Are you overweight? Do you experience overwhelming cravings or unexplainable and
puzzling fluctuations in your weight? Have you tried exercising and every diet plan
coming down the pike with no success? Simple overeating or deep
seated psychological issues may not be the real culprit of your
problem. You may have undiagnosed allergies or sensitivities to
foods, chemicals or molds that you are not aware of.
Perfume, hair spray, fabric softener, cleaning supplies, car exhaust, moldy basements or books, pesticides, smog,
wheat, sugar, the smell of coffee, a date with a smoker or many other
foods or chemicals can all be triggers for cravings, binges, inflammation and water
retention, which can result in weight gain.
Six Different Ways that Allergens or Sensitivities can Stimulate Weight Gain:
- Addiction
According to Dr. Theron Randolph, in the advanced stage of food allergy,
the allergic individual becomes addicted to the allergen.
Many people are overweight because they are actually addicted to
certain foods. It's usually one of your favorite foods and
one that you eat quite frequently. When eaten it supplies you
with a fix, an instant lift and relieves your allergic symptoms
temporarily, then after the let down your craving returns and you need
to eat this food again to feel better.
- Cravings
Any food or substance that cause allergies or sensitivities can also cause intense hunger
pangs, by interfering in neurotransmitters in the brain and other brain functions.
A craving can be for a specific food like ice cream or for
a general family such as pasta.
- The Appestat Switch-Off
Scientists have found that certain substances can go directly to the
brain and shut off the appestat, or appetite control center.
Normally it should tell you that you are full and it is time to stop
eating, but if it does not shut off you never feel full and thus want
to continue eating.
This adverse reaction can be caused by anything –hugging a friend who
is wearing perfume, dryer exhaust from your neighbor, or eating a wheat
cookie. If you never feel full or hungry after a meal, your
appestat may not be functioning properly.
Once you can identify what substances are problematic for you then you
can eliminate them and reactivate your hunger control center.
- Edema
The most common form of allergic obesity is fluid retention. If
you notice that you are heavier the day after you eat a particular
food, your body is probably responding to an allergy.
- Inflammation
Food sensitivities often result in inflammation, which can be exhibited not
only in unexplained weight gain, but as pain, eczema, itching, gastrointestinal
distress, headaches, congestion, aching, arthritis, fatigue, health palpitations, irritable bowel and many
more.
- Metabolism
Sensitivity to foods also blocks insulin receptors and disrupts the bodies metabolic system, resulting in
improper metabolism. When foods are not metabolized properly this often results
in weight gain.
By identifying your food, chemical and mold sensitivities, you can then take
the necessary steps to remove them from your diet and living space and eliminate
the symptoms they create. The best way to identify your hidden food, mold or chemical sensitivities
is with the
ALCAT test.
Additionally, there's a great book called
Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making You Fat by Roger Deutsch & Rudy Rivera. This book tells you everything you need to know about how food sensitivity results in weight gain and how the ALCAT test can be used to help you achieve weight loss success.
If you order an ALCAT test, I'll throw a copy of this book in for free. When you order your ALCAT test, just enter the code "Free Book" in the Notes section during your order taking process.
A recent study called "The Effect of The ALCAT Test Diet Therapy for Food Sensitivity in Patient's With Obesity" performed by researchers in Dubai and published in the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine found that simple avoidance of hidden food sensitivities or intolerances identified by the ALCAT test can be just as effective as herbs, drugs or extreme restriction of calories. The participants in the study reported an average weight loss of approximately 37 pounds, dropped an average of six points on the BMI (body mass index) and decrease in body fat of about 30 percent.
It's also important to pay close attention to your eating habits, the air you breath and the
chemicals and fragrances that you use. Look for possible
connections between changes in your weight and the kinds of food you
eat (instead of being focused on how much you eat) and also take note of
when and where cravings, uncontrollable hunger and binges occur.
Also pay close attention to any changes you may have in mood or thought
such as: anger, depression, crying, irritability, and inability
to concentrate or think clearly. These same substances that
cause weight gain and cravings can also create symptoms that appear to
be psychological, but are really a result of a sensitivity to the food
or chemical.
There are several other factors that may occur by themselves or they
are frequently found in addition to food allergies or sensitivities that may
also contribute to weight gain, cravings, or intense hunger.
- Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a common problem that many people are not aware
of. It can create intense hunger and cravings. By finding a
hypoglycemic diet that is appropriate for your body type it is possible
to improve or correct your blood sugar imbalance and remove your
intense hunger and cravings.
- Thyroid Disorders
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid functioning) is a very common
disorder and often goes undiagnosed. Conventional blood tests for
thyroid often fail to detect a problem. Weight gain is one of
many symptoms that may accompany hypothyroidism. The most
accurate way to determine if your thyroid is functioning properly is
through the Barnes Basal Temperature Test. ( Another very common
symptom of Low Thyroid function is fatigue and depression.)
- Candida Albicans Overgrowth
Candida is a yeast that naturally occurs in all of our bodies. It
is supposed to be there in balanced amounts. Due to factors such
as a diet high in sugars and refined carbohydrates, chemicals in our
environment, and the overuse of antibiotics this yeast can begin to
grow in excess amounts and create numerous problems in our
bodies. Intense cravings and hunger for sweets or
carbohydrates is one of the most common symptoms.
- Nutritional Deficiencies
Up to 50% of the population fails to ingest the recommended daily
allowances of minerals and vitamins. Certain imbalances such as
low levels of chromium can create hunger and cravings. Low
chromium is also a factor in hypoglycemia.
If you need help sorting this all out, you may find
Cynthia's
holistic health counseling, which is available by phone, to be
helpful and get you on the right track.
References:
Dr. Roy Kerry, M.D.
Dr. Sherry Rogers, M.D.
Marshall Mandel
