The Power of Whole-Body Metabolism
Total Health Breakthroughs
August 27, 2007
By James B. LaValle
Americans are trying more than ever to win the battle of the bulge. Yet, many people are frustrated when the supposedly simple formula -- eat less and exercise more -- doesn't work for them. What they need is an entirely new approach that I call whole-body metabolism.
The classic definition of metabolism is the rate at which a person burns calories. According to this formula people should be able to find out their metabolic rate, then eat and exercise accordingly for weight loss.
Newer approaches to metabolism are much broader. Recent scientific discoveries reveal that metabolism is the sum total of all the biochemical reactions of the body and everything that influences them, such as environmental exposures, your diet, past and current drug therapy, stress load, exercise, genetics and other factors.
One benefit of a whole-body metabolism approach is that it helps you understand your previous diet failures and takes the guilt away. Many people feel they are just weak and lack will power, when in reality they have true physiological reasons why it's difficult to lose weight. A whole-body metabolism approach offers a science-based way to guide and direct you in diet, lifestyle and the appropriate use of dietary supplements that not only helps to address these complaints but also gets your metabolism back on the path toward health.
The potential influences on metabolism can be grouped into nine key factors:
1. Adrenal/thyroid/pancreas function and their effects on stress hormones.
2. Intestinal/digestive health.
3. Immune function.
4. Neurotransmitter balance.
5. Environmental stressors.
6. Detoxification capacity of the body.
7. Oxidative stress.
8. Genetic expression.
9. Diet and lifestyle.
An imbalance in any one of these areas can negatively influence metabolism. Knowing how to recognize imbalances in these key areas and how to address them is the way to not only optimize metabolic performance, but also improve energy and slow key aging processes, like inflammation and free radical damage, glucose regulation and immune dysfunction.
Here are some examples of why a whole-body approach is needed. More and more studies are validating a low-carb diet as being the most effective for not only weight loss but for controlling insulin resistance.
In a perfect world, we would all be able to eat a low-carb diet to improve insulin sensitivity and lose weight. In reality, many people are unable to sustain a low-carb diet because of other influences. Let me give you some real-world challenges and the action steps you can take to overcome them.
Challenge 1. Chronic stress (adrenal function) often leads to serotonin and dopamine deficits (neurotransmitter imbalance). Serotonin deficits can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia and carbohydrate cravings. Eating a high-carb meal leads to increased tryptophan absorption and serotonin production; therefore, most people with chronically high stress hormones will have difficulty sustaining a low-carb diet due to intense carbohydrate cravings.
Perceived problem: It's impossible to eat a low-carbohydrate diet long term.
Actual problem: My serotonin levels were low due to chronic stress and dropped further with a reduced carb intake.
Solution: Use supplements to help manage stress response and restore serotonin balance and/or pulse higher carb intake temporarily, then return to low-carb eating once neurotransmitters are balanced.
Challenge 2. Low-carb diets tend to be higher in fat. As long as the fats eaten are healthy fats like those found in olive oil and avocados, we can eat higher fat and still be healthy. However, for this to work, a person must have a well functioning liver and gall bladder as well as good enzyme production from the pancreas. If that is not the case, a higher-fat diet can lead to indigestion.
Perceived problem: Low-carb diets cause indigestion.
Actual problem: I have a low-functioning liver and/or pancreas.
Solution: Liver support and digestive enzyme supplements with appropriate adjustments in diet.
Challenge 3. Low-carb diets and reduced intake of whole grains can cause constipation.
Perceived problem: I get constipated on low-carb diets.
Actual problem: I may not have been including enough high-fiber vegetables. Or I may have a magnesium deficiency or inadequate beneficial intestinal organisms.
Solution: Diet changes and/or supplements (magnesium and probiotics).
In future columns, I will discuss each of the nine key factors in more depth, giving the typical imbalances and steps to take to rebalance them.
Americans are trying more than ever to win the battle of the bulge. Yet, many people are frustrated when the supposedly simple formula -- eat less and exercise more -- doesn't work for them. What they need is an entirely new approach that I call whole-body metabolism.
The classic definition of metabolism is the rate at which a person burns calories. According to this formula people should be able to find out their metabolic rate, then eat and exercise accordingly for weight loss.
Newer approaches to metabolism are much broader. Recent scientific discoveries reveal that metabolism is the sum total of all the biochemical reactions of the body and everything that influences them, such as environmental exposures, your diet, past and current drug therapy, stress load, exercise, genetics and other factors.
One benefit of a whole-body metabolism approach is that it helps you understand your previous diet failures and takes the guilt away. Many people feel they are just weak and lack will power, when in reality they have true physiological reasons why it's difficult to lose weight. A whole-body metabolism approach offers a science-based way to guide and direct you in diet, lifestyle and the appropriate use of dietary supplements that not only helps to address these complaints but also gets your metabolism back on the path toward health.
The potential influences on metabolism can be grouped into nine key factors:
1. Adrenal/thyroid/pancreas function and their effects on stress hormones.
2. Intestinal/digestive health.
3. Immune function.
4. Neurotransmitter balance.
5. Environmental stressors.
6. Detoxification capacity of the body.
7. Oxidative stress.
8. Genetic expression.
9. Diet and lifestyle.
An imbalance in any one of these areas can negatively influence metabolism. Knowing how to recognize imbalances in these key areas and how to address them is the way to not only optimize metabolic performance, but also improve energy and slow key aging processes, like inflammation and free radical damage, glucose regulation and immune dysfunction.
Here are some examples of why a whole-body approach is needed. More and more studies are validating a low-carb diet as being the most effective for not only weight loss but for controlling insulin resistance.
In a perfect world, we would all be able to eat a low-carb diet to improve insulin sensitivity and lose weight. In reality, many people are unable to sustain a low-carb diet because of other influences. Let me give you some real-world challenges and the action steps you can take to overcome them.
Challenge 1. Chronic stress (adrenal function) often leads to serotonin and dopamine deficits (neurotransmitter imbalance). Serotonin deficits can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia and carbohydrate cravings. Eating a high-carb meal leads to increased tryptophan absorption and serotonin production; therefore, most people with chronically high stress hormones will have difficulty sustaining a low-carb diet due to intense carbohydrate cravings.
Perceived problem: It's impossible to eat a low-carbohydrate diet long term.
Actual problem: My serotonin levels were low due to chronic stress and dropped further with a reduced carb intake.
Solution: Use supplements to help manage stress response and restore serotonin balance and/or pulse higher carb intake temporarily, then return to low-carb eating once neurotransmitters are balanced.
Challenge 2. Low-carb diets tend to be higher in fat. As long as the fats eaten are healthy fats like those found in olive oil and avocados, we can eat higher fat and still be healthy. However, for this to work, a person must have a well functioning liver and gall bladder as well as good enzyme production from the pancreas. If that is not the case, a higher-fat diet can lead to indigestion.
Perceived problem: Low-carb diets cause indigestion.
Actual problem: I have a low-functioning liver and/or pancreas.
Solution: Liver support and digestive enzyme supplements with appropriate adjustments in diet.
Challenge 3. Low-carb diets and reduced intake of whole grains can cause constipation.
Perceived problem: I get constipated on low-carb diets.
Actual problem: I may not have been including enough high-fiber vegetables. Or I may have a magnesium deficiency or inadequate beneficial intestinal organisms.
Solution: Diet changes and/or supplements (magnesium and probiotics).
In future columns, I will discuss each of the nine key factors in more depth, giving the typical imbalances and steps to take to rebalance them.
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