Weight Management

Chronic illness
often contributes to weight management problems.

Some people gain weight and cannot lose easily while other people lose weight and cannot gain easily.  Pertinent lab work and tests are often normal.  Your PCP cannot find any associated conditions.  Frustration is an understatement!  Why is weight management so difficult with chronic illness?

In traditional naturopathy, we always want to seek underlying causes that are contributing to health imbalances and to work on restoring balance.  With weight management issues, the root causes are usually related to toxins, energy, and diet, but other factors can also be involved.

TOXINS

We are exposed to toxins from the environment, from chronic infections, and from our own metabolism. Environmental toxins include heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation, pesticides, chemicals, fragrances, medications, vaccinations, etc.  Many infections produce their own biotoxins.  For example, the Lyme bacteria called borrelia possesses a neurotoxin that affects the nervous system. Many metabolic pathways result in toxins naturally, too.

Toxins are generally at the root of the problem with inappropriate weight gain.   If these toxins are not eliminated, then they accumulate in the tissues.  The body wants to protect its organs so it cushions them with fat.  Then, the body stores even more toxins in the fat.  In addition, the fat then produces leptin which leads to even more weight gain that does not respond to exercise and diet.  This cycle is extremely difficult to break.

Toxins can be implicated with inappropriate weight loss, too.  In particular, toxins  can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and interfere with nutrient absorption.  Sometimes the gallbladder gets sick from the toxins; the resulting nausea interferes with a normal appetite. 

DIET

Of course, what we eat has a huge factor in weight management.  In general, if we eat too much, we gain weight and if we eat too little, we lose weight. Makes sense.

But quantity of food is not nearly as important as quality of food. 

If we follow guidelines for the Standard American Diet (SAD), we will usually gain weight and acquire health imbalances.  SAD advises to eat plenty of carbohydrates and allows toxic food sources.

Carbohydrates are broken down to simple sugars especially glucose.  When our bodies burn glucose for fuel, then advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed.  These AGEs occur when sugar combines with fats and proteins creating dangerous compounds that accumulate over time and that cause harmful oxidative stress and inflammation. Weight gain often results.

Diets based on lower carbs generally result in weight loss as well as improved health.  In particular, it is best to avoid beans, grains, and starchy carbohydrates. Lower carb diets include keto, ketovore, and carnivore.  


ENERGY PRODUCTION

Body weight is a function of energy production.  If the body cannot adequately burn fuel and produce energy, then food is more likely to be stored as fat. 

Also, if the body does not have energy for detoxification, more toxins are stored along with fat. 

Minerals must be adequately regulated in order to assure sufficient energy production.


PLAN

So, what can we do?

We need to assure a proper diet, adequate energy production through mineral regulation, and detoxification of unwanted toxins.  We also need to check for other possible root causes.  Dr. Bazylewicz can support you on this journey.  


Weight management can be challenging,
but successful nevertheless!



Let food

be thy medicine, 

and medicine 

be thy food.  

~Hippocrates

DANDELION

Herb

Your word

is a lamp

to my feet

and a light

to my path.

~Psalm 119:105

ECHINACEA

Herb

The secret of health

for both mind and body

is not to mourn for the past,

worry about the future,

or anticipate troubles,

but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

~Buddha (paraphrased)

LAVENDER

Herb