Now the diet's out of the way…

Now that we're well into the New Year, there's a good chance that you are one of the thousands of people who started a diet and have already given it up. If so, don't feel downhearted. Diets are not the answer to weight loss and rarely work in the long term.

Any change in food intake will bring about a change in weight, but diets are generally unsustainable and many people find that when they stop they not only regain the weight they lost, but put on a few extra pounds as well. This is more likely to happen when there has been a radical reduction in food intake – your body recognises this and slows the rate at which you burn calories (your metabolic rate), leading to weight gain.

So what is the secret of sustainable weight loss? Quite simply, a tailored eating and lifestyle plan that doesn't involve food restriction, complex food combining or omitting entire food groups. Nutritional therapy is a safe and effective method for attaining your weight loss goals, addressing:

• Eating habits that promote weight gain

• Nutrient balance

• Portion size

• Cravings

• Emotional barriers and stress management

This intelligent approach to weight loss is the first step towards optimal health, helping you to look and feel your best and live life to the full.

Get switched on to…Good Blood Sugar Control

Good blood sugar control is a key factor in maintaining energy levels and normalising your weight.

When our blood sugar level falls too low, the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, triggering cravings for caffeinated drinks and refined foods like cake or chocolate, which cause the blood sugar to rise rapidly. Another hormone, insulin, is then released to control this surge but can itself cause the blood sugar to fall again. Insulin is very efficient at promoting fat storage – especially around the middle!

Insulin = Fat Storage

Adrenaline & Cortisol = mood swings, anxiety, irritability, poor concentration

In short, eating refined carbohydrates and sugary foods creates a roller-coaster effect leading to mood swings, irritability, aggressiveness, poor concentration, palpitations and feelings of anxiety and panic. Eating healthily and including nutritious snacks will keep you in the green zone, giving you a steady release of energy and preventing weight gain.

Tips for stablising blood sugar:

• Always eat breakfast
• Include a source of protein in every meal
• Have a nutritious snack between meals
• If you are tempted by chocolate, have a couple of squares at the end of a meal
• Replace tea and coffee with water and herbal tea
• Limit your alcohol intake and only drink with a substantial meal

Healthy snack ideas:

• Hummus on an oatcake
• A stick of celery with almond butter
• A portion of nuts (4 brazil nuts, 6 walnuts, 10 almonds) and an apple
• A tablespoon of mixed seeds
• Natural live yogurt

Get switched on to…The Right Kind of Fats

Judging by the number of low-fat products on sale in supermarkets it would be easy to make the mistake of thinking that eating any fat is a bad thing. However, it’s worth remembering that fat makes up around 60% of the human brain, and is an important structural component of cell membranes throughout the body; A regular intake of good dietary fat is necessary for us to access and use existing fat stores;[1] in other words, you need fat to burn fat.

The key point to bear in mind is that not all fats are the same. Until recently, many processed foods contained unnatural hydrogenated or ‘trans’ fats, which are associated with the development of cancer and heart disease. In 2003, Denmark effectively banned trans fats in foods for the protection of public health. Always check ingredient lists and avoid hydrogenated oils.

Our bodies function best on a ratio of around 3:1 of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, but the modern Western diet, rich in fried and processed foods, has driven this ratio to as much as 20:1. An excess of omega 6 in the body can lead to the development of a range of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and PMS, while deficiency of fatty acids generally can cause a range of symptoms including: dry skin, hair and eyes, fatigue, joint pain, hypertension, breast pain, cracked heels and an inability to lose weight[2].

An important step towards improving your health is to reduce your overall intake of animal fats and rebalance your intake of omega 6 and omega 3:

• Avoid fried and processed foods

• Snack on mixed seeds: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, linseeds

• Use olive and walnut oils on salad dressings (never heat them)

• Add avocado pears to salads

• Have four or five nuts (almonds, walnuts, brazils) mid-morning

• If you must fry, use coconut oil, it is more resistant to heat damage

• Eat two portions of oily fish a week (mackerel, salmon, sardines etc.)

• Take a good quality multivitamin supplement daily

• If you have symptoms of fatty acid deficiency, consider taking a fish oil supplement daily

Further Reading: Udo Erasmus. ‘Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill’, Summertown, TN: Alive Books (1993). ISBN: 978-0-920470-38-1

---

[1] Chakravarthy, M.V. et al., ‘New hepatic fat activates PPARa to maintain glucose, lipid, and cholesterol homeostasis’, Cell Metabolism, Vol.1, No.5, 309-322 (1 May 2005)

[2] Glenville, Marilyn, ‘Fat around the middle’. London: Kyle Cathie Ltd. (2006) ISBN: 978 1 85626 6550

Get switched on to…Quality Sleep

There are many theories about why we sleep – physical repair, memory consolidation and general processing of the day’s experiences. However, one thing is indisputable: the profound importance of sleep for our health and optimal functioning.

Before artificial lighting, our sleep/wake cycle was regulated by the sun, establishing a circadian rhythm that ensured a good night’s sleep. This was recently confirmed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who disrupted the sleep cycle of mice by interfering with light signalling to the brain.[1]

When darkness falls, we produce melatonin, a hormone that not only promotes sleep but also enhances immune function and may inhibit the development and growth of cancer.[2] Most of us unwittingly sabotage this natural process by extending our waking hours and allowing light sources in the bedroom. Even a small amount of light can drastically reduce melatonin levels, so it is worth taking a few steps to improve the quality of your sleep:

• Cover or switch off illuminated displays on clocks and radios

• Use blackout curtains or wear an eye mask to block street lighting

• If you can reach the bathroom safely in the dark, don’t use the light

• Be in bed by 10pm and limit your sleep to eight hours

• Get plenty of exposure to natural light during the morning

---

[1] Hattar, S. et al., ‘Melanopsin cells are the principal conduits for rod-cone input to non-image-forming vision’. Nature 453, 102-105, (1 May 2008)

[2] Sleep Medicine Reviews, 4, 257-264 (Aug 2009). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19095474

Lamberts Seminar

I spent a fascinating afternoon at the Royal Wells Hotel in Tunbridge Wells, attending the Lamberts Healthcare seminar 'Gut Disorders 1 - Unravelling the Causes'. The three-hour presentation brought together people from a variety of specialisms: osteopathy, kinesiology, medical herbalism, as well as nutritionists and students like myself.

The seminar covered the main disorders (leaky gut, constipation, dysbiosis, liver/gallbladder problems) and was a great opportunity to hear the experiences and treatment protocols of people from other healthcare fields. If you work in complimentary health, or just have a casual interest, the seminars are a great investment – £20, and if you attend you get a voucher to spend on Lamberts products.

With my exam looming on Saturday morning, it was the ideal revision session!