March 2018 | Linden and Arc

Your Weight: Not Strictly a Matter of Choice

Conventional wisdom says that weight loss should be a simple formula – burn more calories than you take in. While this is certainly not a false statement, the reality is much more complicated. Everyone has their own unique metabolic rate, determined by factors largely beyond your control, such as age, race, and gender. Now, the latest research says you can likely add genetics to that list.

A number of genes are identified that make weight loss difficult. If you possess one or more of these gene variations or polymorphisms, you may be in for a harder time losing weight than a person who lacks them. Even so, weight loss is not completely beyond anyone, and there are steps you can take to help overcome your genetic disadvantage.

Genes That Influence Weight Gain & Obesity

Human genetics is incredibly complex. There is rarely a single gene tied to any trait. This holds true for weight loss. In fact, researchers have found over 70 genes that influence obesity or weight loss in some way. Among these genes are:

ADRB2

This gene controls the production of a certain protein that helps to break down fat. People with the polymorphism of this gene may have greater abdominal fat and be at higher risk for metabolic syndrome, which is associated with diseases like diabetes.

FTO

The FTO polymorphism is linked to greater satiety tolerance. This means it takes more food to make you feel full. Of course, such a trait can easily lead to obesity and make weight loss more difficult.

PPARG

This gene allows fat to be taken up from the digestive system and put to use in the body. People who have an overexpression of PPARG are subject to weight gain and obesity, along with accompanying conditions like heart disease.¹

Evidence Supporting a Genetic Link to Obesity

Although much research remains to be done, studies have suggested a genetic influence on obesity and difficult weight loss. For example, a study published in 2016 found that there was evidence that men carrying the ARDB2 polymorphism had greater fat mass and larger fat percentages than non-carriers after a weight loss program consisting of exercise and restricted diet.²

Another study, released in 2015, demonstrated a correlation between many gene polymorphisms, including ARDB2 and FTO, and obesity in African populations.³ Additionally, one study looked at a number of gene polymorphisms in a group of young Italians. The researchers concluded in a paper published in 2017 that the PPARG polymorphism showed a strong connection to increased body mass among these participants.⁴ Finally, a separate 2017 study on a group of Greek adults also demonstrated an association between FTO polymorphism and obesity.⁵

What Can I Do to Counteract My Genetics?

Since the technology to readily modify your genetics to your liking does not yet exist, you may think you’re predestined to be overweight. However, this is far from true. Healthy eating combined with exercise can help anyone lose weight, even if you have to work harder than some other people.

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we will be your partner in maintaining a healthy weight. We will provide you with expert advice, necessary supplements, and diagnostic testing to make sure you’re on the right road. Despite your genetics, your health is still in your hands. With determination and help, you can build and keep a healthy body. Contact us for a consultation: [email protected]

References:

1 http://www.saragottfriedmd.com/%e2%80%8efive-genes-that-make-it-hard-to-lose-weight-and-what-you-can-do-to-combat-them/
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26888112
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25641693
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28090739
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28257836

We are not alone! We live in harmony with hundreds of millions of other organisms and a plethora of different good bacteria that are detrimental to gut health. These bacteria are located mainly in our gut, or gastrointestinal tracts. They have a symbiotic relationship with us. We provide them with a warm, nutrient-rich environment and they aid our digestion and fight off harmful microorganisms. This balance is a delicate one.

Listen to Your Gut

A number of factors disturb the gut’s microbiome like poor food choices and disease. As a consequence, we suffer from digestive symptoms, inflammation, autoimmune issues, and poor health. One of the best ways in which to promote gut health is to regularly take probiotics. Probiotics introduce helpful bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract.

These compact, encapsulated bacterial colonies are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Here, we provide guidance on specific probiotics to address each patient’s specific needs.

Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics Attack Harmful Organisms

The purpose of probiotics is to attack harmful organisms in the body. Bacteria using nutrients, water, and other resources is the recipe for a healthy gut ecosystem. This leaves little room for harmful microorganisms. Probiotics encourage the growth of good bacteria, crowding out the bad ones. Certain probiotics have even shown antimicrobial activity in laboratory settings that mimic the human stomach. In 2017, researchers published results showing that lactic acid bacteria in probiotics discouraged the growth of intestinal pathogens and prevent intestinal infections. ¹

Probiotics Regulate Digestion

It has long been known that healthy gut flora is a necessity to retain regulate our bodies and offer good digestion. This is why broad-spectrum antibiotic use causes diarrhea. Antibiotics kill infection and the normal and helpful bacteria in your gut. This leads to poor water absorption and diarrhea. Probiotics are often advertised as helpful for regularity, and this is no exaggeration. Interactions between gut bacteria and carbohydrates keep constipation at bay and help ensure that food flows smoothly through the digestive system. Proper nutrient absorption needs good bacteria.

Probiotics Help Maintain a Healthy Weight

People who have diverse and healthy gut bacteria tend to be leaner. A 2013 study published in Nature confirmed this premise.²

Good gut bacteria helps with a number of metabolic issues, including insulin resistance and lipid status. Functional Medicine physicians find that obese patients lose significant weight.

Probiotics Control Food Allergies

The environment and poor diet affect the normal gut microflora negatively. This can contribute to the development of food allergies and food sensitivities. The reverse is true, as well. Robust and healthy gut bacteria tend to resist the onset of food allergies. A study published in 2017 strengthened this assertion, finding in mice that, “The present study supports the theory that probiotics can treat food allergy by modulating specific genera of the gut microbiota.”³

Probiotics Positively Affect Many Diseases

Research remains in the early stages. Promising evidence exists that probiotic therapy, in conjunction with a healthy diet, may help a wide range of diseases. These include such ubiquitous problems as high blood pressure⁴, fatty liver disease⁵, cardiovascular disease⁶, and even some mental disorders.⁷

Functional Medicine has always proclaimed body systems are interrelated, with the gastrointestinal system being of particular importance. At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we are uniquely equipped to provide advice, diagnosis, and treatment plans. To book a consultation, contact us at [email protected]

References:

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28286570
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23985870
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28337267
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28315049
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28298269
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28293920
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28291971

About the author:

Dr. Murfin is wholeheartedly focused on her life’s mission to help people heal and achieve extraordinary outcomes. She believes that health is more than merely the absence of disease. It is a total state of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing through the creation of a whole and meaningful life. Dr. Murfin leaves no stone unturned to determine the root cause of illness or imbalance.

Did you know the heart is the engine of our bodies? It sits at the centre of your circulatory system and carries oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the organs so they can function optimally. This complex network is truly a marvelous wonder.

The heart is a hollow muscular organ, is located in the center of the chest. It has two sides, right and left. The right and left sides each have

The Atrium is the upper chamber that collects blood and pumps it to the lower chamber. The Ventricle is the lower chamber, which pumps blood out

The functional medicine approach to health not only deals with the physiology of this amazing organ but a holistic approach to health and vitality. At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, heart vitality is one of the 7 Core Nodes of Healing. This model assists Dr. Murfin in organizing client health by focusing on the patient as a whole. Each node represents a set of biological functions that are interconnected, much like a web, all influencing each other. Through detailed quantitative testing and keen analysis, we look at the overall function and organ efficiency of each system in the model. Contact us today to book your appointment and learn how you can start living and feeling healthier.

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Month: March 2018