The benefits of losing weight

With convenience becoming more and more important in today’s busy environment it isn’t too much of a surprise to learn that Australia’s general health and wellbeing is seeing some concerning trends. Recent research suggests that the most commonly prescribed medications by your local Doctor are, in fact, for illnesses and conditions that have earned the moniker of “lifestyle diseases”. Before we explore the solution to this modern illness, we first need to explore what a lifestyle disease is.  Over the last couple of decades people have been experiencing illnesses that, until fairly recently, were fairly rare.

As we touched upon at the very start of this blog, people are relying more and more on convenience and due to work and family commitments are very time poor.  This, as we’ll discover is a very dangerous combination especially when you’re trying to lose weight. With rates of diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure on the rise it is really time for us to take a collective moment and reflect on the damage we’re doing to our bodies.

The Problem

Thirty years ago, when diets were more balanced, the answer to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle was to go and pound the pavement or join the masses and sign up for the new phenomena that were gyms. Fast forward thirty years and gyms are on every street corner but we’re still seeing increased levels of lifestyle illnesses and people struggling with weight loss.  The introduction of high fat, high sugar diets combined with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle has impacted just about everybody’s waistlines and general health.

Weight Loss & Pregnancy

In a world where there are more weight loss products, diet-programs and TV shows than you can shake a stick at, we are all becoming more and more aware of the importance of looking after ourselves, our health and our weight. There are many reasons why people are turning to weight loss products and diets such as Keto but there are some people who are looking to lose weight so they can increase their chances of hearing the pitta-patter of tiny feet reverberate around their homes! We all know the obvious health reasons to losing weight and getting fitter, but weight loss and pregnancy isn’t always talked about or discussed as a reason to lose those stubborn kilos. Recent studies in the United States and Australia have shown that losing as little as 5% of your body weight can increase your chances of conceiving.

Why Does Weight Loss Matter In Pregnancy?

For Women
Weight loss can increase your chances of becoming pregnant, but we really must explore why being over-weight can affect pregnancy and the chances of falling pregnant.
Losing fat makes you healthier, helps your liver detoxify your body and process hormones that need to be in perfect balance to fall pregnant. Losing weight and having a strong, healthy body creates a healthier environment for the baby to grow in and receive all the nutrients it needs, which in turn will help sustain pregnancy and create a healthier child. By helping clients lose weight and cleaning up their bodies we have helped many woman conceive who had previously been unable too.

For Men
Being a man is 50% of the process of creating a child. Strong, healthy sperm is needed to fertilise the egg and losing weight will help increase sperm counts, raise testosterone levels and lower estrogen levels. Zinc levels are important for good quality sperm along with other vitamins and minerals. Studies have suggested that for men to increase their chances of fathering children they should reach a healthier weight at least three months prior to conception. For men, reaching this target three months prior, is incredibly important as recent studies have determined it takes around three-months for sperm to develop and getting in shape assists with healthy sperm.

Is Your Skin Condition Due To A Digestive Issue?

Have you ever stopped to wonder what is the cause of your skin condition? Eczema, psoriasis, Hives, dermatitis and more can all be due to poor digestion, food intolerances and gastrointestinal upsets. For instance, psoriasis is strongly linked to inflammatory bowel disease. By reducing inflammation in the body, you may be able to break free of chronic skin conditions…

The Link Between Food, Your Gut, and Your Skin

Many people underestimate the effects that poor digestion and bowels can have on their lifestyle, often causing boating, pain, discomfort, fatigue, but also playing a leading role in your skin’s health. At Capalaba Natural Health, we aim to identify the underlying drivers of the symptoms so we can implement a healthy eating plan and provide prescriptions or natural medicines to help improve skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema, starting with your gut.

The gastrointestinal region of the body includes organs such as the liver, pancreas, and gall bladder, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum, leaving you open to many types of digestive issues. Because skin is an elimination organ, anything that happens in your gut, such as the build-up of toxins, is sometimes cleared through your skin. However, if there’s no release through the skin, these toxins can affect your body and stay underneath the surface of your skin, resulting in chronic skin conditions.

Do You Have IBS? Or, Could it be a Food Intolerance?

Around the world, many people suffer from abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, constipation or diarrhoea. But what is the root cause of all this discomfort? Can it simply be put down to a poor diet, a food intolerance or perhaps even irritable bowel syndrome? From low energy levels to a poor immune system, all can be rectified by booking a consultation with your local naturopath at Capalaba Natural Health. Tony Daniel is an Award Winning Naturopath and is trained to help identify the underlying drivers of your health concerns and help rectify them using natural solutions.

So, do you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or is it just a food intolerance, perhaps even a dysregulated digestive system? Let’s explore.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Do you frequently endure abdominal pain, cramping or discomfort that is relieved by passing wind? Do you often find yourself experiencing an urgency to make a bowel movement or find yourself alternating between constipation and diarrhoea? Have you ever had the feeling of an ‘incomplete evacuation’?

People with IBS often rate these as the most common symptoms with some also experiencing chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, sinus, eczema, poor memory, joint pain and reduced immunity leading.

At Capalaba Natural Health, our naturopathic practitioners are experts in gut and digestive health, providing natural and organic solutions to ease your pain. Once we identify the trigger of your symptoms, we can help implement a health eating plan and provide natural medicines designed to reduce digestive inflammation, and repair your gut. After just a few days, you will already start to notice your energy levels increase and a better sense of well-being. With better gut health and adequate nutrition, your body will flourish increasing your energy levels, reducing stress and improving your quality of life.

Stress or anxiety, as common as they are, are two of the biggest drivers of IBS. However, at Capalaba Natural Health, we understand that many symptoms associated with IBS are actually due to a food intolerance. Therefore, our first step is to identify any food intolerances you may have that are irritating your digestive tract.

What’s the difference between Dairy Intolerance and Lactose Intolerance?

Have you ever been strolling through the aisles of your local supermarket during your weekly grocery shop, heading to grab some ice cream, milk or yoghurt only to be faced with a bunch of product labels you’ve never seen before? Lactose-free, dairy-free, non-dairy – what do they all mean, what’s the difference between them all? Well that’s what we’re here to uncover.

Dairy Intolerance

To completely understand what it means to be ‘dairy-free’ or to have a dairy intolerance, it’s important to understand what dairy actually means. The term ‘dairy’ refers to milk and any part of milk that comes from cows, meaning a dairy intolerant person can’t consume milk or any products that are derived from milk such as cream, butter, sour cream, yogurt, cheese or, chocolate. It also includes products which contain traces of milk products such milk solids, casein, lactose and whey.

A dairy intolerance is when a person reacts to not just the lactose (Milk sugar) but they also react to one or more of the other components of milk such as whey or casein (Milk protein). This means that the person would still feel unwell or get symptoms if they drink lactose free milk because they are also reacting to one of the other substances present – typically casein.

Tony’s Proven Approach To Overcoming Seasonal Allergies, Sinus or Hayfever