When patients gain weight, it’s essential to focus on their actions and eating patterns, as well as on medications they might be using. Let’s dive into different factors that might be contributing to unwanted weight gain and some tips to tackle them.
Food and Physical Activity
Take a close look at your food choices and physical activity. These are the top reasons for weight gain, and it is important to examine them. Keep in mind the following when adjusting your diet and exercise habits:
- Be cautious of foods high in sugar, such as bread, pasta, white rice, and sugary processed foods. Eat a large salad or low glycemic fruit, like berries, before consuming dessert. This will slow down the absorption of sugar in your body.
- Eat dinner earlier in the evening, as food consumed after 6 pm is not burned efficiently and is more likely to be stored as fat.
- Choose your dessert wisely. Opt for herbal tea, coffee, a low-sugar liquid, smoothie, or plain yogurt and fruit (sweetened with stevia) instead of typical dessert items.
- Eat meals slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register fullness, so don’t rush through your meal or immediately dive into dessert.
- Exercise regularly. Plan at least four moderate to intense exercise sessions per week to maintain a healthy weight. Activities that elevate your heart rate, such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, or stair climbing, are highly effective.
Medications and Weight Gain
Numerous medications can cause weight gain, including:
- Antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Zyprexa, Paxil)
- Antihistamines (Periactin)
- Bipolar medications (Lithium)
- Breast cancer chemotherapy
- Contraceptives
- Corticosteroids (prednisone)
- Diabetes medications (Diabeta, Diabinese)
- Heartburn treatments (Prevacid, Nexium)
- Migraine relievers and seizure control medications (Depakote)
- Anti-nausea medications (phenothiazines)
- Pain relievers (Ibuprofen)
- Hormone replacement therapy (synthetic estrogens or progesterone)
Xenobiotics and Weight Gain
Xenobiotics are foreign chemicals that disrupt the human body and contribute to weight gain. They include pesticides, industrial compounds, cosmetic ingredients, medications, and synthetic hormones. They are stored in fat cells, leading to inflammation throughout the body, cognitive decline, and even mood changes.
To combat xenobiotics and their negative effects:
- Reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals by choosing natural products and avoiding certain medications.
- Improve liver and kidney function with supplements like methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), betaine hydrochloride, D-glucarate, milk thistle (silymarin), n-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and R-lipoic acid.
- Perform bile system cleanses (liver and bile system cleanse protocol) and eat nutrient-rich, high fiber, unprocessed whole foods. Supplement your diet with green superfood nutrient powders in smoothies and fresh juice every few months. Additionally, consider using probiotics for digestive health.
By understanding the factors that contribute to weight gain, you can make informed decisions about your food choices, exercise habits, and medication use to help maintain a healthy weight.
