcoholic or drug addicted person needs to do. It’s actually something that all of us need to go through regularly. The main reason for this is due to the environmental pollution that we’re all exposed to. Toxins can be found in our food, air and water. Then, there’s also toxins produced in our bodies from regular metabolic processes. The world has changed a lot during the last 100 years and our bodies haven’t kept up with these changes. Therefore, it’s really important to support the organs of detoxification since our bodies are practically overwhelmed with these external and internal sources of toxins. Simple things that a person can do include avoidance of environmental toxins. Eating organic food, drinking pure water, installing a shower filter  and having an air filtration system at home could be a good start. Avoiding petrochemical-based personal care products and shifting to natural or better yet, organic ones is better for our bodies and the environment as well. Herbal/nutritional support of the major detoxification organs such as the liver include the use of cruciferous vegetables, green tea, milk thistle, NAC, ALA, glutathione, etc. Other simple things anyone can incorporate in their regular detox program include regular exercise, dry skin brushing, and occasional fasting (medically supervised if someone has chronic degenerative diseases or is on medications). Therapeutic grade essential oils of clove, peppermint and cumin have different cleansing properties. Stay tuned for more specific detoxification protocols.

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Diet Perfect!

A vegetarian dinner at a Japanese Buddhist temple

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The perfect diet! Is there such a thing?  Possibly, if a person’s biochemical individuality is considered when making dietary recommendations, then it’s possible to have a perfect diet. Ideally, a diet should be tailored according to a person’s needs. And it should all start right after a baby is weaned off from his/her mother’s milk, which by the way, is a baby’s perfect food. You probably have heard of the blood type diet. It is a concept popularized by Dr. D’Adamo in his book called “Eat Right For Your Type” and actually endorsed by world-famous holistic MD, Dr. Jonathan Wright.  The dietary advise based on the blood type diet actually goes beyond the general recommendations given by dietitians, nutritionists or even some holistic practitioners.  The “blanket” recommendations given include a low fat/high protein diet, low carb diet, no hydrogenated oils/trans-fats, no artificial colorings/flavorings/preservatives, no caffeine, no high fructose corn syrup, hormone and antibiotic free meat, etc. There are also a lot of fad diets on the market such as the Atkin’s diet, South Beach diet, and the Mediterranean diet. It’s all good but the common denominator among these recommendations is that they’re generalized, cookie-cutter or a one-size-fits-all approach. The blood type diet is a small step towards individualizing dietary recommendations. People with type O blood do well on a diet that’s high in animal protein due to their higher production of Hydrochloric acid. Type A blood type usually do well on vegetarian diets. Blood type B individuals could tolerate dairy and fish and lastly, blood type AB do well on seafood, nuts and grains. Another interesting concept is based on the work of George Watson, proponent of the metabolic typing diet. A person can be a fast, slow, mixed or balanced oxidizer. Oxidation, by the way, refers to the burning of foods in the body for fuel/energy. Slow oxidizers metabolize food slowly while fast oxidizers metabolize food rapidly. Then, there are those who are mixed oxidizers, who vacillate between fast and slow oxidation. In summary, it’s really important to get to know a person well before making dietary recommendations. Fortunately, there are tests available that help us achieve this goal. These include functional intracellular analysis (or nutrient deficiency testing), food sensitivity/allergy testing, organic acid analysis and more.

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Waste in Your Waist

On overweight man's waistline.

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You got that right! There’s a lot of waste in your waist. And I don’t mean the waste products in your colon, however.  What I’m referring to are the toxic products that are in the fatty areas of the body, primarily the core or abdominal area. Toxins have a propensity to accumulate in fatty tissues because they are lipophilic or “fat-loving”. Other fatty areas in the body include the breast area in women and the neurological system in both sexes. The toxins found in these areas are primarily environmental toxins such herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, VOC’s, and other dangerous chemicals. During the process of weight loss (fat loss, specifically), the body begins burning fat, in the process releasing all these toxic chemicals into the circulation. With poor detoxification mechanisms, these chemicals are just recirculated and deposited into other parts of the body where they interfere with function. That’s the reason why some people feel worse when they lose weight. It’s really important to enhance the detoxification pathways before embarking on such a program. Speaking of detoxification, one of the major organs responsible for this process is our liver. There are 2 phases of detoxification that goes on here. To simplify things, phase 1 primarily involves making toxic products less toxic and phase 2 involves preparing the toxin for excretion by conjugating it with certain nutrients. Deficiency of nutrients could interfere with either phase and lead to waste build up in the body. In summary, if one intends to lose weight, wait and do some research and then run to your nearest holistic health provider.

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Smart Fat Loss

My Weight Loss Coach

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What is smart fat loss? Fat loss is the process of losing excess body fat. It is a better term to use (rather than weight loss) because weight loss could be unhealthy esp. if a person is losing muscle mass rather than excess body fat. I think that relying on just 1 pill alone for weight loss is “the opposite of smart.” There are a lot of factors that contribute to obesity. A smart weight management program should look into all these issues. What I don’t comprehend is how drugs used for treating obesity are being reserved for those who are obese (BMI greater than 30) or those who have co-morbid conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. People with complex medical problems don’t need another drug to complicate their life further. In fact, an article on CNN dares to ask the question: “Three New Weight Loss Drugs: Will They Work?” Apparently, prescription weight loss remedies have a spotty history. The article stated that, “some have proved to have a relatively modest effect, while others have been downright dangerous.” A lot of the potential danger lies in the fact that people who take these drugs use it for the long term. Without making dietary and lifestyle changes, it’s bound to create further problems down the road. Anyway, for those who have weight issues, some dietary changes that one could easily incorporate are: eliminating refined carbs, eliminating grains altogether (for some people), staying away from “low-fat” meals (they’re usually laden with sugar; sugar turns into fat; and fat is what tells our satiety centers that we’re full), eating naturally as possible (staying away from foods that have artificial colorings, flavorings or preservatives, although “natural” may not mean a thing anymore), drinking pure water (more on fluoride issues later), chewing our food well and eating like the French (slow food instead of “inhaling” food like some people who eat on the go do). I’ll discuss about dietary supplements, exercise and perhaps, correcting hormonal imbalances to achieve weight loss in future blog entries. In the meantime, let the fat loss begin….

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CR is good for you

It seems that cutting calories or calorie restriction (CR) is not just good for weight loss. It’s also good for life extension. And, it’s not just adding years to your life but adding life to your years as well. This discovery was made in the 1930’s by a Cornell University researcher named Clive McCay. His original work was done on rats whose life-span were extended by putting them on near-starvation diets. Not much was done initially on this important discovery until recent years with the advent of a relatively new field in medicine called anti-aging medicine, otherwise known as age management or longevity medicine. Calorie restriction was found to increase the lifespan of different species by a third or more. In the latest edition of Fortune magazine, there’s discussion about the race for drugs to mimic the benefits of calorie restriction (CR). One drug that’s creating so much excitement is the anti-(transplant) rejection drug called rapamycin. It has been shown to be really effective in extending lifespan according to studies done by scientists funded by the National Institute of Aging. As far as side effects or pricing go, there was no mention in the article about this. A natural substance found in red wine called resveratrol was also mentioned in the article. Not much excitement there probably because it’s a natural substance that can not be patented. I suggest taking resveratrol (and other antioxidants, for that matter) at this point in time and not wait until 10-20 years from now when it becomes standard practice to give nutraceuticals. I would also suggest eating sensibly and staying away from SAD (Standard American Diet).

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What A Hot Oily Mess!

Alternative Energy Galore

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Finally, I’m making a comment about the oil spill that’s happening in the Gulf of Mexico. What does this have to do with health in general? A lot! What’s happening is an environmental disaster of epic proportions (not trying to be dramatic here). It’s going to affect everything up the food chain eventually. What strikes me as odd is the way the emergency response has been all this time. The “topkill” solution didn’t make any sense at all. It’s like putting a band aid on a gushing wound hoping that by some miracle, it’s going to stop. Hello? This is a good example of treating the symptom, rather than addressing the root of the problem. We need to end our dependence on oil (not just foreign oil). There are a lot of alternative energy sources out there that we haven’t tapped as extensively as we could (like geothermal, hydroelectric or solar; not a fan of nuclear though). As far as our personal health is concerned, we also need to find out the root causes of symptoms, rather than just treating the symptoms alone. A good example is that of high blood pressure. Diet, exercise, weight loss, herbs and medications do help. But, we need to find out whether factors like nutrient deficiencies, stress, heavy metal toxicity or hormonal imbalance play a role in the situation.

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