YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM may be making you fat. It’s hard to believe–but very true. I want to explain the bugs in your digestive tract, why they upset your gut’s immune system, and how they just might be behind those extra pounds. I have observed this phenomenon in hundreds of patients. Recently, remarkable new research has confirmed this phenomenon.
I have developed very effective treatments for it, based on understanding the way in which all the body’s systems–the gut, the immune system, detoxification system, hormones and more–are connected. There’s powerful evidence that addressing these key causes of weight gain and illness can help you shed pounds.
For example, I’ve seen patients who lose significant amounts of weight, just by cutting food allergens from their diet. And I have also seen people lose 20 to 30 pounds, simply by balancing the bacterial ecosystem in their intestinal system.
One patient, a 38-year-old woman, had chronic inflammation, fluid retention, acne, fatigue, and joint pain, as well as irritable bowel syndrome with bloating and gas. She had tried every known diet, but was unable to lose weight.
This woman’s problem: She could not lose weight because she was inflamed. The imbalances in her gut and the food sensitivities resulted in the inflammation.
But when we had her eliminate the foods to which she was allergic or sensitive, and gave her some healthy bacteria to heal her gut, she lost 35 pounds in a few months – and all her other symptoms went away too.
The big debate in medicine is which comes first: inflammation or obesity. I have always believed that we become inflamed first, and gain weight second – which makes us even more inflamed, perpetuating the cycle. Now incredible new research bears this out.
Let’s review this research, explain how food allergies can lead to weight gain, and provide you with three steps you can take to eliminate foods you may be allergic to and rebalance the ecosystem in your gut.
Inflammation and Weight Gain
Let me tell you a little more about these studies linking inflammation and weight gain, and explain their implications for treating obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Both studies were done in Europe, where researchers are generally more open-minded.
The first study, published in December 2007, looked at two groups of children. The first group was overweight and the second was normal weight. The researchers measured three key factors connected to inflammation.
First, they looked at high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker that shows the general level of inflammation in the body. Then they looked for plaque or thickening in the carotid arteries (the main arteries that supply the brain) with an ultrasound. Third, they looked at blood tests for IgG, or delayed food allergies.
What they found was startling.
The overweight kids had a 3-fold higher level of CRP and a 2.5-fold higher level of IgG antibodies to foods. This is astounding, since in most medical studies a difference of 20 to 30 percent is considered significant. And in this case, the differences were 300 and 250 percent, respectively.
The overweight children also had much thicker carotid arteries, which are a sign of early atherosclerosis and an indicator of heart disease.
The study suggests that these food allergies are a CAUSE of the inflammation and obesity, not a consequence.
The authors of the study explain that damage to the gut can lead to a leaky gut, allowing food particles to be exposed to the gut’s immune system. This then triggers a system-wide immune response, leading to inflammation all over the body and producing obesity by increasing insulin resistance.
We already know that inflammation from any cause — bacteria, food, a high-sugar, high-fat diet — will produce insulin resistance, leading to higher insulin levels. And since insulin is a fat storage hormone, you store more fat — mostly around the belly.
The authors of the study go on to say that we should consider elimination of IgG food allergens as a way of treating obesity and preventing heart disease. That means you don’t limit calories, just foods that cause allergies that in turn cause inflammation.
This study draws a remarkable link that has received little attention by conventional medicine.
So what exactly causes a leaky gut? Well, the next study may help explain just that.
How Your Gut Begins to Leak
The researchers of a study published in the July 2007 issue of Diabetes, performed a complex but powerful study to tease out which comes first – the chicken or the egg.
What they did was quite ingenious. They took thin mice and then fed them a very high-fat diet.
High-fat diets change the bacterial flora in the gut. Toxin-producing bugs are promoted by the high-fat diet while anti-inflammatory and protective bugs die off. (And there are over 500 species of bugs in your gut all fighting for territory.)
In fact, our highly processed, high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet – plus many drugs like antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatories, acid-blockers, and hormones – completely alters the bacterial ecosystem in the gut, leading to breakdown, inflammation, and a leaky gut.
Back to the study.
The researchers found that mice fed the equivalent of an American diet produced more of a bacterial toxin called LPS, which then leaked into the body through their leaky gut.
In humans, these toxins then latch onto immune cells, stimulating them to produce a firestorm of inflammatory molecules such as TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1 (cytokines), which in turn block your metabolism and produce insulin resistance, fatty liver, and obesity.
When you eat a bad diet, bad bugs flourish. Your whole gut ecosystem is upset and the outside world “leaks” in across a damaged gut lining.
Even more interesting, the researchers also found that even with a normal diet, injecting LPS into the mice led to the SAME problems – inflammation and obesity. These mice didn’t eat a bad diet. Just injecting toxins into them made them fat.
In fact, when you eat a bad diet, bad bugs flourish. Your whole gut ecosystem is upset and the outside world “leaks” in across a damaged gut lining. The result is not just obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, but so many allergic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.
The researchers explain how giving antibiotics to rats and cleaning out the bad bugs can prevent diabetes. They explain that by adding soluble fiber to the diet, they can increase the population of the good bugs like bifidobacteria and decrease the bad bugs – leading to weight loss.
But it doesn’t just happen in lab rats. I have found the same effects when my patients take the special soluble fiber called konjac root or glucomannan. The good bacteria feed on the fiber and reduce inflammation.
And there is more to the gut story. It seems that you are not the only one eating lunch. The bugs in your gut also feast – and they control your fat storage and the calories you absorb. So people with healthy bugs in the gut lose weight, and those with bad bugs gain weight.
Let me review this briefly again, because these concepts are so far from what we normally think about the causes of obesity.
When you eat a typical American diet, you foster the growth of bad bugs in the gut. They then damage the gut lining and produce toxins that are absorbed into your system.
Because of the damage, partially digested food particles also leak into your bloodstream. Then your immune system reacts to the toxins and foods, producing a firestorm of inflammation.
That inflammation then leads to a fatty toxic liver and insulin resistance, which lead to higher levels of insulin in your body. And insulin is a fat-storage, disease- and aging-promoting hormone.
So an unhealthy gut makes us fat and sick because it makes us toxic and inflamed.
This is groundbreaking research that needs to shake up our thinking about how to help people lose weight and get healthy.
Now here are a few simple things to try if you are struggling to lose weight or feel better.
3 Steps to Eliminate Food Allergens and Re-balance Your Gut Ecology
- Try an elimination diet for 3 weeks. Cut out the most common food allergens, including gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, yeast, and peanuts. Some people are sensitive to soy, so you can also cut that out.
- Eat a whole-foods, plant-based, high-fiber diet. This is essential to feed the good bugs in your gut and to provide the nutrients you need to functional optimally.
- Take probiotics daily to boost the healthy bacteria in your gut. Look for those that contain 10 billion CFU of bifidobacteria species and lactobacillus species. Choose from reputable brands.
Within a very few short weeks — even if you do nothing else — you will see a dramatic difference that comes from cooling off inflammation by healing your gut.
Remember, if you want to get rid of that gut, you have to fix your gut.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Have you noticed that inflammation is affecting your weight?
What steps do you plan to take to reduce inflammation?
How has reducing inflammation affected your weight?
Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
To your good health,
Mark Hyman, MD
Important information! But where is the reference list?
This really rings true for me! I know I am allergic to bell peppers (and other foods in the nightshade category) so I stay away from them if I can. I started taking a new dietary fiber supplement (www.SkinnyFiberBiz.com) containing the ingredient, glucomannan, and I’ve been able to lose 10 pounds this past month! So, this article really could explain a lot about how our bodies work and how we can start fixing the inflammation (changing the foods we eat – not just eating MORE veggies, but WHICH veggies) and adding the soluble fiber.
Please continue posting comments, as this is great information!
I hope I can help many of you achieve this too!
I always love the information you share and often re-share it through Facebook & Twitter. Thanks for spreading truth about proper nutrition.
My question about this article is what about good fats? You state that “High-fat diets change the bacterial flora in the gut. Toxin-producing bugs are promoted by the high-fat diet while anti-inflammatory and protective bugs die off.” And later you refer to this high-fat diet as “equivalent of an American diet.” I eat what many would consider a high-fat diet, but the fats are from sources such as extra virgin olive oil, flax seed oil, raw organic nuts, and grapeseed oil for cooking, etc. Which, in my opinion, is not “equivalent to the American diet.” So is it only high-fat diets from toxic fat sources that kill off good flora or do high fat diets from good fat sources do the same?
Thank you a lot Dr Mark Hyman, that you are sharing the readers on internet your great knowledge. My opinion is that you are total right in all! It seems so logic.
I want to share one fieldt that you MUST look more in to. As you mention in this article study no 2: They took thin mice and then fed them a very high-fat diet!
I am living in Sweden and we have been coming far on this field. For more than 40 years we have been threathen that fat is dangerous for us but in the same time it is essential! Carbohydrates are not essential as protein and fat are for human beeings.
Many swedish citizens have starting going opposit the society recomendations and starting to take away most carbohydrates and instead eating more natural fat, coconut oil, butter and fat from animals, some extra virgin olivoil is ok too. Eat clean natural products as fish, meat, eggs, butter and vegetables living over ground. AS little as possible proccesed food. What happens is that most of these often sick and also overweight people get their health back and in the same time get their natural weight back (loose weight)!
This is called LCHF – Low Carbohydrates High Fat – in sweden. A doctor Andreas Eenfeldt have written the very good book “Food revolution” and he has also the biggest swedish health blogg and it is in english too! Please read the book and the blogg and the scince about this!
For me starting to eat this healthy food three years back, my stomach became calm and I was not hungry all the time, I didn´t have to go to piss on the toilett every to hours in the night and my eyes became better. But the best part I could eat and feal satisfied, not hungry all the time!
For people with type two diabetes their glucoselevel do not go up than they are eating LCHF so they do not need to posion their body with medical insuline. They reverse their diabetes type two and became healthy. It is simple to check the sugar level after eating such food, with testing instrument at home, you will see that the sugar level will not rice in the body! And after a while you also get free from the sugarcravings! Often you have a adicition to sugar strong as it can be to alcohole, games, sex etc.
I have lost nearly 40 kg by eating like this and got my health back. Notice I support you in every thing you are writng but I think you should check this important thing more!
Please!
Your sincerely
MSc
Anders Skogberg
I am 48,127 pound, 5’3″ mother of two daughters and don’t have to work at “diet” because I eat balanced style Dr. H recommends (and could still do better to increase energy.) I write today about my 74 year old stroke then seizure survivor mother who has vary particular diet with limited palatable tastes and cooking smells that seem to limit her. She keeps plain graham crackers, cheese, milk, white rice, “Wonder Bread”, “Skippy” peanut butter, and eggs as the staples of her diet (all the ones to begin to avoid basically). Occasional canned apricots/peaches, apples and carrots make their way into her kitchen. She’ll eat healthier when dining out or if daughters bring a real meal. (Chocolate Slimfast has become a recent staple.) She is just over 200 lbs at 5’5” and on the death track, low energy, aches, headaches and poo poos daughters’ comments about her bad diet. She has been told to limit vegetables as blood thinners are taken. I’ve begun to let her go… Any luck getting through to people like this? Oh yeah, she was practicing RN 1959-1961. Frustrated but still loving daughter # 2 Julie
I was tested with igG4 and igE antibodies for allergies three months ago. I was in the moderate range for cottage cheese, casein, cow’s milk, egg white, baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast and mushrooms. I was told that I could eat these foods every four days, if I wanted to. I started to gain weight 6 months ago, even while eating mostly the foods in phase ll of Ultra-Metabolism. But after reading this article and remembering when I first did the Phase 1, two years ago, from your book. I started losing weight easier then I had every been able to.. Before reading your book, I had tried faithfully following other diets with no results for a long time. I have many illnesses from a very complicated history. I have found alot of help from the functional doctor I now see. After reading this article…I question if it’s good for me to eat any of the above mentioned foods. Maybe my body is more sensitive and foods in my “moderate range” is better in be avoided. This is what I got out of what you shared. Thank you, Dr. Hyman. You have help many of us in so many ways.
Hi, Dr. H., I have swelling in my legs/feet. I have hypothyriod. I love peanutbutter since I was a child. I don’t want to give it up. I feel eggs are healthy. I love bread too. I only started this trouble in my 40′s. I’m 52 now. I don’t beleive it’s only diet. It can’t be. What thoughts/helpful advice do you have? Thanks, nancy
For leaky gut & IBS I take Klaire Labs Ther-biotics Complete Probiotic Supplement, Metagenics EPA-DHA Extra strength Omega 3s & Springreen Wheat Germ Oil & unsaturated Fatty Acids of Flaxseed Oil plus tons of other supplements.
Your report is right on; however despite taking the above and practicing a non-dairy, gluten-free diet, I am unableto reduce the bloat and belly fat which adds 20#.
JERRY COUGHLIN
Hi,
All info is great and relevant – I am relieved to finally find someone who agrees that toxic pathogens are the root cause of all sickness. Inflammation can be triggered directly or indirectly, but our exposure to toxic pathogens is a real issue.
Only factor I am personally strong on – is that for people who have reached a critical imbalance of these internal toxins – diet and exercise will not be enough to fix it. I am talking about toxic pathogens that can not be eliminated by the immune system, and so they are in control of disease.
Medication is unlikely to address all the possible toxins that may be responsible, simply because they have too narrow a line of action, and how do you know which is really the one causing inflammation?
I guess this critical issue is why people do not recover from disease, especially in old age – and no interest is shown – because there is no financial gain – and so no real effort is made in this matter.
but guess what – there is a solution – and i am on the way to proving it – with medicinal plant oils.
When you say eat a “whole-food, plant based diet” do you mean that we shouldn’t eat any meat or fish or other animal products? If so, how are we to get enough protein (if we don’t like tofu) to keep going? I’ve been told that being pre-diabetic means that I should eat plenty of protein as well as the fruit and veg usually recommended.
I not only have to eliminate all of the foods you mention, corn, yeast, soy,and maybe gluten but I have terrible allergies to mold and cannot keep foods fresh enough for my system not to get upset because of the slightest breakdown of any food and I have a reaction. I have a lot of fruits, and greens especially spinach that I cannot keep for any length of time. So all of these ideas are probably simple for most people but difficult with all of my extra problems.
Thank you for your message, Linda, and your interest in Dr. Hyman’s work. Your question and constellation of symptoms represents a complex medical condition. Questions regarding conditions like these cannot be answered in a responsible manner via the Internet.
If you would like information on becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center please see “How to Become a Patient” at http://www.ultrawellnesscenter.com. That site is designed to give prospective patients a comprehensive source of information about The UltraWellness Center. You may also feel free to call The UltraWellness Center at (413) 637 9991.
Regardless of becoming a patient at The UltraWellness Center, it sounds like you need to consult with a doctor. Please seek medical attention for the issues that you outlined in your message.
Wishing You the Best of Health!
Thank you for the insight – I have to say for me the most powerful difference I feel – almost immediately – is when I cut out sugar. Sugar makes me bloated and gassy and distends my stomach hugely. It would make sense as bad bacteria feeds on sugar and would throw the delicate balance of good and bad off entirely. I am going to try and cut out those allergens you mentioned and see if that helps me further in solving my seasonal allergies and asthma.
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for sharing your health concerns with us. We want you to get the best medical attention and think you need personalized attention. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
In a glance it appears you could start with an elimination diet protocol. Have you heard of this? The goal is to eliminate the top allergens from your diet including gluten, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts and yeast. During this time you will be repairing your gut with supplements and probiotics and taking an anti inflammtory dietary approach. Essentially we would like to see you eat a plant based diet with some fish, lean poultry, nuts, seeds and low glycemic carbohydrates.
Learn more here:
1. http://drhyman.com/are-your-food-allergies-making-you-fat-40/
2. http://drhyman.com/gluten-what-you-dont-know-might-kill-you-11/
In good health
Hi Julie,
Thank you for sharing your journey with your moms health. It is very difficult to watch those we love go through pain in life without wanting to butt in. It sounds like your mom is very closed off to hearing information from her daughters which yes, must be very frustrating! But the key to winning her over is bu giving her love and basic advice at a slow rate. The approach you take while talking with might go a lot furher if done from a place of love, tenderness and concern. Often when we fear losing someone we love we tend to use tones of fear, anger and negative energy. And who wants to be taught lessons from people who seem so angry! Let your mom know that you “hear” her message and all you want is to honor her right to health. If she starts to open, start slowly with diet ideas. Eating together is a calming and sensual environment- lighting, sounds, pleasant conversation etc. is all part of the healing approach to nutrition.
Have patience…
Dear Yvette,
Those are all great fats! Moderation is key.
In good health
Hi CJC,
We recommend whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice or millet with some flax seed, nuts and berries. Or try a delicious super foods protein shake with hypoallergenic protein powder, berries, flax seed or chia or hemp seed, raw cocao, cinnamon or any other spices you might enjoy. Check some out here: http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/Shakes-And-Snacks
In good health
Hi Ushie,
There might be reasons behind your allergies and we could advise you seek professional assistance from a trained Functional med practitioner. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
In good health
Hi Connie,
Thank you for sharing your story with weight and diet. This is very common and there are several reasons why you might be having trouble. for starters, how committed have you been to eating hypoallergenic? Sometimes even small amounts of certain foods such as gluten tend to make people think it is ok even on an elimination diet but the body needs to be totally free of it so it can heal and cool down from the inflammation. Here are some ideas for you to read about and explore. We are here to help you if you need more!
1. http://drhyman.com/thyroid-disease-are-you-sick-tired-overweight-28/
2.http://drhyman.com/a-7-step-plan-to-boost-your-low-thyroid-and-metabolis-776/
3. http://drhyman.com/gluten-what-you-dont-know-might-kill-you-11/
4.http://drhyman.com/are-your-food-allergies-making-you-fat-40/
For more info on nutrition coaching, please see:http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/Coaching-And-Online-Programs
in good health
Hi Mona,
Sorry to hear about your son. Thank you for writing in and sharing. It seems he has a lot of inflammation and needs to restore healthy bacterial balance to his gut. The best program for him is an anti inflammatory diet and supplement protocol. Check this out for more info:
1. http://store.drhyman.com/Store/List/UltraMetabolism
2.http://drhyman.com/is-your-digestive-system-making-you-sick-582/ here you will find some preliminary information on foods and supplements to begin healing his gut and cooling the inflammation
If you feel the prudent approach is to see a doctor in person, we recommend a Functional Med practitioner. To locate a practitioner of functional medicine in your area see the “Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner” link at the Institute of Functional Medicine’s website. Here you will find a place to enter your zip code and look for practitioner’s in your area that have completed the institute’s five-day training course in functional medicine. Understand that not all of the doctors listed here will fit your particular needs. Many different medical professionals complete this training, and you will have to do additional research on your own regarding a particular practitioner’s approach and whether or not it fits your specific medical requirements. This may include calling the practioner’s office, visiting his or her website, and/or scheduling a consultation
In good health
Hi Cedar,
A whole foods diet means eating food that look like they did when first harvested from their natural source- no packaging or processing and only 1 ingredient, itself! For example, an apple is a whole food but apple juice is not. Without the fiber, the body does not process all the sugar well, even though it is fruit sugar. So, you can see how with a simple example like this how easy it is for our bodies to become overwhelmed with many ingredients loaded into todays consumer products. So, we advise keeping it simple- if you can picture it growing in the wild. its most likely fine…
As for meat- it follows a similar premise. If the meat comes to you resembling how it existed in the wild (meaning it ate its natural diet, was not pumped full of hormones, antibiotics or other chemicals to force it to fit to market standards) than yes in moderate quantities, this protein is very helpful in controlling hormones, satiety and pleasure in the dining experience. The point is, be choosey about your meat and trace back where it came from so that you are consuming healthy meat!
Look for organic, grassfed, pasturefed, wild meat, poultry and fish. Stay clear of farmed fish and meat as they are usually very toxic and loaded with fake chemicals which harm our bodies and confuse their metabolic rhythms.
In good health
Extremely good article. I am a hypnotherapist and agree wholeheartedly with your article
Hi
My 20 year old daughter has cut out dairy and gluten out of her diet and had great results with lifting of brain fog, acne, exhaustion, circulation and sinus issues. She has recently had a bout of sinus infection and had a course of antibiotics. The problem is now she had terrible dark circles again and is incredibly bloated. She has put on about 1 stone in 6 months and is carrying huge weight around her middle and thighs. Cellulite is quite predominent. Just a tiny bit of dairy she has diaherea and gluten gives shocking headaches and fog. What else should she look at eliminating and / or treatment or testing to follow through with? We notice she is eating alot of gluten free bread and rice. She does take a good probiotic and is quite particular about her diet. It is causes a tremendous amount of frustration.
Thanks Helen
HI Helen,
If her digestion is off and she is consuming a lot of sugars via rice and bread than this might lead to the bloating, gas, weight gain etc. Especially if she was on antibiotics than she should be a high quality probiotic with a therapeutic dose of CFUs. It sounds like she might need to eliminate gluten and dairy for a while to control inflammation and allow her system to balance out. Also, eating a high fiber diet, low glycemic carb diet will work well for her. The sugars can cause inflammation and promote a weakened immune system allowing for more food allergies. So even if it is gluten free, it would serve her well to focus on whole grains and vegetable starches in moderation- like 1/3 cup per serving!
In good health!
Hi Helmut, thank you for your post. We have corrected the error, thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Wishing you health!
Hi Teresa, thank you for your post. We have corrected the error, thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Wishing you health!
Hello,
I am a 26 year old male who has been struggling with weight my entire life. I have tried various diets and exercise programs but I never seem to have any real results. I have had the opportunity on 2 separate occasions to go spend an extended period of time in Italy, and while I was there my activity level decreased and I ate much more. Since I was abroad I tried not to worry about my weight and to enjoy the food of Italy (which I ate ALOT of, all the time) and both times while I was there, I dramatically lost weight (about 30-40 lbs) over just a couple of months. Knowing this, I tried my hardest to maintain an aggressive diet and exercise regime after I returned to the USA the last time, however I still managed to gain back all my old weight (and more). Could this be some kind of food allergy or intolerance?
Thank you!
Hi Vince,
Great question. First off, how lucky to spend that kind of time in Italy. The most important question to ask yourself- how was food experienced there and how might that be compared to how you do food back here in the states?
Our body mind connection with food has everything to do with our ability to properly metabolize, absorb and use the nutrients from food properly. My hunch is that when you were in Italy you allowed yourself to silence your food-anxious mind and yet increase your ability to experience pleasure from food. The tastes, the smells, the fresh vibrancy and the beautiful colors all create a food vacation every time you ate. Under this state, your body was able to relax and shift into parasympathetic mode which is what we need to be in to digest and assimilate our food. Here we feel nourished, energized and at our healthy weight for wellness.
Contrast that with food culture in the states which rush the meal and mainly use the color white or tan as the focus of food to tantalize the palatte, kind of boring… Food is usually feared here and we often rush through it thus increasing stress hormones. This shifts us into the sympathetic zone where we dont metabolize our food well and often see everything from indigestion, gas, bloating to food senstitivies, stubborn weight gain or inability to lose weight as well as the onslaught of chronic inflammatory diseases…
So yes, your first question might be, “how can I slow down at each mean and allow myself true nourishment?”
In good health and slow eating!
Lizzy
You may have just saved my life! I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 3 1/2 years ago. I have gain 40 pounds and feel miserable. It never occurred to me that I might be allergic to caseins, corn or yeast. Yes, my diet has been horrible and I feel like I am going to blow up. My stomach is extended and I look 9 months pregnant. I am so ashamed of myself! I’m sure inflammation is really out of control and my doc is checking for diabetes. You mentioned a couple of things to take to control inflammation but I’m not familiar with them. I am familiar with the probiotic supplement. What else do you recommend?? I am ordering your book and starting my new life immediately! Thank you for your posts – will find you on Facebook!
I am a 38 year old healthy female. I am overweight by about twenty pounds. I am a dance teacher. I exercise a lot. I have been tested and am allergic to dairy, soy, wheat, yeast, eggs, almonds, lentils, cane sugar and honey. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to lose weight. I cut calories and journal what I eat. I have a hypothyroid. Since I found out I was allergic to so much, I have not really, truly cut those foods from my diet. Do you think that this will help me to lose those twenty pounds? Does eating those foods cause harm to my body?
Thank you very much-)