Digestive Health and Difficulty Losing Weight – The Connection
If you have a hard time losing weight, no matter how strictly to adhere to any diet, you may have some serious Digestive Issues.
The most common digestive issue associated with difficulty losing weight is constipation. This is because when faecal matter remains in the bowel too long, calories are continually absorbed from it and a specific enzyme in the digestive system causes excess hormones, intended for excretion, to be re-activated. This results in hormonal imbalances which are at the core of inability to lose weight.
Possible causes for constipation include:
Dehydration (lack of water)
Drugs that affect bowel motility
Antacids and laxative abuse
Immobility (disabled)
Lack of exercise
Weakness of abdominal muscles
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Dysbiosis (unbalanced gut flora)
Under-active thyroid gland
Diverticular disease
Infections of the abdomen (e.g. appendicitis)
Pathogenic bacteria within the gut
Lack of regular bowel moving habits, especially not having time!
Wrong position (squatting is best), use of a foot-stool can help.
Food allergy or intolerance
Abnormal stomach acid production
Liver dysfunction and gall bladder disease
Nutrient deficiencies
Excessive meat or milk consumption
Lack of fibre in the diet
Stress and depression
Painful anal conditions
Spinal lesions
When constipation has become chronic, one often reaches for those over-the-counter laxatives, and who could blame you? However, as you can see from the list above, laxative use actually contributes to constipation in the long term.
For the person who is both constipated and overweight, there is often a condition of Dysbiosis (imbalance between various bacteria in the digestive system). One particular bacteria that helps to rebalance that situation, if it is a contributing factor, but there are commonly other symptoms present when this is the case.
Constipation is a serious issue with many health ramifications. If you suffer from chronic constipation, see a qualified Nutritional Therapist who can analyse and assess your personal case. It may be the biggest disease prevention measure you could take, and it certainly would kick-start weight loss.
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