We will be sharing tips that, if implemented, will last you a lifetime!
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First, a little information about me:
My name is Dr. Lesa Lawson, naturopathic doctor and colon Hydrotherapist with
LawsonHealth. My specialty is the digestive system, helping people to overcome their
stomach pain and other digestive problems and conquer chronic inflammation. I love
helping others and actually became a naturopathic doctor after my own health
issues, over 12 years ago, left doctors perplexed. Finally I took the responsibility for
my health into my own hands and now empower others to do the same.
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The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) sends messages from the central nervous
system (CNS) to the internal organs and triggers automatic bodily functions. It is
broken into two subdivisions called the sympathetic (fight or flight) and the
parasympathetic (calming) nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system
originates in the spinal cord. The (ANS) controls the body’s internal environment. It is
important in the process of homeostasis; helps control the heart rate, blood pressure,
digestion, respiration, blood pH and other bodily functions.
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For many of us, food is a great friend. It is one of the few things that is constant in our
lives. With all of the food advertising, combined with poor eating habits, low
willpower and being told to eat more frequently (as many as six to eight smaller
meals daily), our constant eating does not allow our organs a chance to rest.
Digestion is slower and the likelihood of adding calories or developing digestive
problems increases.
Do a quick check in your mind of your day-to-day habits, (Are you always snacking at
your desk or if you’re at home, are you constantly in the fridge or pantry?)
If you are eating throughout the day, your energy wanes, and your calorie intake
increases. You may end up overeating. A healthy snack or two between meals is fine.
Snacks can keep blood sugar steady as well as allow you to rack up more servings of
fruits and vegetables.[ a handful of nuts, baby carrots with hummus, or yogurt, green
apples with a bit of almond butter.]
If you eat in front of the TV, dole out a single serving before you sit down on the
couch, or delay your snack until you can pay attention.
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Processed foods are those that are no longer in their natural state. Many of them are
made with white flour and white sugar or sweeteners like aspartame that do more
harm than good.
You know what these processed foods are: donuts, white bread, instant foods, sugary
breakfast cereals. We might think that these give us that energy that we need in the
morning but in actuality, these foods provide empty calories.
Empty calories bring a jolt of sugar and the inevitable crash one-hour later, which
again leads to hunger pangs, mood swings, a drop in blood sugar and more snacking /
mindless eating
The fallout: These packaged foods can be sneaky sources of unhealthy fats, sugar,
salt, and excess calories. Even a can of low-fat soup can contain more than half a
day’s worth of sodium.
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Some people might be surprised that it is a sabotage.
We know that digestion begins in the mouth. Just because you don’t swallow gum
doesn’t mean that it is an innocent habit.
When you chew gum, the digestion process is activated and the saliva in your mouth
sends a message to the stomach, telling it to prepare for food. The action of chewing
releases hydrochloric acid and enzymes in the stomach which is needed to digest
food.
If there is no food, the overproduction of hydrochloric acid, over time, can cause
digestive problems. In addition to that, the constant empty chewing instigates
hunger, inviting the tendency to snack. Make a note to yourself and check to see how
often you become hungry if you tend to chew gum constantly.
By the way, most gum contains aspartame which is a known neuro-toxic sweetener,
which is also cancer forming substance.
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You’ve heard this somewhere before: your body needs rest
When you don’t get enough rest, your circadian rhythm (internal body clock) is
disrupted.
Now, there are two nightly hormones called ghrelin and leptin, that are instrumental
in telling your body when to start eating and when to stop. They work in conjunction
with your circadian rhythm.
Leptin helps with the regulation of the appetite, metabolism, and calorie burning. It
tells your brain when you are full and that it should start burning calories to create
energy. When you’re asleep, leptin levels increase and signal the brain that the body
doesn’t need extra energy or calories. When you don’t get enough sleep, leptin levels
decrease, which brings a constant sensation of hunger and a slowing of your
metabolism. Those hunger signals send you to eat, even though you may not actually
need food at that time. Your brain then sends signals to store those unnecessary
calories as fat, to provide energy for the next time that you need it. End result?
Weight gain.
Ghrelin, on the other hand, is the hormone that tells your brain when
it’s time to eat. During sleep, ghrelin levels decrease but if you’re not getting
sufficient rest, the levels increase because the body thinks it’s hungry and needs
more calories. The body then stops burning calories because it believes that there is a
shortage.
So the math is simple: Lack of sleep = more ghrelin + less leptin; throw in a
slow metabolism, less energy, and you’ll end up with weight gain.
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Constipation
Toxicity
Low energy
Illness
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Dehydration can result in weight gain and lack of energy. Even mild dehydration can
drain your energy and make you tired. In many instances, we think that we are
hungry when, in fact, we are thirsty. We interpret our body’s signals incorrectly and
eat more, causing weight gain.
Proper hydration suppresses hunger. It also relieves bloating and swelling of the
extremities. When your body is getting sufficient water, it will flush toxins and allow
you to release water that has been retained in the cells during digestion.
The body, especially the brain, needs water to perform its functions. When the brain
does not get enough water, you may experience malaise, low concentration, brain fog
and general lack of productivity. The brain then pulls water from the joints in order to
continue its function and the joints then cry out for pain. That is one cause of
inflammation.
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• Perhaps you drink a lot of liquids during the day. Of course, we know that there is a
big distinction between drinks and pure water. The body, especially the brain,
needs pure water for all its functions. The consumption of sugary drinks, energy
drinks and sodas contribute to overweight because the body holds onto the sugar.
The liver and kidneys work overtime to process all that we consume but some of
the sugar is stored, leading to weight gain.
• Sugar, especially processed sugar taxes the adrenals and because it does not create
a feeling of fullness, it creates cravings for more sugary substances. An eight ounce
can of Red Bull contains 27 grams of sugar which is 108 calories. The end result:
cravings and weight gain.
BTW, Fractionated coconut oil has also been found to help diabetics with blood
sugars, since it does not require bile salt or enzymes, called lipase, for digestion and
absorption.
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• Ideally you need to allow your body to fast for a certain period of time, daily, to
allow for digestion and cell regeneration. Does this mean that you should go
without food, all day? No; it means that you should eat within a certain window
(about an eight-hour window), and then stop, to allow your body to perform all its
functions and also to give your organs a chance to rest. When this does not occur,
digestive issues can occur, along with weight gain.
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• As evening approaches, the body begins to prepare for rest. Remember that
digestion slows during sleep, so you’re going to bed with a full stomach and storing
more calories than you need.
• Eating later also affects the quality of your sleep. Some people may find that when
they go to bed soon after eating, they toss and turn and/or they are not as rested
in the morning. They have low energy, so they reach for something to give them an
energy boost; usually something processed which provides empty calories. These,
in tur, tax the adrenals.
• There is another hormone called melatonin. Your body uses this hormone to
enable sleep. When you eat late, your melatonin is suppressed, thereby affecting
the quality of your sleep and leading to weight gain
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• Many cultures tend to have their heaviest meal in the early afternoon or evening.
They eat early and have time to walk or indulge in some type of activity after their
meal.
• In the US (present day), our last meal ritual has the tendency to work against us as
we are not as active to burn the calories that we eat.
• Remember that metabolism slows in the evening, in preparation for rest and
digestion slows because the body does not need as much energy during sleep.
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We have addressed the major sabotage signs, so you now have a better
understanding of why you struggle with weight and/or lack energy.
Lesa Lawson, ND is an advocate of nutrition-based wellness and all things natural. A
practicing Naturopathic Doctor and skilled Colon Hydrotherapist, Dr. Lawson
specializes in alternative therapies that help clients regain their digestive health. Her
personal and professional health journey led to a profound appreciation for healing
from the inside out.
She is the founder of LawsOnHealth Wellness, a haven of healing located in Aldie and
Winchester, Virginia. Dr. Lawson’s first work is the thought-provoking, Six Lies Women
Believe about Their Health, followed by When Stress Comes to Stay.
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