Weight gain: causes and solutions

There are so many things to say about weight gain, nonetheless, in this article we want to go straight to the point and talk about the data provided by a research carried out by The European Institute of Nutritional Medicine.

Our body is designed to be healthy, therefore, it naturally tends to reach its optimal health condition, and also, its ideal weight.

Main factors for weight gain:

A number of factors might prevent our body from reaching its ideal condition, the main factors that contribute to obesity are:

• Water retention;
• Excessive fat accumulation;
• Intestinal bacterial flora alteration.

Water retention:

Our body naturally tends to retain liquids and normally they settle in the areas most prone to fat accumulation such as the hips, buttocks or in the abdomen.

Water retention is due to mineral deficiency, dehydration and stress.

Excessive fat accumulation:

Fat accumulation is mainly caused by a hormonal imbalance, involving the hormones that regulate metabolism and energy: insulin and leptin. Highly processed, high-calorie type of food are rapidly absorbed, raising blood sugar levels. Our body, in the attempt to maintain a constant blood sugar level, produces ever-increasing amounts of insulin and leptin, which in the long run promote fat accumulation.

Intestinal bacterial flora:

A diet rich in sugars, carbohydrates, alcohol, preservatives, overuse of antibiotics and stress are some of the factors that can alter intestinal flora.

Solutions:

Whole food diets, exercise, and nutrients that promote blood sugar control and help balance normal insulin and leptin functions are vital to achieving an ideal weight. Among the most important nutrients that help normalize the function of these two key hormones are: cinnamon, magnesium, chromium, alpha lipoic acid, glutamine and carnitine.

Francesca Marcon, Biologist