Lose Weight After Pregnancy with a Whole Food Diet
Many women struggle to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight. Some of the common reasons for this weight gain include poor eating habits, increased emotional stress, and less sleep, leading to prolonged hormonal imbalance.
According to the latest scientific research, the ability to lose weight is tied to the hormones. If the hormones are out of balance, it is very difficult to lose weight. Therefore, a whole foods diet plan, in order to get to the root cause of the problem, should be targeting hormonal imbalance – Metabolic Balance is such a program.
Leptin and Ghrelin: The Appetite Regulating Hormones
The two main hormones that regulate the appetite are called ghrelin and leptin.
Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells; it signals to the body to stop eating when it is full. However, there is a condition called leptin resistance which has become a very common problem. If a person is leptin resistant, the body produces leptin, but the brain stops listening and the appetite doesn’t drop. The body then goes into starvation mode and tries to increase fat stores. You are most likely leptin resistant to some degree if you have tried calorie restriction and/or exercise for weight loss with no success.
There are many factors contributing to leptin resistance. Recent research has shown that refined sugar, in the form of fructose (the type of sugar that is commonly found in fruit), is a major contributor to leptin resistance. Consuming whole fruits in moderation is healthy, but foods high in fructose, such as commercial fruit juice or foods containing high fructose corn syrup, should be avoided during any weight loss program that targets leptin resistance.
Most new parents are not getting enough sleep, and lack of proper sleep also contributes to leptin deficiency. During sleep, leptin levels will naturally increase. However, as is often the case with new parents, when one doesn’t get enough sleep, this leads to a lack of leptin in the body, which leads to increased hunger.
Ghrelin is a hormone secreted by the stomach when it’s empty. Ghrelin is in charge of telling the body when it needs to eat. During sleep, ghrelin levels will naturally decrease; sleep deprivation results in too much ghrelin in the system leading to increased hunger. Ghrelin levels (and hunger) can also increase in stressful situations, according to a medical study done at UT Southwestern Medical Centre. This same study found that ghrelin also functions as a mood regulator, which partially explains emotional eating. Most new parents probably have excess ghrelin in their system!
According to a study published in 2006, eating meals that have adequate amounts of protein leads to a greater feeling of satiety and lower ghrelin levels in the body. Yes, eat your veggies, but don’t forget to balance your salad out with adequate amounts of protein.
Insulin: The Hormone that Allows your Body to use Sugar
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that allows your body to utilize sugar from consumed carbohydrates. The body’s cells need sugar for energy. After eating a meal, in order for the sugar to be absorbed by the cells, the pancreas secretes insulin. Insulin then sends a signal to cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream.
With insulin resistance, the amount of insulin secreted is not sufficient to move glucose into the cells and the cells become resistant to insulin. To compensate, the pancreas secretes insulin in ever-increasing amounts, which leads to weight gain and eventually a host of other problems including type 2 diabetes, kidney problems, high cholesterol, etc.
Insulin resistance is triggered by the same thing that leptin resistance is triggered by: a diet high in fructose. For example, a study done in 2009 on mice showed that a diet high in fructose led to insulin resistance. Fructose in the form of high fructose corn syrup is a common ingredient found in many packaged foods and drinks. However, just cutting out foods high in fructose is not enough to combat insulin resistance because there is scientific evidence that the liver can also produce fructose from non-fructose containing carbohydrates. In fact, according to researcher Dr. Miguel Lanaspa: “Our data suggests that it is the fructose generated from glucose [found in grains, starches and many other major carbohydrates] that is largely responsible for how carbohydrates cause fatty liver and insulin resistance.” Therefore, there is ample evidence that limiting all carbs is key in order to effectively combat insulin resistance. Please note that for weight loss I do not advocate for ultra low carb diets, but instead advocate for a diet that limits carbs.
High-Quality Fats Balance Insulin Levels
Even though the latest research has shown that low carb diets are more effective for weight loss than low fat diets, most conventional North American health practitioners stubbornly continue to recommend low fat diets, the same diets they have recommended for the last 60 years, for weight loss. Clearly this advice isn’t and hasn’t been working because modern-day North Americans are on average more overweight than ever before in human history! In fact, our North American ancestors were altogether a lot healthier and on average weighed a lot less than before these modern low fat dietary guidelines were put into place in North America roughly 60 years ago.
Healthy fats that have been shown to combat insulin resistance include coconut oil and ghee. Coconut oil was used traditionally in India, but when Indians switched to the so-called “heart-healthy” fats such as sunflower and safflower oils, the incidence of diabetes and atherosclerosis skyrocketed. We can learn much from the wisdom of traditional cultures. A study done on animals in 2009 found that coconut oil protects against insulin resistance. The traditional fats butter and ghee (clarified butter) are rich in butyric acid, which has been shown to regulate insulin sensitivity. The consumption of olive oil has also been scientifically shown to combat insulin resistance.
Summary of Recommendations
To summarize, after pregnancy, if there are difficulties with losing weight despite calorie restriction and/or exercise then it is absolutely necessary to balance one’s hormones. The root of the problem is most likely leptin resistance, insulin resistance, and imbalanced ghrelin levels.
Lifestyle changes such as better sleep and a reduction in stress will combat leptin resistance so try to make that a top priority if possible. If lifestyle changes are simply not possible then there are dietary changes which will also produce results. Restricting carbs including fructose is a must. The consumption of high quality healthy fats will also assist. Eat high quality proteins in balanced portions along with your veggies. The Metabolic Balance program takes all these considerations into account which is why it is so effective at helping women lose weight after pregnancy.
References
“Clinical Scientist Sets the Record Straight on Hazards of Sugar” Dr. Mercola
“Fix Your Leptin” Wellness Mama
“Ghrelin: How to Control this Hunger Hormone to Lose Fat” Dr. Axe
“Is a Lack of Sleep Making me Fat? HowStuffWorks
“Leptin, Ghrelin and Weight Loss” Precision Nutrition
“Lowfat Diets” Weston A Price Foundation
“Why High-Fructose Corn Syrup Causes Insulin Resistance” Dr. Mercola
Natural Cold & Flu Remedies
Medicinal Herbs and Supplements
Echinacea is the top selling herb in North America used for treating and preventing the common cold. This herb has a long history of use by Native Americans who have a long successful tradition of using echinacea for boosting the immune system, going back for hundreds of years.
Silver is an ancient remedy that has a two thousand year tradition of use. The ancient Romans and Greeks used silver to keep their immune systems strong. In the 1930’s Colloidal silver was the preferred immunity boosting remedy used by doctors but its use declined after antibiotics came on the market.
Curcumin, the active ingredient found in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It’s best taken in supplement form since you would need to eat a lot of turmeric to get the full benefits found in a concentrated supplement.
Vitamin D3, best absorbed from sunlight, is essential for proper immune system function. However, sunlight tends to be scarce during cold and flu season, which means that most of us tend to be deficient in D3 during the winter months.
Zinc is a common ingredient in most natural immunity supplements. Research shows that it plays a vital role in fighting off infections.
Oregano oil is a well-known herbal antiseptic remedy. Like turmeric, it is best taken in concentrated supplemental form in order to receive its immunity strengthening benefits.
Astragalus is a Chinese herb that has recently started gaining popularity in the West. This herb has been used for thousands of years in China for its immune boosting properties as well as for general vitality.
Mushrooms are rapidly gaining popularity for their immune boosting properties. Many types of mushrooms have been shown to have immune-boosting properties including shiitake mushrooms and there are currently many potent mushroom extracts available on the market.
Andrographis paniculata is a popular Chinese herb used to treat the common cold. It is also a popular Indian ayurvedic medicinal herb. It is one of the most widely used popular natural herbs used to treat colds and flus worldwide.
Olive leaf extract fights off colds and flus because they contain compounds such as oleuropein (widely regarded as one the most important constituents of olive leaves) and hydroxytyrosol, which are found to be effective against a number of disease-causing microbes.
Buy Immune Boosting Supplements and/or Book an Online Immune System Consultation
Homeopathic Flu Prevention
For those with very weakened immune systems or with chronic immune disorders, constitutional treatment by a classical homeopathic professional is recommended. Otherwise, for a general boost of the immune system, homeopathic Thymuline 9C should be taken once per week for 5 weeks at the beginning of cold and flu season. A combination of high potency homeopathic Influenzinum and Thymuline 9C are the best defense against flus. Please note that in Canada, high potency Influenzinum and Thymuline 9C are only available by prescription from a professional homeopath.
Cook with These Food Ingredients
Garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, hot peppers (cayenne, jalapeno, etc), lemon and honey have immune boosting properties. I recommend that you cook regularly with these food ingredients during cold and flu season. As well as taking them in concentrated supplemental form, it can also benefit the immune system to cook using turmeric, oregano and shiitake mushrooms.
Immunity-Boosting Tea Recipes
Ginger tea made with fresh ginger is a good natural remedy for colds. Heat a few cups of water in a pot with about an inch of fresh grated ginger, boil for at least 10 minutes; take off the element and add some milk and honey if desired; drink fresh.
Ginger and onion tea is another natural cold remedy. It can be made with a few slices of fresh ginger and onion. Place the onion, ginger and a pinch of salt along with 2 teaspoons of green or other herbal tea into a teapot. Pour boiling water into the pot and allow to steep for a few minutes.
Ginger, lemon and honey tea can be made by boiling a few slices of ginger in a pot and letting it steep for 10 minutes. Pour 1 cup of the hot ginger water into a mug and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon; sweeten with honey to taste.
Pekana Homeopathic Detoxification
Detox remedies by Pekana are effective at removing heavy metals, including mercury. Pekana detox remedies are highly recommended after dental amalgam removal.
Paracelsus coined the phrase: “Everything that is outside of us is against us.” Today, this saying is more relevant than ever.
At no point in time has the human organism been confronted with such an abundance of substances on a daily basis, as it is today, whether in the form of voluntary intake of nicotine and alcohol or just through exposure to the environment in general. A medical discussion has ensued within this context, linking these factors to the increased number of people suffering from allergic reactions.
Additionally, on a modern diet, important trace elements, vitamins, and mineral substances are frequently in short supply.
The ingested substances are in part stored in the body as depots. The preferred locations for storing such substances are fat-storing cells like the subcutaneous fatty tissue as well as connective tissue structures like joint capsules, muscles and tendons, but also the glial cells.
According to the theories of holistic medicine, this prescribes undergoing a detoxification and purification therapy as a basic measure before initiating other holistic therapy processes. The objective is to prevent chronic processes and to achieve relief and have a positive impact in the case of existing manifestations of toxic conditions.
Here, holistically oriented naturopathy offers a wealth of treatment options.
A purification therapy should normally be carried out twice yearly (spring and autumn). Due to the long shelf life of Pekana remedies, opened packages can be used again at a later date. Further information is available from your pharmacist or therapist.
Note:
Spagyrics – in Germany – is a component of the special therapy approach “Homeopathy” and therefore a treatment method of naturopathic holistic medicine. Any statements quoted here are exclusively based on findings and experiences which have been gained within the therapy approach of Homeopathy and Spagyrics.
Tips on carrying out a detoxification treatment
In order to undergo a preferably gentle and yet targeted detoxification treatment based on the principles of holistic medicine, the following tips should be observed:
Preparation:
The gentle start in the purification therapy begins 1 week before the actual detoxification treatment. The time is scheduled during the moon’s waning phase and is therefore ideal for strengthening the main excretory organs, liver and kidneys. A stimulation of these organs should be triggered by the appropriate homeopathic-spagyric remedies.
Start:
The optimal time to start detoxification is when the moon is full. When the therapy begins, the moon’s waning phase starts. According to findings in holistic medicine, the functions of the body are ideally configured to release waste during the waning phase of the moon. In this manner, natural physiological body processes are used to promote the success of the therapy.
Procedure:
Drinking sufficient amounts of fluid is essential. What actually are “sufficient amounts of fluid?” The required daily quantity of fluid significantly depends on the body weight of the person and can therefore be best defined according to this measure.
Sufficient intake of liquids is considered to be 30 mL per kilogram body weight. This means that a person weighing 75 kilograms requires an intake of 2.2 litres of liquid per day. Ideally, this liquid should be good quality non-carbonated water.
Post Treatment:
In the case of increased over toxicity, the holistic medicine purification therapy process can have a weakening effect. If so, special compounds can be taken to strengthen the spleen and the immune system, thereby significantly improving general well-being.
According to the basic concept surrounding holistic medicine, a simultaneous treatment to optimize therapy should be introduced at the onset of the waning moon and continued until the 2nd full moon has been reached.
Pekana Detoxification Protocol
Day 1-7 (start on waxing moon, 1 week before the full moon)
Start with apo-Hepat and Renelix, 20 drops of each remedy 3X per day.
Day 8 (full moon) to day 35 (the next full moon)
Continue with the same dosage of apo-Hepat and Renelix, but also add in Toxex and Itires, 20 drops of each remedy 3X per day
Resource: Pekana Remedy Guide 2014
Raccoon Trituration Workshop
EXPERIENCE RESONANCE HOMEOPATHY
TRITURATION WORKSHOP
C4 Homeopathy and Practitioner Development
September 29-October 1, 2017
Friday September 29: 7pm-9pm (introductory evening)
Saturday September 30: 9am-5pm
Sunday October 1: 9am-2pm
This workshop does qualify for CEU credits. A certificate will be emailed upon request.
Location: 32nd and Granville, Vancouver, BC (exact address will be emailed to all participants who RSVP)
With Sonya McLeod, Registered Classical Homeopath
Online & Published Author of 12 Trituration Provings:
https://www.littlemountainhomeopathy.com/homeopathic-provings
Trituration of Raccoon
Triturations are a vital part of homeopathy. Every homeopath benefits from knowing the process well, and from being able to create remedies from raw substances. Like good provings, triturations provide a direct, experiential, body-based knowledge of a substance. They promote and enhance the development of the homeopath, furthering personal and professional growth. This results in greater satisfaction and better results in all facets of practice, from reading and understanding Materia Medica to case taking, remedy and potency selection, case analysis and case management.
To Hahnemann’s “Aude sapere” (Dare to Think)
I respectfully add, “Aude facere” (Dare to Do)
Our workshop begins Friday night at 7pm, where I introduce students to the process and answer general questions. On Saturday we triturate 3 or 4 rounds, with breaks for discussion and food, expecting to end around 5 p.m. Sunday we begin again at 9 a.m., triturating as many rounds as needed, ending around 2pm. As time permits, there will be discussions on the philosophy of C4 Homeopathy. Students should bring their own mortar and pestle if they have one, journals and/or art materials. I will provide extras as needed.
Organon §265
It should be a matter of conscience with him [the physician] to be thoroughly convinced in every case that the patient takes the right medicine, and therefore he must give the patient the correctly chosen medicine prepared, moreover, by himself (emphasis mine). –Samuel Hahnemann
Why Raccoon?
In 2009, I led a pellet proving of raccoon along with my colleague, Kathleen Taylor. Although it was a great experience for all involved, we are wondering if something was missed because as far as we know it is not a remedy that is currently being used in practice. Because C4 homeopathy is so good at getting to the core essence of a remedy, I feel that a trituration proving of raccoon is needed in order to fine tune the information that we have about this remedy including what it cures and who it can cure.