| Patients with a stubborn weight problem usually | | | | Mr. B., age 69, came to my office wanting to lose |
| have underlying digestive issues. Many of these | | | | weight and improve his energy. His body shape |
| people, because their digestive system is | | | | was the classic liver belly, a large protruding |
| compromised, experience food intolerances. | | | | abdomen. After two weeks on the liver |
| An intolerance to a particular food, or family of | | | | enhancement diet and supplement program, along |
| foods, is a condition that often comes in under | | | | with eliminating dairy, he began to lose weight. |
| the radar. A patient may have complaints that | | | | After several months, he had lost 20 pounds. |
| include bloating, swelling legs, a rash, a filmy white | | | | Even more importantly, he stated that he has |
| coat on the tongue, feeling full in the upper right | | | | more energy and vitality and has not felt this |
| quadrant of the abdomen, irritability, restlessness, | | | | good in 40 years! |
| and back or shoulder pain. These complaints, | | | | Your body's reaction to certain foods may start |
| either alone or in any combination, may indicate a | | | | with your digestion, yet it can act as a stressor |
| food intolerance. | | | | to your whole system, affecting other areas and |
| A forty- two year old woman gained over 35 | | | | bodily functions. |
| pounds with the birth of her second child. She was | | | | When our system is stressed in any of the areas |
| unable to lose the weight. She consulted a weight | | | | of the Triad of Health; structural, chemical, or |
| loss clinic, followed the program to the letter, and | | | | emotional, the body responds with the same |
| though it was an excellent program, she did not | | | | stress response, no matter the source. The brain |
| lose even one pound after almost four months on | | | | stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol, |
| the program. Part in frustration and part in | | | | which acts on the liver to break down glycogen |
| concern, she consulted a medical doctor who | | | | into sugar for "fight-or-flight" which in turn triggers |
| suggested surgery. She declined. When I checked | | | | the release of insulin. The insulin brings the sugar |
| her with muscle response testing, it was | | | | into play for action, and if none is needed by the |
| determined that she was reacting to nuts and | | | | muscles, the sugar goes back to the liver. If not |
| cheese, the very things she frequently snacked | | | | needed there because the liver has reached its |
| on. After removing nuts and cheese from her | | | | maximum capacity for it, it goes to fat storage. |
| diet, she lost almost eight pounds in three weeks. | | | | Thus, as our bodies adapt to a chronic state of |
| Oversensitivity to Stress | | | | stress, say a structural or emotional stress, our |
| When you have a sensitivity to the amount of | | | | hormones become out of balance creating an |
| stress you live under, and when you eat during | | | | additional chemical stress on our system. |
| those times, you may experience bloating, | | | | Good News |
| flatulence, belching, and a burning sensation. | | | | The good news is that there are protocols to |
| Gastritis and other stubborn symptoms of | | | | determine which foods are the culprits if food |
| stressful digestion are reported. When your body | | | | intolerance is the issue. Eating healthy, natural |
| is under stress, your digestive system is affected. | | | | foods and knowing which foods to stay away |
| Often at that time, you may develop food | | | | from, along with exercise, is a way to |
| intolerances. | | | | successfully release fat and keep the weight off. |