Bloating is a common problem, but embarrassment sometimes prevents us from discussing it openly, even with our physicians. Though not usually a symptom of a serious medical problem, bloating can be extremely uncomfortable and interfere with our quality of life, particularly as we get older. Because it usually surfaces at a problem as we age, it is a good idea to discuss this problem with a doctor who specializes in anti-aging diets and prescriptions. Such a discussion may lead to positive effects that please and surprise you.
Notice When You Are Most Troubled by Bloating
Though you may read about or discuss various causes of bloating, the most important insights about your problem will come from paying attention to your own body. Taking note of when you experience the most digestive discomfort — gas pains, flatulence, burping, and bloating — will help you and your doctor get a handle on the cause of your symptoms and zero in on the best treatments for them. More than likely, your bloating occurs during one or more of these times:
After a large meal or after eating certain particular foods
For women, during the time before you menstruate, during menstruation, during pregnancy, during the premenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal years
For men, when you hit middle-age or your older years, feel less energetic and experience decreased libido or erectile dysfunction
After drinking a great deal of alcohol, caffeinated or carbonated beverages
After being sedentary for a long period of time
When you haven’t followed your typical exercise routine
As you’ve no doubt noticed, for many people bloating coincides with times of hormonal changes. This means that consulting with a doctor who focuses on hormone therapy may be very helpful in treating this problem.
Possible Treatments for Bloating
There are a number of effective treatments for bloating, including:
Losing weight
Eating smaller portions; not eating before sleep
Dietary changes, such as avoiding excess alcohol, caffeine, and sports drinks, and cutting out unfermented soy, beans, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and artificial sweeteners,
Getting regular exercise
Receiving treatment that balances your hormones appropriately
Bloating is rarely a solitary symptom, so addressing it is likely to make your life much more pleasant. When Bloating Is a Serious Symptom Although bloating is most often the result of a digestive or hormonal problem that can be easily remedied with proper treatment, it should be remembered that bloating can sometimes be a sign of a more serious medical dysfunction. Repeated episodes or constant bloating should always be reported to, and diagnosed by, a medical professional, since about 10 percent of the time bloating is a sign of ovarian or liver cancer. Just because a symptom is common, you should never assume it is inconsequential. It is always safer to protect your health by discussing all symptoms you experience with a trusted physician.
The adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys, secrete hormones in response to stress. Most notably, cortisol and adrenaline are hormones which help mobilize quick energy for a ‘fight or flight’ response. Cortisol is designed to let you know that you are in danger.
How Does Cortisol Work?
Cortisol initially helps break down fat for energy, increases blood sugar and blood pressure. Adrenaline production increases alertness, energy level, and metabolism (releases energy from fat cells). These functions are crucial for survival in the face of danger. For example, this response was essential for our ancestors who were faced with threats such as running from a lion. When the immediate stress ends, adrenaline quickly returns to normal and cortisol takes over to get the body back into balance. One way cortisol aids the body in returning to equilibrium is by increasing appetite. Increased appetite and food intake allows carbohydrates and fats burned during the flight or fight response to be replenished. Therefore, this leads to cravings for simple carbohydrates like sugar as well as for fats.
More About Cortisol
Cortisol is known as “the stress hormone” because it’s secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress and prepares the body for “fight or flight.” Cortisol functions to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, metabolism, and inflammation. Small increases of cortisol produce positive effects like improved memory, reduced sensitivity to pain, increased immunity, and increased energy. However, elevated cortisol levels from prolonged or chronic stress can cause decreases in thyroid function, bone density, muscle mass and cognition. In addition, it can also lead to increased blood pressure, abdominal fat, and blood sugar imbalances.
High levels of cortisol can also lower immunity and inflammatory responses as well as slow down healing processes. Sustained high levels of cortisol will gradually tear down the body (called catabolism). Excessive acute or chronic stress can impair the functioning of the adrenal glands, eventually causing a decrease in the output of cortisol. This leads to adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion. The main symptom of adrenal exhaustion is overwhelming fatigue that is not relieved with rest.
All forms of stress produce the same physiological sequence of events as mentioned above. The body reacts the same way to emotional or physical stress so, fat and glucose get released into the blood stream along with everything else from the ‘fight or flight’ response.
In modern society, this response is not necessarily beneficial if the stress is emotional, i.e. an unhappy relationship, worry about paying bills, work pressure, sitting in a traffic jam, smog, worrying about children, to name a few. These stressful events do not require flight or fight and we don’t need all those calories our body makes available. Therefore, the extra calories get deposited as fat.
More must know tips about cortisol and weight loss in Los Angeles
In today’s world, the stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal. As a result, this leads to elevated circulating cortisol which continually releases glucose into the system. Next, insulin rises to drive the glucose into the cells. If this is not needed for extra energy it gets stored as fat. Stress induced cortisol weight is usually gained around the waistline and is known as belly fat. This is because fat cells in that area are more sensitive to cortisol. This is a perilous place to gain weight, as it can lead to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. Paul Chek refers to belly fat as Syndrome X
Prolonged physical and emotional stress causes elevated cortisol. Elevated cortisol causes high blood sugar, increased belly fat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and muscle loss. While undergoing chronic episodes of prolonged stress, adrenal glands continue to pump out cortisol. This happens many times at the expense of other hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone). In peri-menopausal and menopausal women, this further disrupts hormones that are already out of balance. As a result, this can cause even more weight gain issues. Sleeping disturbances, which are common in peri-menopause and menopause can elevate cortisol levels. That being said so can drinking too much caffeine.
Here are a few tips about cortisol and weight loss
get regular exercise, cardio for 45 minutes daily
Eat frequent small meals with protein at each meal
Find stress reduction techniques that work for you, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises.
Improve time management skills so life won’t be so hectic
Hormones and Weight Loss Part 1: Estrogen Hormones
Why is it so difficult to lose weight around and during menopause? At these times, weight gain becomes more common and feels different than weight gain at other times of life. Pounds are easier to gain, harder to lose and show up as love handles, belly fat and/or cellulite. In addition, the usual methods of dieting and exercise don’t work anymore. Sometimes, weight loss difficulties have nothing to do with diet and exercise.
When it comes to hormones and weight loss, things like nutritional imbalances, chronic inflammation, metabolic issues, leaky gut, toxins and even genetics can cause weight loss issues. However, for women in perimenopause and menopause, the difficulties are most likely due to hormonal imbalances. It becomes almost impossible to lose weight. This is of course until hormones are replaced and balanced. Hormone fluctuations in perimenopause and menopause directly impact appetite, fat storage, and metabolism. The causes of hormonal weight gain and resistance to weight loss in menopause and perimenopause are explained below. The first important hormone to know about is estrogen.
Changes In Estrogen Levels and Weight Loss Difficulty
One cause of weight loss difficulty around and during menopause is the changing and fluctuating of estrogen levels. The ovaries produce more estrogen relative to progesterone during this time but levels of both these hormones start to decrease dramatically. The body will find other sources of estrogen. Since fat produces estrogen, the body will increase fat production to make more estrogen.
Avoiding Weight Gain and Estrogen Dominance
Too much estrogen (estrogen dominance) can be due to dietary issues such as excess sugar, refined carbs, alcohol and red meat, and low fiber intake. Too many antibiotics damage the gut leading to estrogen spikes because the body can’t properly detoxify or excrete waste. Environmental toxins such as phthalates and biphenyl A mimic estrogen in the body. They bind to sites that estrogen normally does. Furthermore, excess estrogen can cause the following:
Cellulite
Weight gain in the hip and thigh areas
An increase in breast size and tenderness
Fluid retention
PMS and Irritability
Fibroids
Heavy periods
Ovarian cysts
Estrogen dominance can be controlled by limiting red meat, alcohol, and cutting way down on sugar and carbs. Getting your estrogen level evaluated and balanced by a physician specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help alleviate these serious symptoms. In addition, balancing estrogen has lifelong benefits for health including the following:
Losing and maintaining weight loss
Preventing bone breakdown
Aiding with mineral absorption
Keeping skin hydrated
Helping regulate menstrual cycles.
Estrogen is also important for the health of the brain, and cardiovascular system.
Hormones and Weight Loss Part 2: How The Insulin Hormone Affects Weight Loss
During perimenopause and menopause, some women notice it becomes more difficult to lose weight and easier to gain it. Weight is not distributed the in the body as it was in younger years. Thus, body shape can change subtly or drastically, with love handles, abdominal, breast and arm weight appearing. Fat in these areas is an indicator of hormonal imbalance, which, in large part, is due to the hormone insulin.
WHAT ARE THE FUCNTIONS OF INSULIN AND HOW IS IT MADE?
Insulin, produced in the pancreas, regulates the digestive system by facilitating the break down and conversion of food into energy. Another major function of insulin is to regulate and stabilize blood sugar levels. All food eaten is broken down into proteins, nutrients, and glucose for use in metabolism. Insulin processes glucose (the body’s key fuel source) in the bloodstream and carries it into cells to be used as fuel. Once cells have received enough glucose, any excess gets stored as fat.
INSULIN RESISTENCE & TYPE 2 DIABETES
Chronically high levels of insulin can lead to a pre-diabetic condition called insulin resistance and possibly even type 2 diabetes. Insulin levels rise in almost all women during menopause due to the hormonal imbalance triggered by changes in estrogen and progesterone. Elevated insulin levels can also be triggered by a high sugar, high refined carbohydrate diet, excessive alcohol as well as lack of exercise, stress, high blood pressure and/or a family history of diabetes.
When a woman is insulin resistant, she is producing adequate amounts of insulin but her body is not responding to it normally. Thus, Glucose is less able to enter the cells. The pancreas detects this excess glucose and increasingly pumps out insulin to push the extra glucose into the cells. Because insulin is unable to facilitate pushing glucose into the cells, excess levels of glucose build up in the blood and get stored as fat. Because this process deprives body cells of energy, a stressful situation in created leading to craving for sweets, carbohydrates, and further weight gain.
Anyone can become insulin resistant, but as just illustrated it is more common in women during perimenopause and menopause. The best way to treat insulin resistance and begin losing weight is through lifestyle changes. Below are a few suggestions:
Keep glucose levels stable by eating 5-6 mini meals/day with protein and complex carbs at each meal. Proteins and complex carbs are harder to digest and keep blood sugar and insulin levels stable.
Don’t skip or delay meals because this slows metabolism and will cause glucose level to drop below normal.
Eliminate white food such as bread, pasta, and sugar.
quit smoking, limit alcohol, and get 7-8 hr. sleep/night.
Is being exposed to heavy metals something that should be taken seriously? The National Institute of Health defines heavy metals as “naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least 5 times greater than that of water.” Some metals that fall into this category are arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and zinc. While some are actually essential nutrients that are required for different biochemical and physiological functions, the necessary dosage is extremely minute. In larger amounts, these substances can build up in the body or the environment and create significant health hazards. Everyone comes into contact with toxic substances, and, more and more, heavy metal testing is confirming that this is taking place on a daily basis. How harmful that contact may be depends upon the strength of the concentration and for how long, as well as the particular vulnerability of the individual exposed. While there are other factors that make someone vulnerable, in general, the members of the population most susceptible include:
The very young
The elderly
The poor
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Anyone with a compromised immune system, enzyme deficiency or genetic vulnerability
Organ transplant recipients
Those dependent on natural resources for food, clothing and shelter
Exposure alone does not necessarily mean that there is a health danger, which is good because these metals are, seemingly, everywhere. One of the reasons it is so difficult to limit contact with heavy metals is that they can be found in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Lead-based paint was banned by the government in 1978 but many houses exist that were built before that. Commercial products, industrial sites, farming operations and numerous other places are apt to have varying levels of concentrations of these metals. In the event someone is exposed to a large amount of a heavy metal all at one time, like if a child managed to swallow a lead-containing toy, acute poisoning can occur. This can be quite serious causing long term health damage or even possibly death. Symptoms that may indicate acute poisoning from heavy metals range from confusion, numbness, nausea and vomiting all the way to coma. Exposure over a longer period of time to lower levels of concentration, rather than a significant amount all at one time, is referred to as chronic heavy metal poisoning. Symptoms, which may be severe but less obvious and develop gradually, making diagnosis much more difficult, include:
Headaches
Increasing weakness
Aching muscles and painful joints
Constipation
Decreased energy
Health issues related to heavy metal exposure can pose a serious threat and should be brought to the attention of your healthcare professional as soon as possible. There is also evidence that toxic buildup can contribute to difficulty in losing weight, in much the same way as hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies and stress. With any of these contributing factors, calorie cutting and exercise will often not be enough in the weight loss struggle. At the Southern California Center for Anti-Aging, we strongly believe that a patient should fully understand his or her health and metabolic profile before choosing a weight loss plan. Testing to rule out heavy metal exposure is just one step of our advanced testing and analysis process. To learn more about our heavy metal testing, take advantage of our Free Consultation by calling (424) 247-4962 or click here to use our convenient online form.
Looking to avoid holiday weight gain? You’re not alone. The average American gains five pounds during the holiday season. This may seem inevitable with all those family gatherings, workplace events and other food- and drink-laden social engagements. However, with a little planning, adding those extra pounds can be avoided
Set realistic Weight Loss goals
Come holiday season, it’s easy to set lofty goals about weight loss. Write down your goals—keep them specific and attainable—and post them somewhere highly visible. If your goal is “stick to two cookies at every holiday party” seeing it periodically may help you commit.
Don’t starve yourself before a holiday meal or party.
You’ll only show up hungry and eat too much. Keep your hunger in check with a few small meals throughout the day. Also, be sure to eat a small snack about 1 hr. before the holiday dinner.
Take snacks wherever you go
Without snacks comes hunger that lead you right over to the hors d’oeuvre table, which is usually hunks of cheese and other high-fat, calorie-dense fare. Bring healthy snacks with you — in your glove compartment, purse, gym bag, and brief case. Whenever hunger hits, you’re ready. If you’re hungry at the party, reach for the vegetables, fruit or rye crackers.
Select low calorie density foods first
A huge green salad, a plate of fresh fruit, and a side of roasted vegetables add up to a lot of food, but not a lot of calories.
Don’t stand by the food at the party
You will be less likely to partake in unconscious snacking all night if you instead move, mingle and socialize with friends. The closer you are to the food, the more you will eat. Face away from the dessert spread and listen to cues from your gut rather than your eyes.
MORE WEIGHT LOSS TIPS!
Eat and chew slowly
It pays off to pace yourself. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to register a “full” sensation and signal the brain that it’s had enough. In addition, the quicker you eat, the less time the body has to register fullness. Thus, slow down and take a second to savor each bite of food. It’s best to go for a walk or chat with friends before dishing up seconds.
Stick to a regular routine with sleep and exercise.
Many times, feeling tired or stressed is mistaken for hunger.
De-stress
The holiday season is full of cheer, but it can also be stressful keeping up with family get-togethers. Stress can trigger increased eating and cravings, especially for sugary carbohydrates. Thus, if the holidays have you feeling overwhelmed, try out one of these ways to reduce stress. Meditation—using techniques like muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and mindfulness may work wonders when attempting to avoid holiday weight gain.
Stay consistent with exercise routine
Exercise is especially critical during this time of larger-than-usual meals. In addition to your regular exercise schedule, plan activities like walks, hikes, bicycle rides, and dances with family and friends. Seek out a professional to help you with your program if you need motivation.
Watch alcohol intake
Alcoholic beverages contain empty calories, offering little to no nutritional value and contributing to excess weight gain. Try having a seltzer with a lime twist or a glass of water between alcoholic drinks to help cut calories and remain well hydrated. In addition, drinking too much alcohol can cause us to lose inhibitions around food and start eating irresponsibly.
OUR FINAL 5 WEIGHT LOSS TIPS =)
Use tall, thin glasses for drinks
People pour less liquid into tall glasses than into shorter glasses. With a taller glass, you’re likely to down less in one sitting (which is especially helpful when drinking booze).
Use smaller plates
Plate sizes have expanded significantly over the years. Whenever possible, choose the smaller salad plate instead of a large dinner one. Using smaller plates can make it seem like you are eating more than you are.
Dealing with Cravings
It’s smart to acknowledge a few cravings instead of pushing them away completely. Forbidding a specific food or food group during the holiday season may only make it more attractive. Still want more of that apple pie after a couple of bites?
Wait before grabbing seconds.
Try thinking of a favorite holiday activity, like opening presents, watching Christmas movies, or playing in the snow. Daydreaming about pleasant activities or distracting yourself with just about any activity can reduce the intensity of food cravings. Try small tastes of the desserts you’re truly craving.
Drink water
Water helps people feel full, and therefore consume fewer calories. Rather than guzzling calorie- and sugar-laden sodas and juices (which are associated with increased body fat and blood pressure) treat yourself to a glass of wine with dinner and keep your allegiance to water for the rest of the day.
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The latest diet craze has many women and men injecting themselves with a substance that suppresses the appetite. It is so effective doctors say you can lose up to one pound a day. But not everyone believes it’s safe. Inside her El Segundo home Karen Coran injects herself, plunging a needle into the folds of her stomach.
“You make sure that the syringe doesn’t have any bubbles in it… Inject the needle straight in,” dieter Karen Coran said while demonstrating how she prepares her injections.
She is not a drug addict or a diabetic — she is an extreme dieter.
“I’ve done Lindora, I’ve done Weight Watchers,” she said.
She tried almost everything. At 5 foot-3 inches and more than 250 pounds, she was considering lap band surgery. “I was frustrated, because it seemed like my body, no matter what i did, wanted to hold on to the weight,” Coran said.
Then her doctor told her about the HCG Diet. HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone used for fertility treatments. It’s found naturally in the bodies of pregnant women. Some doctors believe HCG tricks the body into pulling fat from the body while suppressing appetite.
Dr. Judi Goldstone weighs in on The HCG Diet Craze
“Have you ever seen anything that works this well?” I asked Dr. Judi Goldstone.
“There was so much patient demand. They were calling asking if i did it. I started researching it and I tried it. And I was just shocked by how phenomenal the results are,” Goldstone said.
She now has 20 patients on HCG. Most of them are women, but she says it works just as well for men.
Patients on the HCG diet are restricted to 500 to 800 calories a day. The diet is limited, consisting of plenty of protein with some fruits and vegetables.
“I’ll get tomatoes and strawberries, which are great this time of year,” Coran said.
Doctors say that many patients lose a half pound to a pound a day for the first six weeks. Because the caloric intake is so low, doctors actually urge their patients not to exercise.
“Is there ever a point where the patients are losing too much weight and too fast?” I asked the doctor.
“Yes. I’ve said no you have got to maintain your weight for the next week,” Goldstone said.
A typical lunch consists of three ounces of chicken, a few strawberries and a piece of lettuce.
Opponents say that eating like that of course dieters will lose weight. They warn it can be dangerous, causing vitamin deficiencies or other serious health problems. “It’s risky to get injections of a substance one a week,” said Dr. Sharon Orrange, an internist at
The Doctors of USC, who specializes in women’s health. HCG first became popular as a diet drug in the U.S. in the 1970s. But recently it has exploded on the Internet. Dozens of websites advertise pharmaceutical or homeopathic HCG.
More About HCG
HCG is FDA approved for fertility treatment, but not for weight loss. To get it, you need a prescription from your doctor. If you buy it without a prescription over the Internet, there is no way to determine what is really in the product.
“I think the FDA will perk up and I know they have in the last couple of weeks and start to really cut down on what’s sold on the Internet,” Orrange said. Dr. Orrange recommended asking yourself the follow questions before starting any extreme diet.
Is it nutritionally adequate?
Has it been researched?
Is this diet sustainable?
Coran says that with the help of her doctor, she is starting her second phase of the diet.
“A diet is sort of a personal thing. What works for me may not work for you or somebody else,” Coran said. She hopes to lose another 30 pounds in the next few weeks.
“I’m not where I need to be yet, but I know I’m on the path and I know I can continue the journey and get to where i need to go,” she said.
The HCG Diet costs almost $400 for a six-week treatment and it is not covered under insurance since it is considered preventative health.
For More Information on the HCG Diet:
Judi Goldstone, MD Southern California Center for Anti-Aging Anti-Aging Medicine Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Medically Supervised Weight Loss 23823 Hawthorne Blvd. Torrance, CA. 90505 (424) 247-4962 phone (310) 375-1120 fax
