Nutritional Coaching and Medical Weight Loss

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates (2400 BC)

Hippocrates said this well over two thousand years ago. Proper nutrition is within your control. The foods you eat combined with proper supplementation is critical to maintaining optimal health, and preventing disease. Ironically, the foods we eat can be the greatest ally to our health, while others could be of great detriment.

Obesity is the accumulation of abnormal, irregular, or excessive fat that may interfere with the maintenance of an optimal state of health. Most people are not aware that excess fat can create a chemical imbalance in the body, due to the excess of macronutrients in the adipose tissue. This excess stimulates adipose cells to release inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6, while also reducing the production of adiponectin. This confluence of events causes a pro-inflammatory state, as well as oxidative stress. The pro-inflammatory state increases level of interleukin 6, stimulating the liver to synthesize, and secrete, C-reactive protein (which we test for in bloodwork). The typical western diet causes many individuals to be chronically “stuck” in this pro-inflammatory state, leading to the development of a variety of diseases including: cardiovascular diseases including coagulation, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus. A pro-inflammatory state is also associated with the development of non-cardiovascular diseases, such as psoriasis, depression, cancer, and renal diseases. The bottom line is, the more obese you are, the more likely your body is to create an overabundance of inflammation, and the myriad of health issues that result from inflammation. Inflammation not only affects your body’s cells but increases your risk for developing life-threatening diseases and chronic health problems.

Obesity:
Eliminating excess body fat, particularly body fat that surrounds organs (visceral), through proper nutrition, and a personalized health supplement protocol, is key to mitigating cellular inflammation and optimizing your health. Researchers believe that overconsumption of foods that are high in fat or carbohydrates may cause oxidative stress to the cell’s mitochondria. Mitochondria are the cell’s powerhouse, converting macronutrients into cellular energy. Mitochondria take in nutrients from the cell, break them down, creating energy to power the cell. This energy is then used to carry out various cellular functions.When the body has excess fat, there is a chemical imbalance that damages our mitochondria and cellular health, and causes the body to produce an immune response. This immune response elevates C-reactive proteins (CRPs), and causes the body to generate excessive inflammation, leading to a myriad of health problems.

Obesity is also linked to Insulin-sensitivity. A lot of obese individuals tend to have poor nutrition (high glycemic index foods, high carbohydrate diet, “Western diets”), elevating insulin levels, resulting in the body’s creating and storing fat cells. Insulin spikes will also prevent the body from burning off existing fat cells, as it triggers energy “storage” mode. Insulin spikes can also lead to other diseases related to Chronic Inflammation.

Inflammation:
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury and illness, wherein the immune system eliminates harmful or foreign stimuli. Unfortunately, the natural process of inflammation can become chronic, leading to a condition known as “chronic inflammation”, causing a variety of health issues. Western diet, high in processed sugars, carbohydrates, trans fats, inflammatory cooking oils, alcohol, processed meats, and more, can be major contributors to chronic inflammation. This longer chronic condition is characterized by elevated C-reactive proteins (CRP) in the blood, a marker for inflammation associated with several illnesses. When our bodies are in a pro-inflammatory state, increased levels of interleukin 6 stimulate the liver to synthesize and secrete C-reactive protein (which we test for in a CRP test). A pro-inflammatory state, when considered “chronic “, is a major factor in the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases including coagulation, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus. Chronic inflammation is also associated with the development of non-cardiovascular diseases such as psoriasis, depression, cancer, and renal diseases. The bottom line is, the more obese you are, the more likely your body is to create an overabundance of inflammation, and the myriad of health issues that result from inflammation. Inflammation not only affects your body’s cells but increases your risk for developing life-threatening diseases and chronic health problems.