Motherhood and Obesity

July 15, 2014

Motherhood and Obesity- Emotional worries of a pregnant woman

Obesity has serious effect on motherhood and especially during pregnancy. If you are obese you may need prenatal care if you intend to become pregnant in future.

Life has a lot to offer in a family setup. Each family member will be pulling together to contribute positively into the well-being of the family unit. While we appreciate the efforts made by each family member, there are certain times when mothers find themselves playing double roles in the family. These are the times when each member of the family is physically, emotionally, economically and spiritually getting ready to receiving a new member of the family. When everyone is waiting mothers who bear the greatest burden go through experiences that no one can contemplate narrating if you are not a mother. I am talking of the emotional worry that goes on in the minds of our mothers when carrying and nursing pregnancy.

Because of the magnitude of what women go through psychologically we are going to discuss some of their worries and we are going to zero into those expectant women who are also suffering from obesity and are really struggling with their weight gain problem. What do these ladies go through in this state of pregnancy? Certainly these ladies have many questions and we are going to answer some of their concerns as we progress in this article.

Will I need specialized care during pregnancy?

All pregnant women will certainly be attended to regularly by their health care providers however if you are an obese and pregnant your health care provider will take very keen and close observation on you and depending on your condition they may make the following recommendations for you:

Early testing for gestational diabetes – if in the opinion of your doctor you stand a greater risk of gestational diabetes he may order for a screening test called the glucose challenge this test is normally done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy however the doctor may recommend this test a little bit earlier in your pregnancy — maybe even at your first prenatal visit and if your test results are normal, you’ll likely repeat the same screening test between 24 and 28 week of pregnancy. It must be noted that this recommendations by the doctor will be applicable for pregnant obese women.

Delayed fetal ultrasound – the emergence of technology has introduced fetal ultrasound a technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the baby in your uterus. Basically fetal ultrasound is conducted between week 18 and 20 of pregnancy to assess the baby’s growth and development. Because this technology uses ultrasound waves don’t easily penetrate abdominal fat tissue, being obese during pregnancy will mean that there will be lots of fat tissues around the abdomen which will create interference or hindrance with the effectiveness of fetal ultrasound. This will mean that ultrasound results might be more detailed if the test is done a few weeks later, such as between weeks 20 and 22 of pregnancy.

Fetal echocardiography – your health care provider might recommend a fetal ultrasound that provides a detailed picture of your baby’s heart (fetal echocardiography) between weeks 20 and 22 of pregnancy. This test is used to rule out or confirm a congenital heart defect.

Frequent prenatal visits – as your pregnancy progresses, your health care provider might recommend more frequent prenatal visits to monitor your health and your baby’s health. Regular fetal ultrasounds might be recommended as well. The information from the ultrasounds report may be helpful and your health care provider can use this to evaluate your baby’s growth and plan for your delivery.

What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?

This the best question one can ask because it is very necessary that proper care is taken during pregnancy for the common good of both the child and the mother. All efforts must be made to ensure that the impact of obesity is significantly reduced. While appreciating that this can be difficult the following examples can be taken as precautionary measures:

Schedule a preconception appointment – Pregnancy does not come accidentally and so it can be planed for way ahead before it happen. If you’re obese and you’re considering getting pregnant, it is important that this become a serious agenda in your plans for the future by talking to your doctor who will advise on the best possible ways to take. Your doctor may advise a daily prenatal vitamin and where necessary refer you to other medical professionals like a registered dietitian or an obesity specialist who will help you make changes in your lifestyle and reach a healthy weight before pregnancy.

Seek regular prenatal care – As part of your plans for pregnancy prenatal visits can help your health care provider to make close observation on your health and that of your baby. It is important that you make full discloser to your health care provider any medical conditions you might have had in the past or currently such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea etc. and discuss on what you can do to manage them.

Eat a healthy diet – Obesity is mainly as a result of poor eating habits this would require that you work very closely with your health care provider or a registered dietitian to maintain a healthy diet and avoid excessive weight gain. It is important to note that during pregnancy the body will need lots of folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. A daily prenatal vitamin can help fill any gaps. Find out from your health care provider if you have special nutritional needs due to certain health condition like diabetes.

Be physically active – Consult your health care provider about safe ways to stay physically active during your pregnancy.

Avoid risky substances – It is very necessary that you do not indulge in substance abuse and if you are already using any substances you will need to seek help from an addiction expert to help you quit and also consult if there is need to use other medications or supplements before commencement.

We care for you greatly as mothers and hopeful mothers and that is why we write to inform you in the simplest way you can understand. Our care does not end at writing because we know that you will need further professional care dear reader for any need relating to weight gain or obesity we want to welcome you at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care who is also the founder of the facility. It will be our pleasure to help you get well naturally focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. It pleases us seeing that you are getting well and having your life back under the programs conducted at this facility come and never this facility.

Motherhood and Obesity- Emotional worries of a pregnant woman

Weight loss and Toxic

March 14, 2014

Weight loss and Toxic-Need to detoxify

When making effort to lose weight, you may choose to look at your toxic level and try natural means

Many people are struggling with weight and obesity in the today’s society, in order for your body to lose weight, there must be adequate hormones insulin and leptin must be doing their work. Insulin is in place to control sugar and fat storage levels in the body while leptins job is the burning of fat. If these hormones and the mechanisms that are there to utilize them isn’t working, you will be unable to lose weight and extremely prone to packing it on. There are two reasons these hormones begin to fail in your body, the over-consumption of sugar and processed grains and toxicity.

Toxicity is perhaps the greatest problem in the fight to lose weight. When toxins enter your body they have an affinity for fat cells, due to the fact that they are fat soluble. When the toxins attach to the outer cell membrane which is made of a lipid bi-layer (two layers of fat), it causes the cells to continually release Leptin which is the hormone that tells the brain to burn fat for energy, therefore, weight gain that does not respond to exercise or diet is inevitably due to Leptin resistance.

The toxins also cause the release of chemicals called cytokines that damage Leptin receptors in the brain (hypothalamus). Once the receptors to Leptin have been damaged, Weight Loss becomes a problem your body then makes an extremely important hormone called MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone). MSH is produced in the hypothalamus by Leptin, and it controls nerve, hormone, cytokine functions, skin and mucus membrane defenses, as well as controls the production of endorphins and melatonin. If your brain cannot hear Leptin you will eventually become MSH deficient. The effect of this would be that every immune and hormone response in your body will be altered. This then leads to so many different diseases like depression, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, chronic fatigue, and fibro-myalgia, just to name a few.

In many ways, our polluted world is a true test of genetic survival of the fittest. The number of toxic chemicals now threatens the reproductive ability of the human race and is also a large part of the cancer issue. These chemicals contribute to weight gain in various ways, including disruption of the hormone signaling system that regulates your metabolism, damage to and accumulation in your white adipose tissue, and increased risk for poisoning during weight loss. It is absolutely vital that you understand this subject.

Weight loss and Toxic-Challenges

It is very clear that too toxins are released back into the circulation during weight loss. This is especially the case during significant weight loss. During a weight loss of 12 percent of body weight toxins in the blood increased 23 percent – 51 percent, with the heaviest individuals releasing the most toxins. Over a one year period of weight loss toxic exposure ranged up to a whopping 388 percent. Scientists have shown that such toxins can interfere with thyroid hormone function during weight loss. Human data shows that as the toxins go up in the blood during weight loss the levels of biologically active thyroid hormone (T3) go down. This data means that your plumbing and detoxification systems must be in good working condition for healthy weight loss or possibly even to engage weight loss.

Toxins make you feel irritable. Many people report feeling poisoned at a certain point in their weight loss process. Such people will always feel better when they eat a lot of food, as the toxins are pulled out of their blood and placed back in fat along with plenty of fat. With little effort, most people can readily lose weight they have most recently gained. After that, people reach what I will call the “toxic plateau.” This means that detoxification strategies may need to be adjusted if weight loss slows too much or stops.

Weight loss and Toxic-Toxic Environment

Once upon a time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a program called the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS). In 1982 and again in 1987 it analyzed human fat samples from cadavers obtained throughout the country, looking for the types of toxins that accumulate in human fat. Four industrial solvents and one dioxin were found in 100 percent of the fat samples. Nine more chemicals, including three more dioxins and one furan were found in more than 90 percent of the fat samples. In general, 83 percent of the fat samples contained PCBs. U.S. researchers have confirmed the presence of multiple toxins in human fat associated with obesity risk. The EPA has confirmed the presence of these chemicals as pollution in the farm soil across America this can only mean that this problem will be with us for some time to come.

The scientific theory of how these chemicals cause weight gain and difficulty losing weight has now been established. They bind to gene signaling within white adipose tissue and induce new fat cells to form while simultaneously increasing inflammation. Oftentimes, the newly formed fat cells are themselves damaged by the toxins so that they cannot metabolically perform, which includes an inability to make leptin normally. These damaged fat cells can fill up with excess fat and toxins, but are not able to efficiently carry out normal functions of fat cells, leading directly to increased risk for type 2 diabetes via the suppression of the important fat cell hormone known as adiponectin. Several human studies confirm that PCBs increase diabetes risk. These chemicals pose a serious problem to the thyroid gland and the efficient utilization of thyroid hormone throughout your body.

Weight loss and Toxic-Strategies detoxification during Weight Loss

The steps to take to boost antioxidant nutrients that are known to help detoxification processes while protecting the liver, brain, white adipose tissue, and/or circulation. Top choices are silymarin, R-alpha lipoic acid, chlorella, quercetin, grape seed extract and tocotrienols. It is now understood that “toxic” blood triggers the formation of new fat cells. This is because the endothelial cells of your circulatory system directly communicate to your baby fat cells and can tell them what to do. Keeping your blood as clean as possible and supporting your liver are vital steps to ensure that this process goes smoothly. While making all these efforts a decision to visit AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s who cares a lot will make great difference here we focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Weight loss and Toxic-Need to detoxify

Treat insomnia naturally to lose

February 25, 2014

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-sleep your weight off by Restoring sleep Cycle

The first step in treating insomnia is to find out whether the problem is being caused by stress or…

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-Understanding Insomnia
Insomnia is a relatively common sleeping disorder, affecting about one-third of the world adult population. Insomnia is more common in women, but quality of sleep often decreases equally in both women and men as we age.

There are a variety of factors that can cause insomnia: stress (including anxiety about not being able to sleep), extreme temperature fluctuations, environmental noise or changes, medication side effects, hormones, or disruption to the regular sleep pattern. Depression, chronic pain, a variety of health issues and sleep apnea can also contribute to insomnia. Lifestyle can also affect insomnia – studies have shown that alcohol and caffeine intake and smoking cigarettes before bedtime disrupts sleep, as can excessive napping in the afternoon or evening.

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-Secrets to Sleeping soundly
We have many reasons why people have a difficult time staying asleep. The good news is that common problems with sleep are often easily addressed without the use of medication – there are no guaranteed natural cures for insomnia, but there are effective steps you can take. One may need to answer some of these questions (and try the simple sleep aid recommendations) if you find yourself waking frequently in the night:

Are you physically uncomfortable? A too soft or too firm mattress, an uncomfortable pillow, or an older, worn-out bed can all impede a good night’s sleep. Check your mattress for signs of wear at least twice a year, and consider new pillows. You may also want to see an osteopathic physician who specializes in osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). A session or two of this safe and effective sleep aid treatment can be life-changing.
Is your bedroom noisy? Consider a “white noise” generator, an inexpensive but effective device for making soothing sounds to mask jangling ones.
Is your mind overactive? If you can’t sleep because of thoughts whirling through your head, try the Relaxing Breath – it can help you put aside the thoughts that are keeping you awake. A few stretches can help with sleep aid, too.
Are you frequently getting up to urinate and then not able to get back to sleep? Eliminate caffeine and alcohol, especially before bedtime – both can increase nighttime urination and increase sleep disturbances.

Here are some natural tips to help you snooze peacefully through the night.

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-Lifestyle Modifications

Dim the lights an hour or two before bedtime to allow your body to increase natural melatonin.
Use window treatments to darken the room or wear a sleep mask.
Establish regular sleep-wake cycles, even on weekends.
Reduce the noise level around you and turn off the TV at least an hour before bedtime.
Reserve your bedroom for sleeping and making love.
Make your bed a sanctuary. Splurge on high thread count cotton sheets, a down comforter, a favorite pillow, or an extra luxe mattress, like Tempur-Pedic. Surround your bed with flowers and candles.
Eliminate or reduce caffeine, especially in the afternoon or evening.
Increase light exposure during the day to promote healthy melatonin balance.
Have sex or masturbate before bed.
Use breathing and relaxation exercises, such as guided imagery CDs.
Shut your brain off at night. Don’t work, watch stimulating shows, or engage in thought-provoking activities just before bedtime.
Exercise regularly.
Do leg exercises just before bed to divert blood flow to your legs, rather than your brain.
Visualize yourself asleep as you go to sleep. Practice deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation by tensing and relaxing muscles all over your body.
Brew a strong cup of chamomile tea before bed, using 2-3 teabags.
Consume no more than 1 serving of alcohol per day. Excess alcohol can disrupt sleep.

Nutrition

Eat foods high in tryptophan before bedtime, such as lean turkey.
Eat foods high in magnesium, such as halibut, almonds, cashews, and spinach.
Eat foods high in Vitamin B complex, such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, and legumes.

Fighting Fatigue with Insomnia Herbs
whenever you feel worn down or are lacking energy due to improper sleep, a hectic schedule or day-to-day stressors, learn how to fight fatigue naturally with insomnia herbs. Taking a few minutes for yourself and do simple breathing exercises this can be helpful, as can daily moderate exercise and getting adequate rest. Certain nutrients, botanicals and other compounds can also help to ward off or lessen the effects of general fatigue. Experiment with the following insomnia herbs and natural remedies for insomnia:

Magnesium and calcium. Oral magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve symptoms of fatigue in persons with low magnesium levels.
Eleuthero or Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). Studies show that Eleuthero can help enhance mental activity as well as physical endurance.
Coenzyme Q10. This vital nutrient is involved in cellular energy production throughout the body.
Ashwagandha, ayurvedic herb prized for its ability to help the body deal with stress.
Cordyceps, a traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom that may help fight fatigue and boost energy levels.

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-Natural Remedies for Insomnia
Sleep is an important part of reaching your health goals. Shakespeare called sleep “the chief nourishes in life’s feast.” Adequate sleep is a primary component of a healthy lifestyle. Although often the undesirable result of our busy lives, insufficient sleep may also be indicative of imperfect health, and can itself lead to future health problems.

Here are some suggestions for getting the sleep you need to protect body and mind:

Eliminate caffeine from your diet, especially in the form of soft drinks and coffee, as well as over-the-counter drugs (check the labels).
Practice daily breathing exercises, and the relaxing breath when falling asleep.
Take a warm bath before bedtime.
Get at least 45 minutes of aerobic activity every day.

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-Sleep for Weight Loss
Want help achieving and maintaining a healthy weight? Aim for eight hours of sleep a night. Research suggests that appetite-regulating hormones are affected by sleep and that sleep deprivation could lead to weight gain. In two studies, people who slept five hours or less per night had higher levels of ghrelin – a hormone that stimulates hunger – and lower levels of the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin than those who slept eight hours per night. So make sure getting adequate sleep is near the top of your optimum health checklist!

In your effort to treat insomnia, to achieve optimal weight loss, I recommend a visit to AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care where focus is on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE is the key objective.

Treat insomnia naturally to lose-sleep your weight off by Restoring sleep Cycle

Testosterone and Pellets in weight lose

February 25, 2014

Testosterone and Pellets in weight lose

Testosterone and Pellets in weight loss-What are Pellets?

Pellet therapy has been around since the 1930s–the concept is probably about … Low testosterone often impacts a woman’s weight and sex drive. … women experiencing low levels may simply lose their interest in sex

Pellets are made up of either estradiol or testosterone. The hormones are pressed or fused into very small solid cylinders. These pellets are larger than a grain of rice and smaller than a ‘Tic Tac’. In the United States, the majority of pellets are made by compounding pharmacists and delivered in sterile glass vials. There is a ‘FDA approved’ 75 mg testosterone pellet.

Pellets deliver consistent, healthy levels of hormones for 3-5 months in women and 4-6 months in men. They avoid the fluctuations, or ups and downs, of hormone levels seen with every other method of delivery. Estrogen delivered by subcutaneous pellets, maintains the normal ratio of estradiol to estrone. This is important for optimal health and disease prevention. Pellets do not increase the risk of blood clots like conventional or synthetic hormone replacement therapy.

In studies, when compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy, pellets have been shown to be superior for relief of menopausal symptoms, maintenance of bone density, restoration of sleep patterns, and improvement in sex drive, libido, sexual response and performance. The maintenance of bone density and restoration of sleep pattern are good ingredients of weight lose.

Testosterone delivered by a pellet implant, has been used to treat migraine and menstrual headaches. It also helps with vaginal dryness, incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency. In both men and women, testosterone has been shown to increase energy, relieve depression, increase sense of wellbeing, relieve anxiety and improve memory and concentration.

Testosterone, delivered by pellet implant, increases lean body mass (muscle strength, bone density) and decreases fat mass. Men and women need adequate levels of testosterone for optimal mental and physical health and for the prevention of chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, which are associated with low testosterone levels.

Even patients who have failed other types of hormone therapy have a very high success rate with pellets. There is no other ‘method of hormone delivery’ that is as convenient for the patient as the implants. Pellets have been used in both men and women since the late 1930′s. There is more data to support the use of pellets than any other method of delivery of hormones.

Testosterone and Pellets in weight loss-Insertion of pellets

The insertion of pellets is a simple, relatively painless procedure done under local anesthesia. The pellets are usually inserted in the lower abdominal wall or upper buttocks through a small incision, which is then taped, closed. The experience of the health care professional matters a great deal, not only in placing the pellets, but also in determining the correct dosage of hormones to be used.

Complications from the insertion of pellets

Complications from the insertion of pellets include; minor bleeding or bruising, discoloration of the skin, infection, and the possible extrusion of the pellet. Other than slight bruising, or discoloration of the skin, these complications are very rare. Testosterone may cause a slight increase in facial hair in some women. Testosterone stimulates the bone marrow and increases the production of red blood cells. A low testosterone level in older men is a cause of anemia. Testosterone, delivered by implants or other methods, can cause an elevation in the red blood cells. If the hemoglobin and hematocrit (blood count) get too high, a unit of blood may be donated.

After the insertion of the implants, vigorous physical activity is avoided for 48 hours in women and up to 5 to 7 days in men. Early physical activity is a cause of ‘extrusion’, which is a pellet working its way out. Antibiotics may be prescribed if a patient is diabetic or has had a joint replaced. However, this is a ‘clean procedure’ and antibiotics may not be needed.

Do men need hormone therapy?

Testosterone levels begin to decline in men beginning in their early 30′s. Most men maintain adequate levels of testosterone into their mid-40′s to mid-50′s, some into their late 70′s to early 80′s. Men should be tested when they begin to show signs of testosterone deficiency. Even men in their 30′s can be testosterone deficient and show signs of bone loss, fatigue, depression, erectile dysfunction, difficulty sleeping and mental decline. Most men need to be tested around 50 years of age. It is never too late to benefit from hormone therapy.

Side effects to estrogen delivered by pellet implantation

When a patient first starts on hormone therapy there may be mild, temporary breast tenderness, which resolves on its own. Hormone receptors may be very sensitive and take time to adjust. There may be a temporary water weight gain, which will also resolve on its own. Women, especially those who have not had a hysterectomy, may choose a different method of delivery of estrogen, as the risk of bleeding is significant.

Duration of patient recovery

Some patients begin to ‘feel better’ within 24-48 hours while others may take a week or two to notice a difference. Diet and lifestyle, along with hormone balance are critical for optimal health. Stress is a major contributor to hormone imbalance and illness; averagely pellets usually last between 3 and 5 months in women and 4-6 months in men. The pellets do not need to be removed. They completely dissolve on their own.

Testosterone and Pellets in weight loss-Monitoring hormones during therapy

Hormone levels will be drawn and evaluated before therapy is started. This will include a FSH, estradiol, testosterone and free testosterone for women. Thyroid hormone levels may also be evaluated. Men need a PSA, sensitive estradiol, testosterone, liver profile and blood count prior to starting therapy. Levels will be reevaluated during hormone therapy, usually prior to insertion of the next set of pellets, 4-5 months. After the first year of therapy, hormones levels may be followed less frequently. Men must notify their primary care physician and obtain a digital rectal exam each year. Women are advised to continue their monthly self-breast exam and obtain a mammogram and/or pap smear as advised by their gynecologist or primary care physician.

Is there a role for testosterone implants (pellets) in a pre-menopausal female?

Testosterone pellets may be used in pre-menopausal females (women who have not stopped menstruating). Testosterone has been shown to; relieve migraine or menstrual headaches, help with symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), relieve anxiety and depression, and improve sex drive and libido. If a pre-menopausal female has a testosterone pellet inserted, she must use birth control. There is a theoretical risk of ‘masculinizing’ a female fetus (giving male traits to a female fetus).

In conclusion, estrogen and testosterone therapy by implantation of pellets is a safe and effective method of hormone therapy for both men and women. Long, continuous administration of hormones by pellets is convenient and economical for the patient. Pellet implantation has consistently proven more effective than oral, intramuscular, and topical hormone therapy with regard to bone density, sexual function, mood and cognitive function, urinary and vaginal complaints, breast health, lipid profiles, hormone ratios and metabolites. However in the event you experience weight gain as a result the therapy, Doctor Dalal Akoury will help you achieve optimal weight loss at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Doctor Akoury focuses on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE

Testosterone and Pellets in weight lose

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight

February 24, 2014

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight-Discussed

Vitamin A deficiency caused oxidative damage to liver mitochondria

Mitochondria are what we would call tiny factories that turn food and oxygen into energy. In each cell, there are hundreds to thousands of these little energy factories (mitochondria). They exist in greater numbers in active organs and tissues, like the muscles, heart and brain. Their malfunction needs to be corrected to heal completely for effectiveness in weight loss. This article discusses the relevant tools needed to have a strong working mitochondrial.

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight -Magnesium

Ah, magnesium, darling mineral of the Primal world, participant in nearly every physiological function known to man, and now essential cofactor for proper mitochondrial function. I believe so. Magnesium deficiency led to decreased mitochondria-per-cell count and increased size of individual mitochondrion in liver and kidney cells, which indicates that not only did low magnesium drop the overall number of mitochondria, but also increased the workload of the remaining mitochondria. Eat plenty of leafy greens, the occasional handful of nuts or seeds, and a starchy tuber when it suits you, taking care to supplement with good and you should be fine on magnesium.

Zinc and Iron

Deficiencies in both zinc and iron can reduce the mitochondria’s ability to synthesize heme, which leads to oxidant leakage (the increased free radicals that I mentioned in last week’s post), “DNA damage, neural decay, and aging.” Luckily, zinc and iron are present in animal products and shellfish, so few Primal eaters run the risk of severe deficiencies. If you need to, supplement, but do so wisely: zinc toxicity alters mitochondrial metabolism and lowers ATP production in liver mitochondria. The liver processes both fats and sugars and healthy liver mitochondria are crucial for that important task.

Manganese

You don’t hear a lot about manganese, but it plays a role in creating a potent mitochondrial antioxidant: manganese superoxide dismutase. Without adequate manganese, you won’t make enough superoxide dismutase, and without enough mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase, you run the risk of developing a neuropathology or suffering an ischemic brain injury (what often happens after stroke). Eat your mussels, raspberries, and dark chocolate.

Carnosine

In rats with a genetic predisposition to developing Alzheimer’s disease, supplementing with carnosine reduced the prevalence of classic AD hallmarks, the first and foremost of which was mitochondrial dysfunction. Carnosine is a potent scavenger of free radicals, and it’s a dipeptide of the amino acids beta-alanine and histidine. Meat eaters get plenty of carnosine, but supplements exist if you want to go that route.

Carnitine

Carnitine is biosynthesized from methionine and lysine, two amino acids which are highly prevalent in red meat and your mitochondria like a lot of carnitine because it’s required for shuttling fatty acids into the mitochondria for processing. Yeah, if you want mitochondria to do one of their most basic jobs – break down fatty acids for energy – you better consume ample amounts of meat, or supplement with L-carnitine.

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight -Vitamin A

Vitamin A deficiency caused oxidative damage to liver mitochondria in rats. Folks, in addition to handling fat and sugar metabolism, liver mitochondria also process ammonia, a potentially toxic byproduct of protein metabolism, so you’d better eat your egg yolks and liver and even cod liver oil along with your egg whites and steak and cod filets.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a universal antioxidant, internally produced by most organisms (except for us and a couple others), and it should come as no surprise to learn that it (along with resveratrol and alpha-lipoic acid) reduces excessive reactive oxygen species production by the mitochondria. It does so by increasing manganese superoxide dismutase (remember that?). Just be careful about supplementing during heavy cardio, as vitamin C has been shown to dampen mitochondrial biogenesis by interfering with normal cellular adaptations to endurance exercise. Maybe that was the problem back in my endurance days when I was downing 25,000 milligrams of C a day during training (hey, Linus Pauling said to supplement vitamin C “to bowel tolerance.” How times have changed.) I doubt sticking to natural sources of vitamin C, like fruit, raw meat, or fresh vegetables would have the same negative effect on exercise adaptation.

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight-Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Our bodies make CoQ10, which is required for the transfer of electrons during mitochondrial oxidative respiration. Mitochondrial oxidative respiration is how we produce ATP for bodily functions and day-to-day life. Without enough of it (maybe we’re taking statins, which block the pathway responsible for synthesizing CoQ10, or we’re not eating enough foods high in CoQ10), our mitochondria’s ability to make ATP suffers, since CoQ10 is the only compound that can do its job. The best dietary sources of CoQ10 include animal hearts (since hearts need a lot of CoQ10 to generate the energy required functioning), sardines, and virgin red palm oil. Even so, it’s still tough to get significant CoQ10 from food, which is why I like to supplement it.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is the darling of the life extension set, and while I think some of its effects might be overstated, it does appear to improve mitochondrial function (in mice) and induce mitochondrial biogenesis (in rodent epithelial cells, the cells that comprise the lining of blood vessels). Furry little human’s mice are not, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight-Alpha lipoic acid

Naturally occurring most richly in heart, liver, kidney, spinach, and broccoli, lipoic acid supplements have been shown to reduce mitochondrial decay in humans. Another study, albeit in rats, found that alpha-lipoic acid, along with a few other “mitochondria supportive” supplements, improved rats’ athletic performance and recovery. In both cases, it stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis.

I’m sure there are more nutrients, minerals, vitamins and supplements that affect mitochondrial function, but this is a decent list to consider when trying manning your cellular power plant workforce. And I bet if you take care of the bulk of these, either by eating good food or supplementing, you can keep a couple Homer Simpsons around for comic relief without too many problems.

In all you do if functioning mitochondrial is not working for you in attaining optimal weight loss, a visit to AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s will offer much needed solution. Dr. Dalal Akoury cares she focuses on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE

Heal the Mitochondrial to lose weight-Discussed

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