Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

To Your Health!

Many people promise themselves to lose weight when the New Year comes, especially after they managed to gain some during the Holiday Season. 

The beginning of a New Year seems to be a perfect time to make some important changes in one's life and weight loss is an issue that is becoming acute for more and more people.

As we age, our metabolism slows dawn considerably and it becomes more difficult to lose weight now than it was when we were younger. In order to lose weight we must understand these physiological changes and adjust our nutrition accordingly. We may have to supplement with digestive enzymes to help our system digest the foods we eat. We may have to add herbs and spices that will enhance our digestion and increase metabolism. And we definitely need to exercise more and eat less than we used to if we want to keep the weight off and stay fit.  

There are many reasons why people are overweight:

• unhealthy diet that consists of white flour, too much fat, sugar, artificial coloring and preservatives
• overeating 
• emotional overeating
• extreme stress
• lack of physical activity
• genetic predisposition to obesity
• pre-diabetic state or the diabetic disease itself
• under-active thyroid gland
• intestinal parasites and candida
• food intolerance

Going on a strict diet may be necessary in some cases. Diet pills and drinks are perfect to jump start an effective loss of excess weight, but I do not advocate any long term food deprivation or meal replacements. Initially, you may be able to loose some weight with diet pills and drinks, but more often than not, you will gain it back as soon as you revert to your regular diet.

In order to achieve any durable improvement you need to change your lifestyle and the way you perceive yourself. Any drastic change is ineffective because sooner or later you will sabotage it. The changes you implement must be gradual and should not add stress to your life. 

Remember that you eat to nourish yourself and choose your food accordingly. Your food must deliver energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, and other vital nutrients that will help your body function properly and stay healthy. Add fruit and vegetable to your diet and eat them raw as often as you can. Eat smaller portions and choose fish and poultry over red meat, olive oil over butter, stevia over sugar... 

Additionally you will need to supplement with high quality vitamin and mineral supplement, L-Glutamine and Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Healthy, balanced nutrition and sufficient physical activity are essential if you want to reduce your weight and improve the overall health. But if you feel that, despite all these  lifestyle changes, you are not loosing any weight, you may suffer from an under-active thyroid or from intestinal parasites, including candida. You may also have undetected intolerance to some foods. Very often hidden allergies are responsible for the unexplained weight gain. Weight loss is almost impossible unless the allergens are removed from the daily diet. 

It is important to find out the reason for weight gain and a difficulty in losing it. Unless you do, you will struggle from one diet to another without much success but rather a serious damage to your health. 

You may have to consult your health care provider before you set out on an exercise or a diet plan.

Two very important aspects of a successful weight loss program are your determination and motivation to lose weight. If you failed before, you may want to find a health coach and a support group. You could join an exercise group or a healthy-cooking class to get all the support you need. Sharing your success and experience with like-minded people will help you stay on track well beyond January 8th.

Whatever you decide, make the 2013 the healthiest year in your life!

In radiant health - Dominique Allmon

Please, also read  How to Successfully Lose Weight and Keep it Off

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

How to Successfully Lose Weight and Keep it Off

 How to make your New Year's resolution to lose weight work for you

As the year comes to its end, many people promise themselves to lose weight in the New Year, especially after they managed to gain some during the Holiday Season. This is a time of New Year Resolutions and we all are in a festive mood. The beginning of a New Year seems to be a perfect time to make a new start and introduce some important changes to one's life. Weight loss is an issue that is becoming acute for many people. According to the latest statistics

• 58 million people in the USA are overweight
• 40 million are obese
• 3 million morbidly obese
• 400,000 people (mostly males) weight more than 400 pounds
  
• the average weight of adult female in the USA is 163 pounds
• 80 per cent of people over 25 are overweight
• obesity among children and adolescents is on the rise
• there is 76 per cent increase in Type 2 diabetes in adults 30-40 years old

Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and Type 2 diabetes.

As we age, our metabolism often slows dawn and it is more difficult to lose weight now than it was when we were in our twenties or thirties. It is important to understand these physiological changes and to adjust our nutrition accordingly. We need to supplement with digestive enzymes to help our system digest the foods we eat. We may have to add herbs and spices that will enhance our digestion and increase metabolism. We need to exercise more and eat less than we used to if we want to keep the weight off and stay fit. We may have to evaluate our emotional relationship with food and take an honest look at our own behavioral patterns. And we need to educate ourselves not only to understand our nutritional needs, but to understand what wrong foods can do to our bodies.

There are many reasons why people become overweight. Here are some:

• unhealthy diet
• overeating
• lack of exercise
• extreme stress
• emotional overeating
• genetic predisposition to obesity
• pre-diabetic state or Type 2 diabetes
• under active thyroid gland
• intestinal parasites
• candida infection
• food intolerance and allergies

Going on a radical diet may be necessary in some cases, however, I do not advocate any long term food deprivation or meal replacements. Initially you may be able to loose some weight with diet pills and drinks, but very often you will gain it back as soon as you revert to your regular daily food. Diet pills may be very appealing as they promise rapid weight loss with very little effort. They may, however, have serious side effects. One may become dependent on pills and lose the ability to properly absorb the nutrients.

If you want to lose weight permanently, you need to change your lifestyle, your relationship with food, and the way you perceive yourself. Changing behaviors that were formed over many years is not very easy and you may need support. Any drastic change is ineffective as it creates stress and resistance to change. Sooner or later you will sabotage your own resolution and return to your comfort zone where you can safely and comfortably indulge in foods that may be making you sick or overweight. The changes you need to implement must be gradual. And you will have to take them one step at the time. You should celebrate your progress and be careful not to add more stress to your life.

 Things to consider if you want to lose weight permanently

• Make a sincere decision to lose weight and commit yourself: explain why it is important for you to lose weight. Write down your reasons for weight loss and keep them in a visible place. This will help you to stay determined.
• Set a realistic goal: it is considered that a healthy way to lose weight is to lose about 2 pounds of fat a week. Taking this into consideration, calculate the weight you want to lose and the period of time you allot yourself to reach your goal. Be as precise as you can. It is not enough to tell yourself that you want to be slim by the time the winter is over. This is too vague. Instead, tell yourself that you want to lose 20 pounds by the 1st April. This is not only a realistic goal, but a way to devise a schedule. You can easily manage weight loss in small "chunks" and watch your progress.
• Create a journal: this is the best way to watch your progress and write down your emotions and observations. Make a food diary and write down what you eat and how you feel about it. As you try to stay on track, you may realize that it is not always easy to lose weight or to stick to the regimen that you designed for yourself. You may experience emotions that are difficult to handle and you may want to write about them. As your appearance changes, you may want to write about your experience.
• Make your decision public: tell your relatives and friends that you intend to lose weight and ask them for support. They will help you watch your progress. This in turn will help you stay committed and motivated on days when you feel like giving up.
• Join a support group: many people tried to lose weight more than once. Meeting and talking to people who have the same goal will help you stay resolved. People who try to lose extra pounds will understand your "struggle". Learning about their success stories will inspire you to succeed.
• Sign up for a gym or a yoga class. Commit yourself to some form of exercise: signing up for a gym or a yoga class will help you not only to lose some calories, but also to increase your overall fitness and cardiovascular health. If you did not exercise for a long time, you may want to start very slowly and you will need a coach who will see to it that you do not injure yourself.
• Learn about food: it is important to reduce your daily caloric intake. Learn what foods deliver empty calories and little nutrients. Learn what the body needs in order to function properly. Learn what are the best foods to deliver these nutrients. Understanding your nutritional needs will help you to chose foods that will support weight loss and a healthy weight in the future.
• Reward yourself: As you follow your regimen and lose weight gradually, you should celebrate your progress and reward yourself. Your rewards should not be related to food. You do not "deserve" a chocolate cake because you lost 5 pounds in two weeks. You must learn to break the pattern of emotional eating. Food is there to nourish your body and not to comfort you, even if some foods are perfect to make feel better in times of distress, for instance. Instead, give yourself an hour in a beauty salon, or an hour of a shiatsu massage. Celebrate with a weekend in a spa or give yourself a new gym outfit. Go for a walk or take another yoga class.

You are only one meal away from being a healthy eater

It takes some time to modify behavior. Your goal is to develop healthy eating habits and to move and exercise more. It is believed that it may take about 21-28 days to recondition and form a new habit. You have to reinforce your new behavior constantly and support it with a new set of beliefs about food and about yourself. Counting calories alone will not help you very much. Remember that you eat to nourish yourself. Choose your food accordingly. Your food must deliver energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, enzymes, and other nutrients that will help your body function properly and stay healthy. Add fruit and vegetable to your diet and eat them raw as often as you can. Choose fish and poultry over red meat and pork, olive oil over butter, whole grain over white bread, an apple over potato chips, frozen yogurt over ice cream. Reduce sugar and fat consumption. Learn about food to understand your dietary needs. Increase your physical activity. Chose to walk more often and spend some active time outdoors. Exercise does not only help you burn excess fat calories. It also works on cellular level. Increased physical activity improves insulin sensitivity. This in turn helps you lose weight gradually as the body is regaining its capability to utilize energy.

Healthy, balanced nutrition and sufficient physical activity are essential if you want to reduce your weight. However, if you objectively feel that even after implementing all these lifestyle changes you are not loosing any weight at all, you may be suffering from an under active thyroid or hormonal imbalance. Women with estrogen dominance have sluggish metabolism, suffer from bloating, and water retention. Another cause of weight gain are intestinal parasites, including candida. You may also have undetected intolerance to some foods that causes systemic inflammation in your body and consequently, weight gain. You may suffer from undetected Type 2 diabetes. Since you cannot determine the cause by yourself, you may have to consult your health care provider who will conduct some tests. It is very important to find out the reason for your weight gain and understand why it is difficult for you to lose weight. Unless you do, you will struggle unnecessarily from one diet to another without much success, but with a serious damage to your health.

You may also want to consult a certified health care provider before you set out on an exercise or a diet plan. Regular monitoring of your health may be necessary if you are very obese or have some health issues. A certified dietitian will help you to determine your metabolic type and your nutritional needs. He or she will devise a nutritional plan for you and help you with your shopping lists. This will take the uncertainty and the stress out of your daily routine. In short time you will be able to develop your own intuition and make your own judgments about the foods you should avoid. A gym or a yoga instructor will devise an exercise program and make sure that you do not injure yourself.

Nutritional supplements for effective weight loss

While you are gradually losing weight and your body is learning to utilize nutrients, you may want to support your weight loss program with natural supplements that will help you enhance your metabolism. Here some supplements you may want to consider:

• Digestive enzymes, especially Lipase, Amylase, and Protease to help digestion of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) to help convert food into energy
  
• L-tyrosine to support the thyroid gland and enhance metabolism
• 5-HTP to restore serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin deficiency is associated with carbohydrate cravings.
• Chromium polynicotinate to improve the sugar and fat metabolism
  
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) to help decrease body fat
• L-carnitine to assist in energy conversion and speed up metabolism
• CoQ 10 to assist in energy production
• 7-keto DHEA to increase metabolism
• Omega-3 hexane-free fish oil to maintain the production of hormones that are responsible for regulating major body functions, such as digestion, insulin production and the storage of fat in the body.
• Medium Chain Triglycerides (MTCS) to increase metabolism
• Thermogenic herbs such as Garcinia cambogia or green tea to boost metabolism
• Hoodia gordonii to suppress appetite
• Dietary fiber to help digestion and elimination
• L-glutamine to prevent muscle deterioration while on diet
• DMAE to enhance firmness of skin during weight loss

Two very important aspects of a successful weight loss are your determination and motivation to lose weight. If you think you will not be able to do it all by yourself or if you live in an unsupportive environment, you may have to look for a health coach, sign up for a supervised weight loss program, and join a support group. Having the certainty that there is someone who can help you in the moments of self-doubt will help you enormously to stay motivated. You may want to join an exercise group or a healthy-cooking class to get all the support you need. It may also be necessary to seek help from a certified psychotherapist who could help you understand your emotions and your relationship with food. You may even want to consider a hypnotherapy. But whatever you decide to do, promise yourself to make the next year the healthiest year of your life.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease. Remember to consult a certified health care practitioner before embarking on a weight loss program.


How to Successfully Lose Weight and Keep it Off by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Lose Weight With Wild African Mango

Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. For many people weight loss has become a necessity. Losing weight, however, proves very difficult at times.

As we age, our metabolism often slows down and it is more difficult to lose weight now than it was when we were in our twenties or thirties. It is important to understand these physiological changes and to adjust our nutrition accordingly. Some people, however, may became either glucose or leptin resistant and need more than a simple adjustment of their nutrition.

There are many products on the market making spectacular claims about weight loss. Some of them have excellent results, while others bring disappointment and may even cause damage to health. Information about weight loss products and dieting is confusing at times and may discourage those who want to lose weight from taking any action at all, especially if they have tried to lose weight before and did not succeed.

A serious research is being conducted all around the world since obesity is becoming an acute problem in many countries. Plants that have been used for weight loss in many traditional cultures are now investigated in controlled laboratory settings. The results are very promising and give hope to countless people struggling with health challenges related to the excess weight they are carrying around.

One such plant is the wild African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) also known as the bush mango or ogbono. Research shows that Irvingia extract  can help overweight individuals shed their unwanted pounds. In addition, this extract can help lower the levels of bad cholesterol.

The bush mango is native to West Africa and grows mostly in Southern Nigeria and Cameroon. The tree produces small fruits that look like mangoes, hence the name. The flesh of these fruits is sweet and juicy, but the natives also utilize their seeds. Just like other nuts and seeds, African mango seeds are high in fat. The oil can be extracted and is used for cooking and in soap making, but more often, the nuts are dried, crashed or ground to a fine flour that is used in local cuisine to thicken soups and stews or to bake a cake called "dika bread". The flour is high in carbohydrates, calcium, iron, proteins, and fiber.

Studies show that the wild mango extract can produce considerable weight loss by inhibiting calorie absorption and storage. The extract exerts potent anti-diabetic effect. It normalizes blood sugar and increases the activity of enzymes involved in cellular energy metabolism. Further, the extract also lowers the levels of "bad" cholesterol, at the same time increasing the levels of beneficial cholesterol in the body. Wild mango extract is also capable of inhibiting the enzyme amylase which is responsible for breaking up the starches into sugar. In this way irvingia extract is useful for dieters who wish to restrict their total carbohydrate exposure. In addition to blocking amylase, the extract acts directly on fat cells in the body. it helps reduce the lipid formation and storage.

What is leptin?

Leptin is a fat-burning and appetite-suppressing hormone. It modulates appetite by sending signals to our brains when we have consumed enough calories. It also enhances the body's ability to utilize fat deposits as energy source.

As we age our cells may become leptin resistant and this hormone loses its ability to regulate body weight. The more overweight we are, the more leptin circulates in the body in attempt to inform the brain that there are enough fat cells in the body and that our food intake is adequate. But because these fat cells are constantly infused with leptin, they lose their sensitivity to this hormone. We develop leptin resistance, or the inability to respond to the satiety signals, and as a consequence are unable to lose belly fat or to maintain optimal weight. This condition is paired with insulin resistance and we develop so called metabolic syndrome.

Seed extract of the wild African mango shows a great promise in correcting leptin resistance. It enhances the breakdown of fat in fat cells and signals the brain to turn on the satiety message. The extract also shows the ability to increase insulin sensitivity and to inhibit amylase - a digestive enzyme responsible for carbohydrate digestion. People who participated in 10-week studies not only lost some weight, but also showed improved blood levels of total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and the C-reactive protein.

Dosage

The suggested daily dose of wild African mango seed extract is 150mg taken twice a day approximately 30 minutes before meals. It is best to take the extract before breakfast and before lunch.

The extract is fairly safe and it is often mixed with such nutrients zinc, chromium, caffeine, and green tea extract. The extract will not work for overweight people who consume more calories than they can actually utilize. One cannot irresponsibly overeat and expect to lose weight with pills and potions. No pill can substitute a healthy diet and exercise. And no pill can take away our responsibility for the choices we make.

By Dominique Allmon

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Lose Weigh With Wild African Mango by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Health Benefits of Chili Peppers

Chili pepper also called chile pepper or chilli pepper, from Nahuatl term "chilli," is the fruit of a plant from the genus Capsicum, in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Chili peppers originally grew in America, but spread around the world after the discovery of the continent by Christopher Columbus.

 

 

The fiery fruit found its way into many ethnic cuisines. Its medicinal qualities were quickly discovered and applied for variety of ailments. Modern science confirms most of the popular uses.

The main active compund that gives chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically is capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide). Several other related chemicals, collectively called capsaicinoids, work in synergy to the same effect.

Chili contains vitamin A, C, B6, and folate. When ripe and red, it contains significant amounts of beta carotene. The hot fruit is also an important source of phosphorus, iron, sodium,  magnesium and silica. They are also rich in lycopene, lutein, and zeaxantin - compounds that help fight free radicals in the body.

Regular intake of chili peppers delays oxidation of serum lipids, and lowers and improves insulin and glucose profiles following a meal, both of which contribute to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Australian researchers also demonstrated that the amount of insulin required to lower blood sugar after a meal is reduced if the meal contained chili pepper. When chili was consumed on regular basis, the insulin requirements dropped even more.

The benefits of chili may even increase with a higher body mass index - an obesity indicator. In obesse individuals, chili not only significantly reduces the amount of insulin required to lower blood sugar levels after a meal, but it also results in a lower ratio of C-peptide to insulin, an indication that the rate at which the liver is clearing insulin has increased.

The levels of C-peptide in the blood also indicate how much insulin is being produced by the pancreas. The pancreas produces proinsulin, which splits into insulin and C-peptide when it is secreted into the bloodstream. Each molecule of proinsulin breaks into one molecule of C-peptide and one molecule of insulin. Lower levels of C-peptide indicate that less insulin has been secreted into the bloodstream. Since chili positively affects this ration, regular consumption of chili may help prevent adult diabetes.

Capsaicin improves the ratio of bad versus good cholesterol in blood and stimulates the liver enzyme responsible for the fat metabolism.

Scientists found out that chili stimulates blood circulation and is a great anticoagulant. Both, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin reduce platelet aggregation and the activity of blood clotting proteins in blood samples. Regular consumption of hot peppers may help reduce the risk of thrombosis and prevent stroke.

A team of scientists found out that capsaicin has the potential to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cells of the prostate cancer. The cancer cells alter their genetic information to avoid the genetically programmed apoptosis. Capsaicin demonstrated the ability to interfere with this maneuver and slow the proliferation of the cancer cells and the development of prostate tumors.

Hot peppers can provide some relief for cold and sinus problems because capsaicin has as expectorant effect. It increases lung function and facilitates the elimination of mucus.

There is a strong scientific evidence that capsaiconoids in chili boost metabolic rate. This brings hope to many who wish to lose weight. Chili stimulates receptors in the bowel when a spicy meal is eaten and increases thermogenesis. Increased heat means increased energy expenditure and thus the boost to the metabolic rate. It must be said, however, that excessive consumption of hot chili peppers may irritate stomach in sensitive individuals. A safer option for weight loss is available on the market in form of a non-irritant capsaicin pill.

Capsaicin has been used externally with great success to control pain. Such conditions as painful joints, arthritic inflammation, muscle pain, athletic injuries, and frostbite improved considerably with topical application of capsaicin containing ointments. Scientists in Scandinavia found out that capsaicin increases the DNA synthesis and triggers production of pain suppressing collagenase and prostaglandin.

Since capsaicin improves blood circulation, hot chili may be used as an aphrodisiac. It is wise, however, to avoid contact with the genitalia as the stinging may have an adverse effect.

Adding a little chili to daily meals not only makes a bland diet tastier and more appealing, but, most importantly, helps prevent disease and improve many degenerative conditions associated with aging.

By Dominique Allmon

*Information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.

Health Benefits of Chili Peppers by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Rejuvenate and Restore Health with Maqui Berry

Maqui berry (aristotelia chilensis) also known as the Chilean Wineberry, is a dark purple berry which is native to the Patagonia region of Chile. Patagonia is considered to be one of the cleanest, best preserved and most fertile natural sanctuaries on Earth. The evergreen shrub is native to Chile, but it also grows in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

The healing properties of the maqui berries were well known to the Mapuche Indians who harvested them for centuries. The Indians also used the leaves and stems of the shrub to cure many different ailments. The warriors of the tribe were famous for their energy and endurance. Their legendary stamina was ascribed to the consumption of these powerful, almost magical, small berries which only recently became known to health conscious communities in Europe and North America.

New studies appear almost every month as the scientists are trying to decipher the healing properties of this healthy fruit.

What the scientists discovered in their laboratories, exceeded any expectations. Like any other berries, maqui berries are rich in antioxidants. The measured total ORAC* value is 27,600 per 100g which is higher than that of any known fruit or vegetable. The berries are not only rich in antioxidants, but are also a great source of Vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium and iron.

Health benefits of maqui berries:

• Promote healthy weight loss
• Help detoxify the body 
• Improve circulation
• Boost strength and increase endurance
• Increase energy levels
• Strengthen immune system
• Prevent degenerative disease and support healthy aging
• Neutralize free radicals
• Reduce inflammation in the body
• Protect LDL from oxidation
• Inhibit protein glycation in the body
• Strengthen bones and joints
• Clear skin conditions and help protect against sun damage

Clinical studies demonstrated that maqui berries speed up metabolism and can be effectively used to lose unwanted pounds. The berries also help remove any toxins and chemicals that accumulated over time in the body. Detoxification and improved elimination contribute to better health and support any weight loss diet.

Maqui berries contain delphinidin, a powerful antioxidant that shows powerful anticancer activity.  Its tumor destroying potential has yet to be tested in human studies.

The Chilean berries are powerful rejuvenation agents. As we age we are not only exposed to an increased oxidation, but also to inflammation and protein glycation. Maqui berries help reduce the inflammatory processes in the body and are used with great success by those who suffer from painful joint inflammation. The berries also help fight free radicals and stop oxidation of LDL thus preventing cancer and heart disease. They also help remove AGEs or advanced glycation* end-products. They support liver function and improve blood circulation.

The suggested daily dose is 500 mg twice daily and can be obtained in form of capsules or juice. As with any other superfood it is important to remember that supplementation cannot replace healthy nutrition and exercise.

By Dominique Allmon

Glosary:

*ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity score is a chemical analysis that measures the antioxidant levels of food and other chemical substances. High ORAC value means that the food is high in antioxidants. The antioxidant’s strength is its ability to eliminate oxygen free radicals. The higher the score the better the ability to protect the cells from oxidative damage and to fight and prevent diseases such as heart disease or cancer. Oxygen free radicals are chemicals that are formed naturally within our bodies through the process of oxidation. Natural bodily functions such as breathing and digestion as well as our physical activities produce oxygen free radicals. Daily exposure to polluted air, processed foods and oxidizing radiation from the sun and electrical appliances also produce oxygen reactive species. The ORAC value of 27,600 was measured by the Brunswick Laboratories.

*Glycation is a reaction that takes place within the body when simple sugar molecules such as fructose or glucose become attached to proteins or lipids without the moderation of an enzyme. This results in the formation of rogue molecules known as advanced glycation endproducts or AGEs. Glycation disrupts the  normal metabolic pathways and advances the circulation of AGEs, which in turn promote certain health risks and speeds up aging.

*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease. Please, consult your health care provider before commencing supplementation.


Rejuvenate and Restore Health with Maqui Berry by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Food Intolerance and Obesity

How hidden food allergies affect your weight

There are so many people out there struggling unsuccessfully with their weight. They try to exercise, try to eat healthy meals, go on diet and seem to be gaining weight in spite of their efforts. Something paradoxical is happening in their bodies and no one seems to understand where their problems stem from. They are unaware of the fact that intolerance to some foods they are consuming on a daily basis could actually be the cause of all the discomfort and obesity they are experiencing. A series of elaborate blood tests identifies the foods that should be avoided.

There are two main types of food allergy:

• immediate-onset or Type 1 food allergy (IgE)
• delayed-onset or Type 3 food allergy (IgG)

Type 1 food allergy occurs when the body shows an adverse, immediate, often severe reaction to a food that was ingested. The response to allergens is auto-immune and can even be life-threatening. The body produces a specific type IgE antibodies to certain foods that it cannot tolerate. These antibodies attach themselves to the so called mast cells of the immune system. They are designed to recognize an allergen and to bind to it as soon as it enters the system. When allergenic food is consumed, antibodies that are on the surface of the mast cells recognize it and bind themselves immediately to it causing the release of histamine and other allergy-related body chemicals. It may take up to two hours for the body to react.

Type 3 food allergy, on the other hand, occurs when the body produces IgG antibodies in reaction to an allergenic food. The IgG antibodies attach themselves directly to the undigested food particles as they are entering the blood stream. Together with the allergen they form allergen-antibody immune complexes and circulate throughout the body. The immune reaction depends on the amount of produced IgGs. Immune system mobilizes phagocytes to ward off the reaction, but this process takes time and the symptoms may only appear a few days later. It is difficult to determine which foods are causing discomfort because the reaction is neither severe nor immediate. The reaction to food may take up to four days for symptoms to manifest. They can be vague and do not present an immediate threat to life. They can, however, cause a great discomfort and many unpleasant conditions, including systemic inflammation and obesity, and are often misdiagnosed or even dismissed by the medical professionals.

Some medical studies have shown that there is a connection between inflammation caused by food intolerance and obesity. We may become inflamed and gain weight. An unhealthy, monotonous diet consisting of processed foods, too much sugar and fat and not enough fiber, as well as the use or abuse of alcohol, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, acid-blockers and other medication, may deplete or destroy the intestinal flora and cause inflammation. The lining of the digestive tract becomes abnormally permeable or leaky. Undigested food particles enter the blood stream. This causes overall immune reaction leading to systemic inflammation in the body and gradually, to obesity, by increasing the insulin resistance. With time a person may be reacting to as many as twenty to thirty different foods without knowing it. The symptoms may vary, but most common are the constant bloating, digestive disorders, water retention, weight gain, migraines, skin rushes, and congested nasal passages. And while the immediate allergy involves mostly foods that are rarely eaten, the delayed-onset allergy is reaction to foods we consume daily, even if they are considered healthy. Food craving may be a sign of a hidden allergy. The IgG allergy cannot be self-diagnosed. The allergens can only be determined by a blood test.

If you are overweight or chronically ill, but your doctor was unable to determine the cause, the chance is that you may have the delayed-onset allergies to some foods you are consuming on daily basis. The simple advice to exercise and eat more fruit and vegetable may not be enough for you to lose the excess weight, as it is possible that you may be allergic to such innocuous foods as lettuce or cucumbers and will be gaining even more weight while consuming the otherwise healthy salad.

IgG ELISA is one of the most popular and reliable blood tests to determine the Type 3 allergies. Depending on the lab, the blood sample of a patient may be tested simultaneously against 100 or more different foods. If the blood sample contains a particularly high number of IgG antibodies against a particular food protein, a person is allergic to this food and should avoid it until the body has healed itself and the immune system has been restored.

After the testing and diagnosis, nutritional rotation plan will be devised and suggested to the patient. Foods to which a person shows the strongest allergic reaction will be eliminated from the patient's diet. All other foods will be consumed with a changing or rotating "schedule" so that one particular food in not consumed for at least four consecutive days. This seem to be complicated at first, but it becomes a routine after only a week. It allows a person to consciously create his or her own menu and to observe the changes in the body. It may also be necessary to restore the intestinal flora and and heal the leaky gut. The allergen-antibody immune complexes may disappear after a relatively short time when the rotation plan is followed rigorously and without exception. As the immune system calms down and the inflammatory processes in the body subside, a person may notice dramatic changes in body weight and improvement of the overall health and well being. The foods to which one was allergic once, may be reintroduced carefully and gradually to the diet plan. It is important to remember, however, that our menus should be as variegated as possible. There is no limit to your creativity and imagination.

By Dominique Allmon

This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose or cure a disease.


Food Intolerance and Obesity by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Nutritional Support For Underactive Thyroid Gland

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of the thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormones that help control the body’s metabolism. Diminished levels of these hormones can considerably slow down metabolism - a process in which the body digests the food and nutrients and converts them to energy.

Women are more susceptible to hyperthyroidism than men and women who are in their fifties and older are the most affected by this disorder. The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary greatly from person to person and depend on just how much the metabolism has slowed. Symptoms tend to appear gradually over longer periods of time.

Signs of under active thyroid

There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism. The most commonly observed are:

• Unexplained fatigue that cannot be relieved by regular sleep and rest
• Sensitivity to cold that may also include cold hands a feet
• Constipation that is not related to changes in diet
• Thinning hair and brittle fingernails
• Depression and mood swings
• Changes in skin health
• Weight gain not caused by change in diet or exercise routine
• Muscle aches and weakness
• Pain, stiffness, or swelling of joints
• Difficulty to concentrate, forgetfulness, or unexplained confusion

There are many other symptoms caused by hypothyroidism that can be associated with multiple conditions such as heart disease or infertility, making hypothyroidism even more difficult to diagnose. A blood test is usually performed to determine the cause of any chronic symptoms.

Nutritional solution to hypothyroidism

There are foods and supplements to be taken and others to be avoided when one suffers from hypothyroidism. Patients on medications sometimes feel that they want some other kind of treatment. They are not always supported by their medical practitioners and feel left alone in their suffering.

Thyroid is a very "fragile" organ and its deficiencies are not easy to treat. But there are ways to take care of the problem nutritionally. One of the most important supplements is L-Tyrosine, an amino acid that supports the function of a healthy thyroid. It is a precursor to the body's own hormone thyroxine. The suggested dose is 500 mg L-Tyrosine on empty stomach. Instead of taking supplemental tyrosine, one may prefer to indulge in tyrosine-rich foods like avocados, bananas, almonds, pumpkin seeds, legumes, lean chicken meat, and fish among others.

In order to produce thyroid hormones the body needs iodine. The diet can easily be enriched with sea vegetable, salt water fish, and unprocessed sea salt that has its natural content of iodine and sea minerals. A caution is advised as excess iodine in the body may worsen the thyroid condition even further.

One should also supplement with high quality multivitamin especially high in Vitamin B complex, essential fatty acids, beta carotene, Vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc. These nutrients not only support thyroid health, but also prevent from damage caused by low thyroid. Probiotics should be taken daily to keep the intestines healthy and improve the absorption of nutrients. Nutrition rich in fiber will help to maintain regularity.

Healthy thyroid is associated with optimal levels of Vitamin D. Our bodies produce Vitamin D when we are exposed to sun. During the winter months when our exposure to sun is minimal, we need to supplement. The suggested does of Vitamin D3 is 800 IU. Fatty salt water fish and cod liver oil are the best sources of this vitamin.

Just as there are foods that support thyroid function, there are also foods that are considered detrimental to this organ. It is important to avoid foods that are goitrogenic, like non-fermented soy products, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, radishes, strawberries, and peaches. These foods contain substances that interfere with the thyroid function. Moreover, nutritionists suggest to reduce the intake of gluten containing foods. People with hypothyroidism should also avoid processed foods, foods containing preservatives, additives, and artificial sweeteners. The consumption of caffeine should be reduced to an absolute minimum.

 

Are your thyroid lab tests coming out "normal"? There is nothing more frustrating that a lab report that is not matching your condition. If you are supplementing with vitamin B7 or biotin, your thyroid test results might appear normal despite the fact that you are suffering from under active thyroid with all its symptoms clearly visible to you and your doctor. 

Many women suffering from hypothyroidism take biotin in high doses to improve the quality of their thinning hair or brittle nails. Unfortunately, even a single 10-mg dose of that vitamin might interfere with the accuracy of your blood test reading. While supplementation with vitamins and minerals in high doses often seems necessary, it may result in false positives or false negatives. Think of it next time you schedule a doctor appointment for a thyroid blood test. You may want to stop all supplementation for at least  two to three weeks. Try to eat as healthy as possible during this time and avoid all highly processed foods. They are detrimental to your health, whether you suffer from thyroid issues or not.

Conclusion

Under-active thyroid is not always easy to diagnose. Many people whose thyroid hormones seem to fall into a normal range, experience symptoms of low thyroid. These symptoms are often disregarded by conventional health care providers, but thanks to some serious clinical studies, sub-clinical hypothyroidism is receiving more attention now. Thyroid problems can be addressed nutritionally. Simple lifestyle changes, improved nutrition, supplementation with vital nutrients, moderate exercise, and proper relaxation may help considerably to improve one's condition.

By Dominique Allmon

This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.

Nutritional Support for Underactive Thyroid Gland by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.