Ask Dr Dave...

Managing weight and food craving

Weight gain has different causes for everyone.Psychological, behavioral metabolic - hormonal, nervous, food allergies, improper nutrition or not enough exercise. In my experience weight gain is most commonly caused by impractical eating habits.

Food craving and empty calories

Empty calories, or calories that do not also provide proper fiber, enzymes and nutrients can leave one feeling hungry despite having over indulged in calories. A good example of this is rice - white rice vs brown rice. Because white has no fibrous husk it is without vital minerals and fiber. A lack of minerals may lead to craving because the body is thriving for adequate nourishment even though the number of calories may be in excess.

Fiber and Digestion

Fiber on grains not only serves to improve movement through the digestive tract but also slows the breakdown in the stomach of the starchy foods. Brown rice as with other whole grain foods provide a natural prevention from having a carbohydrate rush, which leads to an exaggerated rise then fall in blood sugar levels. Fiber slows down the stomach’s ability to decompose the grain and avoids a sudden burst of sugar (carbohydrates turn into sugar in the mouth and stomach) that happens with fiber removed grains. Without their natural fiber grains digest as quickly as white bread, crackers and even candies.

Blood sugar fluctuations

Quickly broken down into simple sugars, these foods jolt the blood stream with so much sweetness that insulin has to pump from the pancreas into the blood system in order to keep the body from having elevated glucose. Over time, the pancreas becomes exhausted and diabetes results as the organ cannot provide adequate insulin, converting sugars to glycogen and to other stored energy forms.

Early diabetes

Early signs of diabetes include fluctuations of blood sugar, which is related to this process of simple sugar and carbo intake followed by over production of insulin, which forces blood sugar levels so low that one becomes hypoglycemic. Low blood sugar often reveals that the body has either taken in simple sugars and insulin reacted fast to process the sugar causing symptoms of lightheadedness, faintness, dizziness and palpitations. Eating more complex carbohydrates is essential to keeping a healthy pancreas and insulin production capacity. Plus, it reduces food craving when craving is caused by the body hungering for the proper nutrients it is not receiving in the diet.

Anorexia, Bulemia and zinc mineral deficiency

Anorexia and Bulemia are eating disorders that research suggests has a mineral deficiency component as well. Zinc deficiency has the ability to affect the brain in such a way that persons may actually think they are overweight, even though in actuality they are underweight. Zinc becomes deficient not just from inadequate diet but from chronic unrelieved emotional stress. Children raised in a hostile environment, or if otherwise neglected and abused, often suffer from zinc deficiency. This suggests one reason why many emotional weight related conditions are brought on by neglect and abuse.

Theories and support:

Appetite and weight control are manageable throughbehavioral modification, will power and self hypnosis. Using aromatherapy products that combine positive affirmations to control eating disorder is a new approach that creates an opportunity for self-help through self hypnosis. Find out more about why affirmations help, healthy nutrition and supplementation with nutrients and the pros and cons of taking herbs.

Appetite Control Aromatherapy Tips:

Use aromatherapy to calm the body's craving and to help recall weight loss affirmation. The Appetite Control Inhaler and Appetite Control Affirmation Oil include a blend of important essential oils plus the affirmation: “As I breathe in cedarwood, frankincense and bergamot, I am assured that as long as I have trust, patience and a clear vision, the universe will provide me with all of my needs.”

Supplements recommended

Control food cravings by regulating insulin secretion with natural trace element chromium. Vanadium, vitamin and and other mineral supplementation may benefit the pancreas and insulin production in diabetics and abnormal sugar metabolism as with prediabetics. Zinc Restoring levels has been successful on correcting self image of weight in anorexia, bulemia and obesity. Calcium and Vit D supplements may be helpful in supporting weight loss during middle age.

Food Allergies and Craving

Common foods that cause allergies include corn, wheat, dairy. Frequent eating of these foods creates a dependency and craving similar to nicotine craving. Foods that are allergenic have molecular structure that is often too large to be digested properly before entering the blood system. When large molecules of foods that are highly antigenic enter the blood, the body forms an immune reaction producing antibodies much like it produces when an infectious or other foreign substance enters the body. When antibody reacts with antigen, the resulting immune complex has different effects on the body. One may be histaminergic, producing lots of histamine that causes redness, itchiness, discharge and heat. Other complexes actually behave like brain neurotransmitters giving rise to emotional confusion, sleepiness or agitation,

An excellent way to managefood allergies is journaling and by testing with food challenges. A food diary is very useful for identifying cause of allergen or food sensitivity and managing cravings.

While gastric bypass is not recommended, if it has occurred, it is important to replenish iron and B vitamin deficiencies. Abnormal gut fermentation may also mimic food intolerance and cravings.