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