Tag Archives: candida diet

Questions & Answers

What really causes weight gain? Your genes, your diet, or your gut?

Genes, joules, or gut bugs: which one is the most to blame when it comes to weight gain?

Joules are just a measure of calories, so the question becomes, what makes people fat? Is it genetics? Is it the number of calories they’re eating, or is it the bacteria in their gut?
It turns out that genetics doesn’t explain weight gain to any significant degree. About 100 genes have been linked to obesity so far. Scientists have determined that only 3% of weight is explained by your genes.

When it comes to gut bacteria, you can lose a bit of weight just by taking probiotics alone. But it’s a very subtle shift in weight that occurs when you improve your gut bacteria. Not insignificant but not enough to be the answer to the obesity epidemic.

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If we look at the kilojoules or the calories in the diet, it’s a totally different ball game. Years ago, they wondered if you took 10% of the calories out of someone’s diet, would they lose 10% of their body weight? And that’s exactly what’s been demonstrated.

In one study of 117 healthy adults, weight loss was found to be commensurate with how many calories were removed from the diet.

The bottom line is that what you eat is the prime determinant of your weight. It’s not the genes; it’s not the gut bugs; it’s the calories that determine your weight.

If you want to lose weight, you need to look at what you eat, when you eat, how much you eat, and why you eat. Stress is an important consideration, as well. Remember that the stress hormone cortisol can increase your appetite and trigger cravings for high-calorie foods. Studies have shown that there is a huge difference in calorie consumption, depending on whether you’re in a low-stress or high-stress state.

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Questions & Answers

Vitamin C And Weight Loss: What’s The Connection?

Can vitamin C help you lose weight?

A study from the mid-2000s demonstrated that vitamin C has a definite effect on burning fat (thermogenesis) in some people.

When people have adequate vitamin C stores, their ability to burn off body fat is 30% higher compared to people with low vitamin C stores.

The benefits of vitamin C aren’t new. Look at the work by Mathias Rath and Dr. Linus Pauling, who got two Nobel prizes, I believe. Dr. Pauling was ridiculed by scientists for many years, but one day his work on vitamin C will be vindicated.

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Vitamin C has a profound effect on the adrenal system. One of the highest levels of ascorbic acid in the human body is found in the adrenal cortex. An expert once told me that vitamin C used to be measured in the body by measuring the levels in the adrenal gland.

The body needs sufficient ascorbic acid levels to produce adrenal hormones such as the stress hormone, cortisol. You can extrapolate from that that low vitamin c levels might contribute to adrenal exhaustion. The fatigue associated with adrenal dysfunction can promote weight gain as it interferes with normal physical activity and can lead to snacking on high-calorie foods.

Vitamin C has a role in immune function, energy levels, skin integrity, and thermogenesis. That’s why I recommend people keep their vitamin C intake high. Make sure you include ample vitamin-C rich foods in your diet.

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Questions & Answers

What You Need To Know About Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs)

Medium-chain fatty acids are derived from natural substances. Caprylic acid and capric acid are the two main MCTs and are found in coconut fat.

MCTs are easily absorbed by the body because these types of fats don’t require bile for digestion. I believe MCTs get absorbed straight into the portal vein, where it is shunted to the liver for processing. For that reason, MCTs don’t seem to cause the same weight gain as other fats that go through typical digestive processes.

You also need a lot less MCT or coconut oil to achieve satiety compared to fats like olive oil.
A meta-analysis that included 13 different studies found that regular ingestion of MCTs was associated with a ½ pound weight loss and a small decrease in waist circumference.

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MCTs can help you lose a small amount of weight. Still, they are not the be-all and end-all. You shouldn’t take MCT supplements and expect to transform your body.

If you’re serious about weight loss, I suggest focusing on increasing your protein intake while reducing your caloric consumption. Avoid crappy food and exercise more.

Still, having a small amount of MCTs in your diet has some value. MCTs are antifungal and can help control yeast levels in your gut.

My preference is to consume whole coconut rather than a fractionated product made from coconut oil. However, it’s your decision. You may prefer to take the supplement.

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Questions & Answers

Household Cleaners And Body Weight: What’s The Connection?

There’s an important impact of cleaning agents on the gut bacteria of infants.

A study was published in the Canada Medical Association Journal in 2018. The study followed 757 infants. The children were assessed at age three to four months and then again between one to three years old. Many stool samples were taken from the children.

The goal was to see if changes in gut bacteria are associated with household chemicals. The researchers look at cleansing agents such as strong surface cleaners, aerosols, and sprays. They looked at cleaning agents that were eco-friendly and more traditional cleaning agents.

Children in homes that used traditional cleansing agents had a lot fewer bacteria, particularly with regards to Haemophilus and Clostridia strains. In contrast, other strains of bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae were increased.

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They also discovered that children from households that used a lot of surface cleaners and chemical products had higher BMIs than children from homes using eco-friendly cleaning products.
Remember, though, that diet can be a confounding factor. As you can well imagine, children coming from the eco-friendly cleansing households were a lot less likely to eat pizzas, French fries, and soda pop.

I can’t stand it when you walk in some houses, and it smells of chemicals. If I ever go into an Airbnb or a hotel room, and I can smell something, I walk out.

Be careful of cleaning agents, including using wet wipes to clean your children’s hands frequently. There’s something to be said for leaving healthy bacteria alone.

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Questions & Answers

Dieting Mistakes That Aren’t Good For Your Gut

There are several weight loss mistakes that can damage your gut health.

1. Caloric restriction: Many people believe that if they cut a certain amount of calories from their diet, they will lose weight. Unfortunately, they won’t only be starving themselves; they’re also starving the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Overly restrictive diets interfere with the critical hormones involved in regulating satiety and hunger. It also sets you up for binge eating. In my experience, restricting calories doesn’t result in sustainable weight loss. Sometimes it even contributes to weight gain!

2. Eliminating whole food groups: For example, there is an “expert” running around at the moment telling people to eliminate foods that contain lectin from the diet. That’s completely false. I’ve heard it all before. “Don’t eat tomatoes!” and “Don’t eat XYZ!” People will take whole food groups out of their diet because someone with a white coat and a stethoscope said they should. Don’t eliminate entire food groups. Weight loss doesn’t work that way, and it puts you at risk of not getting enough nutrients, including fiber.

Instead of eliminating entire food groups on speculation, get a comprehensive stool analysis, so you know exactly what is going on in your gut.

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3. Assuming that all salads are healthy: Not all salads are created equal. Some salads contain too much dressing, and the dressing includes high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.

4. Assuming that all “healthy” treats are genuinely healthy: Many people have this idea that things like granola bars are healthy. It’s incredible how many foods in New Zealand have a high “star” rating but are actually junk food. Many granola bars contain a lot of sugar, and some even contain hydrogenated fats. You don’t need granola bars, have an apple instead.

5. Assuming artificial sugars and diet foods are safe: You don’t want artificial sweeteners in your diet. There are several rat and animal studies suggesting that artificial sweeteners are not healthy. I’ve had clients who have suffered serious health consequences due to eating artificial sugars.

6. Considering fruit juice to be a “health” food: Many people still start the day with a tall glass of orange juice, full of sugar, and lacking in fiber. The fiber in fruit is what allows the sugar to be released very slowly. I suggest you ditch the juice and have the whole fruit instead.

7. Following a healthy diet while having an unhealthy lifestyle: No matter how much healthy food you eat, your gut is going to suffer if you’re sleep-deprived. You need to disconnect from your phone, computer, and television if you want to have excellent gut health. Good sleep, good physical activity, and low-stress living are just as important to gut health as your diet.