Obesity Part Two

Last week we looked at some of the theories put forward to explain obesity. We looked at the ‘set point’ theory, which states that we have a set weight which the body tries to maintain by making us hungry if we fall below the “set point.” Also the effect of mood on weight; a low mood often leads to excessive eating of carbohydrates which in turn can create an insulin resistance which will lead to excessive weight gain.

    Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which controls blood sugar levels. When a person eats too much unrefined carbohydrates in their diets (fizzy drinks, white bread, cakes, biscuits, white pasta or sweets) the bodies cells become insensitive to insulin, then the bodies fat cells become bad at burning fat which results in an increase in the size of the fat cells leading to an increased weight and the set point gets higher - the body will always try to maintain the set-point weight. Thus our appetite also gets bigger as we get bigger!

    The key to overcoming the fat cells set point appears to be increasing the sensitivity of the fat cells to insulin. This sensitivity can be improved, and the set point lowered, by exercise, a good diet and several nutritional supplements.

    Keeping your blood sugar balanced is probably the most important factor in maintaining even energy levels and weight. An estimated three in every ten people have impaired ability to keep their blood sugar levels even.

    The best way to achieve optimal blood sugar balance is to control the Glycogenic load; go to website www.patrickholford.com  or buy Patrick Holford’s book the ‘‘GL Diet,’’ to get advice on the GL Diet.

    A successful program for excess weight and obesity is based on four cornerstones of good health. A positive mental attitude, a healthy lifestyle (especially important is regular exercise), a health promoting diet and supplementary measures (i.e. certain nutritional supplements)

    A new type of supplement produced from white kidney beans has been proven to reduce weight through its ability to block the effect of carbohydrates. During the digestive process, our bodies convert carbohydrates, found in starchy foods such as potatoes and pasta, into sugar. Your body does this by breaking-down carbohydrates with an enzyme called alpha amylase produced by the pancreas.

    These sugars are either burned off, through exercise, or stored by the body in fat cells. This supplement, called Phase 2, neutralizes this digestive enzyme Alpha Amylase before it can convert starch into glucose or fat. Essentially it allows the carbohydrates to pass through the digestive system unchanged. This will help lower the Glycogenic index of certain foods.

    In one study it was noted that weight dropped by 2kg over an eight week period by taking this supplement each day while eating the same amount of food as before the test.

    Another supplement worth looking at is chromium. Chromium plays a key role in increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. In one study, patients were given chromium picolinate at 200mcg, 400mcg or a placebo for ten weeks. The patients who took chromium picolinate lost an average of 2kg of fat. The results were most striking in elderly subjects and in men. The men who took chromium picolinate lost more than several times as much body fat as those who took the placebo. The 400mcg dose was found to be the most effective.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist