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It's true that we gain weight when we eat more than our bodies can burn off, but this conventional diet wisdom does not always hold true. We have all heard that weight gain can be caused by health conditions such as hypothyroidism, organ disease, anxiety, stree and/or depression; but did you know that weight gain can also be caused by food intolerances and sensitivities which are complicated by a condition known as Leaky Gut Syndrome? Did you know that statistics show that an estimated 75-90% of the population have been impacted by food intolerances and sensitivities? Research indicates that Leaky Gut Syndrome affects millions of people worldwide and they are not even aware they have it. While most diet plans talk about eating "healthy" foods to maintain a healthy body and weight and most will even give you a list of so-called "healthy foods" ; how many can tell you exactly which foods are healthy for YOU specifically? Our bodies are both complex and unique. A diet plan that works for one body will not necessarily be the key for another. For example; you could eat nothing but fish, whole grains and fresh vegetables; things that all diet plans will agree are "healthy foods" but if your body is intolerant to those foods then the result will be inflammation, sickness and weight gain. 65% of the immune system is located in the gut, which is a real problem when you consider that most people today have a compromised intestine or "Leaky Gut" (usually without even being aware of it). Because of this "leaky gut", undigested food particles are allowed to escape into the bloodstream before being properly broken down and digested. When this happens, our body begins to perceive foods that would normally be good for us, as a poison. The immune system quickly begins to respond by attacking the undigested food particles that have entered the bloodstream. The body actually begins to attack the very element (food) that would normally nourish it. As the immune system ttacks the food particles, inflammation then occurs and you eventually end up with food sensitivities as a result. Unlike a true food allergy, your bodies' reaction to food intolerance/sensitivities is not always immediate. True allergies cause acute inflammation; acute meaning brief and severe. This type of inflammation will typically manifest in the form of rapid swelling of the face or throat. You can also develop hives on your skin or difficulty breathing. These symptoms will most often come on suddenly, severely and last only a short period of time. On the other hand, food intolerances and sensitivities begin to show up over a period of time. The inflammation associated with them is chronic; chronic meaning continuing for a long period of time or recurring. Reactions can occue many hours or even days later and can show up as bloating and swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, abdomen, chin, and around the eyes. Chronic inflammation will often times remain undetected as it occurs within the intestinal tract and eventually the organs and various body tissue and builds up over time. Much of the weight gained from food intolerances is fluid retention caused by inflammation and the improper release of certain hormones. In addition, there is fermentation of foods, particularly carbohydrates, in the intestines which can result in a swollen distended belly and gas production. Food allergies, as well as food sensitivities, really do cause weight gain as a person's body perceives the food as poison; even perfectly good food if it has not been properly broken down and digested before it enters the blood stream, thus causing the body to store toxins in the tissues which then become inflamed and store fat. Research shows that 85% of the population suffers from some form of chronic inflammation. This is an alarming statistic. These inflammatory cells produce chemicals called tnf (tumor necrosis factor) and alpha nutra-leukin 6. These chemicals are designed to help the immune system fight off foreign invaders. In a case of acute inflammation and true toxic invaders, this is a desired response. However, in the case of chronic inflammation and food intolerances this is detrimental as these chemicals block the insulin receptors in the blood stream, causing them to be unable to transport sugar into the cells as they are designed to do. When this happens, the sugar is instead being stored in the fat cells. Another side-effect of inflammation in the gut is that the cells in the gut begin talking to each other and they when they do, they use a chemical called serotonin to communicate. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that is responsible for our moods and controls hunger. This absorption of serotonin by the gut causes the brain to perceive a serotonin deficit. This causes a person to feel uncomfortable. They unconsciously know that they can correct this feeling of discomfort by changing the level of serotonin in the brain. This is accomplished by eating sugar or a high glycemic index food (such as a doughnut or pasta) which will initiate the production of insulin. This is because when you eat a food high in sugar or with a high glycemic index , your body detects an over-abundance of sugar in the bloodstream and releases a high level of insulin which then causes a rapid breakdown of the sugar in the bloodstream. The insulin brings amino acids into the muscle tissue causing tryptophan to enter the brain tissue which produces more serotonin, therefore bringing relief. So this problem becomes even worse as opiod and endorphin releases occur in your brain causing you to actually crave the foods that your body has become sensitive to. You unknowingly become addicted and as you consume the foods you crave, your body reacts accordingly and the vicious cycle begins. As your willpower is overcome and you eat the offending foods, serotonin is suddenly released to thebrain, your craving then subsides and you begin to feel better. To summarize and put this problem in a nutshell; undigested food is escaping through the compromised intestinal wall and into the bloodstream and whether it's a twinkie or an apple makes no difference as the body perceives it as a threat and immediately reacts to protect itself. Through a series of events triggered by the immune system, inflammation then occurs which prevents the body from converting sugars and carbohydrates to energy as it normally would, but instead stores them in the fat cells and other areas, causing weight gain. As you may be able to see from the cycle of events depicted in this article; the body is very complex and there are many different systems and processes that are intricately woven together that help maintain the health and balance of the body as a whole. Hopefully this writing will help give you a deeper understanding into how your body really works and kickstart your journey to a thinner, healthier you.
About the Author After a lifetime of debilitating illness, Bill Guinan went on a search for answers the medical community was unable to give him. After 20 years of research Mr Guinan developed a system that gave him back a normal life. He and his wife, Jacque founded ThinkRite Herbals in order to share what he has learned with others in an effort to help them regain control over their health and life. |
