This is article number three in my series on weight loss and I’d like to talk to you about metabolism. First, let’s review my last two articles: if you want to increase your odds of living a long life, keep your BMI between 24 and 30. According to the body mass index if your BMI is 25 to 30 you are considered overweight, however, studies show that being so-called “overweight” also leads to living the longest. Food sensitivity and allergy cause poor digestion, the formation of metabolic toxins and water retention, leading to increased weight.
Put yourself on a hypoallergenic diet (google Dr. Gaby’s Hypoallergenic Diet) for a week or so, track your weight and then reintroduce one food at a time weighing yourself the morning after the day of food reintroduction. If you gain weight the food you reintroduced is causing water weight gain. Now, on to metabolism, the very individual rate at which our cells produce and use energy. One very common cause of weight gain is having an underactive thyroid.
The thyroid makes hormones that stimulate your cells to make energy and if your thyroid is not being properly fed hormone output declines and you’ll feel tired, cold, fat, constipated, have hair loss or dry skin. Even if your thyroid blood test is normal, any of the above symptoms you might be your body trying to tell you that you have a weak thyroid gland. The thyroid gland depends on nutrients like iodine, tyrosine, selenium to function properly.
Nature also provides herbs like Blue Flag, Nettle, Ashwagandha and Haritaki to nourish and encourage the thyroid to be at it’s best. If your thyroid is weak your metabolism will slow, you’ll have some or all of the above listed symptoms and you’ll be prone to carrying extra weight. Be sure to get your thyroid function tested and if it is normal seek out help for what is called sub-clinical hypothyroidism to see if treatment can help with weight loss.
