New Weight Loss and Hormonal Balance Program

Metabolic Balance

'Metabolic Balance' is a hormone and metabolism re-balancing program, designed to reset your body’s metabolic functions. In a nutshell, it helps you use energy and burn fat at your body’s optimum level.

The program was developed by German nutritional medicine expert Dr Wolf Funfack and food scientist Silvia Bürkle, and is the result of 25 years of scientific research. After a detailed blood test, your results are sent to Germany, where your inflammatory markers, blood glucose levels, TSH thyroid results, and many other factors are analysed. A diet is then designed for you to regulate your hormone levels, particularly your insulin, and optimise your health.

So each Metabolic Balance diet plan is completely unique. An individual nutrition plan is provided which specifies healthy and varied meals, and an android app is available for assistance.

The program consists of 4 phases over 4 months to reset your body. It is based on sound scientific research, and the program is suitable for the vast majority of people but not for everyone. It is most beneficial for those who have excess fat that refuses to budge even after doing all the right things, or those with stubborn hormone problems. However, it is also great for those who just want to optimise their health and wellbeing.

We believe that the Program may well be

• the most scientific
• the most advanced
• and the most individually tailored

health and weight loss system available.

The Four Phases of the Program
• Phase 1. This phase begins the process of detoxification and elimination and is key in preparing your metabolism for the next phase. (Phase 1 lasts for 2 days.)

• Phase 2. For the first two weeks, you must eat only the foods specified in your personal nutrition plan. After that, the occasional treat meal will be reintroduced into your diet, which you can enjoy whatever you like. During this phase, your metabolism will slowly start to adjust and become more efficient.

• Phase 3. This is the relaxed-adjustment phase. During this phase, you can begin to bring in additional foods to your daily meal plan. With your body’s new and heightened sense of awareness, you should instinctively know which foods are right for you. You can also now enjoy an occasional treat meal or even a glass of wine. More important, you will learn how to take a healthy approach to special occasions. Your Metabolic Balance therapist will continue to support you and monitor your progress during this phase.

• Phase 4. The maintenance phase is the final phase. On the basis of your knowledge of and experience with the previous three phases, you may now experiment for yourself and get to know which foods are right for you. You can begin to slowly ease yourself away from the plan, while still following the nutrition advice you have learnt during the program. (Even at this stage, you will be able to remain in contact with your Metabolic Balance therapist.)

One of our naturopaths Margaret McNamara has completed the training to become an accredited Metabolic Balance therapist, so we are now offering this remarkable program.

If you would like to find out how well the program would work for you, please book in with Peter for a complimentary Health Assessment. (Terms and conditions- the Assessment is a completely free service, with no obligations at all.) Or, if you have already had a consultation with Margaret within the last 6 months, you can send us an email and she can advise if you are a suitable candidate.

Tired, Overweight, or Feel Anxious?

YOU COULD HAVE A SLUGGISH THYROID

Does fatigue drag you down day after day? Do you have excess weight, brain fog, poor sleep, hair loss, or often feel anxious? Your thyroid could be to blame. This gland controls the rate of activity of all the cells of your body, so if it is underactive, everything slows down. Your metabolism, energy production, digestion, moods, libido, or temperature control can be affected. Getting your thyroid right is critical to having good energy levels, feeling your best, and avoiding some important health problems. The most common symptoms of low thyroid are:

• Feeling tired, no energy, or exhausted
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Feeling anxious or depressed
• Brain fog or poor memory
• Poor sleep
• Fatter than normal throat
• Coarse, dry hair and dry skin
• Hair loss
• Constipation
• Abnormal periods
• Difficulty falling pregnant
• Low libido
• Sensitivity to cold
• Muscle cramps and aches

When left untreated, low thyroid function can also raise your cholesterol levels, and so increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Your Thyroid Hormones

Your pituitary is a gland attached to your brain, and it releases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) to control your thyroid. The less active your thyroid is, the more TSH your pituitary will produce. Your thyroid gland then produces the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 (thyroxine), which control the rest of your body.

The IMPORTANCE OF IODINE

The names T3 and T4 refer to the number of iodine atoms in each hormone, as iodine is the key nutrient needed to create them. Iodine is particularly important for women who are pregnant or trying to fall pregnant, as the mother’s thyroid hormones are needed for proper brain and nerve development of their growing babies. During pregnancy, the mother’s T4 production doubles, increasing her daily iodine requirement. If she is low in iodine and cannot produce the right level of thyroid hormones, the baby could be born with mental impairment and learning delay. Even a moderate iodine deficiency in a pregnant woman can lower her infant’s IQ. In 2007 the WHO estimated that over 30% of the world’s population (2 billion people) have insufficient iodine. Because iodine deficiency is so common, it is one of the leading causes of mental retardation. (As low iodine intake affected a massive 43% of our population, the Australian government has made it mandatory for iodine to be added to bread. However, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or considering becoming pregnant frequently still need iodine supplements.)

Other important nutrients for proper thyroid function include:

• Selenium - is the next most important mineral, as it is needed for activation of the thyroid hormones. When the selenium levels of patients suffering from thyroid disease were tested, they were all found to be lower than for normal healthy people. Also, free radicals are produced when the hormones are created, and these can destroy the thyroid cells. However, selenium protects the thyroid from this damage.
• Zinc - in animal studies, T3 and free T4 concentrations were 30% lower in those with zinc deficiency.
• Iron - low iron inhibits the production of thyroid hormones.
• Copper - the body cannot regulate thyroid hormone effectively in cases of copper deficiency. (One study revealed that copper deficient pregnant rats give birth to infant rats that produce 48% less T3 than those born from healthy mothers.)

CAUSES OF THYROID PROBLEMS

The most common cause of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) is Hashimoto’s disease. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the thyroid gland. The damage to the thyroid prevents it from producing enough hormones. Other causes include:

• Nutrient deficiencies (see above)
• Stress, or any form of shock
• Excess adrenaline
• Toxins
• Excess kale in your diet (usually from drinking kale in juices). Kale prevents your thyroid from getting enough iodine.
• Excess soy. Some of the chemicals found in products like soy milk could interfere with your thyroid’s ability to make hormones.
• Food intolerances or allergies. For example, gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. If you have sensitivity to gluten, it can damage the lining of your small intestine. This damage can cause serious health problems and is linked to an increased risk of Hashimoto’s disease.

BUT MY DOCTOR SAYS MY THYROID IS FINE!

Often a client will come to us who has had a blood test, and their doctor says that their results are within normal range, so their thyroid is fine. However, when we check their blood test, their TSH levels may be toward the higher end of the range. (The higher the TSH, the weaker your thyroid is working.) Most pathology laboratories use a TSH range of 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L to determine if there is a thyroid problem. However, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemists advised that 95% of people without any indication of thyroid disease have a TSH concentration below 2.5 mIU/L, and so it has been advocated that the upper level of the TSH range be lowered to 2.5 mIU/L. And many highly experienced natural therapists consider any level above 2.0 mIU/L to indicate a sluggish thyroid.

In addition, blood tests will normally only check the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels. Testing for T3, T4, and thyroid antibody levels gives a more accurate picture of how the thyroid is functioning. However, doctors are reluctant to do these tests unless a thyroid disorder has been established.

If your TSH levels are above the ‘normal’ range, you would normally be put on thyroid medication for the rest of your life. We believe it is better to improve your thyroid before that happens. So if you think your thyroid may not be working well, or you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, please book in for a free Comprehensive Assessment. We can evaluate how well your thyroid is working, what has probably caused the problem, and the quickest and easiest way to get it working well again.

Hormone Disruptors:
What Are They and What do They Mean for Your Health?

'Endocrine disruptors' are man-made chemicals that can mimic our natural hormones in the body - particularly oestrogen. There has been some exposure in the media recently on the potential damage these nasties have on the health of a living organism: have a look at the following ABC news item explaining how some herbicides are having a profound effect on our amphibious species - www.abc.net.au - they are changing sex! This phenomenon has also been noted in the Great Lakes U.S.A. where a vast amount of pesticide residue finds its way into these closed waterways, resulting in some fish species turning female.

So what relevance has this to you, you might ask. Plenty! There are an inordinate amount of chemicals utilised by many different manufacturers that have taken on the philosophy of 'innocent until proven guilty'. Unfortunately, the number of these chemicals flooding the market on a yearly basis is far too vast for the FDA to check in depth. This results in the unfortunate public bearing the brunt of the health effects.

Endocrine disruptors displace oestrogen on receptor sites on the body - they bind to these receptors and stimulate growth. These receptor sites are found in particularly large numbers in breast, vaginal and uterine tissues. But are also scattered elsewhere throughout the body. So it begs the question … if these disruptors stimulate growth and cancer is unmitigated growth of tissue, what are they doing in our daily lives?

Many chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors, here are a few. This list is by no means complete:

• Phthalates - are plastic softeners and are used in a vast number of consumables utilised on a daily basis, from furniture to car interiors to carpet to plastic ware. They are also added to almost all perfumes to make the scent last longer and to hairspray and gels to make these products 'stickier'.
• Parabens - are additives added to almost every personal care product on the market today to prevent microorganisms growing.
• Plastics such as BPA - this is a particularly nasty one as this is the one still used in babies’ bottles in Australia (it has been banned in Canada)
• Certain herbicides and pesticides utilised in the food industry.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH REGULAR EXPOSURE:

Endometriosis, infertility, (as providers of natural fertility treatment in Brisbane we frequently experience this symptom), breast, ovarian, prostate and testicular cancers, low sperm count, liver toxicity, immune concerns, obesity.

WHAT CAN I DO TO DECREASE MY EXPOSURE?

Stay away from the chemicals as much as possible!

• Buy organic personal care products (including washing powder - this is against your skin 24 hrs per day).
• Buy organic food where possible; wash all fruit and vegetables well with an approved veggie wash and water.
• Be particularly vary of non organic chicken - these poor animals are pumped full of endocrine disruptors to stimulate growth.
• If you have a new car, drive with the windows down - that lovely new car smell is actually phthalates 'gassing off' - don't stew in a toxic air soup with the air con on, particularly if it is on recycle.
• Avoid plastic - stick to glass or stainless steel: this includes, beverage containers - DO NOT re-use clear water bottles. If you enjoy a daily take away coffee, buy your own insulated stainless mug (make certain it is not plastic lined). Feed your baby from a glass bottle. Store your food in glass or ceramic/china. There are many stainless products on the market designed specifically for babies. Don't forget, babies are of particular risk here due to the nature of their rapidly growth, smaller bodies.
• Come and speak to us - this is a very important topic, and we can help you turn your life back on to a more natural path! Take advantage of our free Health Assessment offer.

Further Reading

• What you need to know about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, by CHOICE
• How Takeaway Food Containers and Plastic Water Bottles Can Lower Fertility

    
Getting Results

     The Importance of Setting Goals

The start of a new year is traditionally a time to make resolutions for the coming year.  However, most of the time they don't last too long.

The importance of proper goal-setting was highlighted in a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program.  The students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?"  Only 3 percent of the graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and 84 percent had no specific goals at all.

 Ten years later, the members of the class were interviewed again, and the findings were quite astonishing.  The 13 percent of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all.  And the three percent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together!

 The 7 Keys to Successful Goal Setting

 In spite of such proof of success, most of us don't have clear goals that we work toward.  What do you want your life to be like by the end of the year, and in 5 years time?  To achieve what you want out of your life, we recommend being SMART about setting your goals. 

1. They need to be 
   •   Specific- be very clear about exactly what you want
     
   •   Measurable- try to be specific about the level of change you want
     
   •   Achievable- make sure your goals take effort
   •   Realistic- but they are still attainable
     
   •   Time based- without a time-frame you are unlikely to move forward
2. Choose goals in a variety of categories, such as health, finance, career, relationships, etc.
3. Make your goals for 1 year, and for 3 or 5 years.  Consider also some short-term goals for 1 month’s time to help get you started.
4. However, don’t set too many.  It is better to have a handful of important, achievable goals than a big list that makes you feel swamped.
5. Be flexible with them.  If you realise that a goal is too high or low, or if it is not taking you in the direction that you want, then change it.
6. One of the most important things is to write your goals down, and to make them visual.  This helps your subconscious to pay more attention to them.  Create a ‘vision board’, showing images that represent the goals you want to achieve, and put your vision board in an area where you can look at it every day.
7. And the most effective method of all, is to picture yourself having achieved your goal, and feel the excitement or exhilaration of having made it.  If this is done daily, you will likely be surprised at how quickly you achieve your goals.

We all have areas of our life that we want to be better, and following these principles can help you achieve a more fulfilled, happier and healthier life.

If you feel that your motivation is lacking, our psychologist, Lisa Coulson, is very skilled in helping people in this area.

If health is important for you, some possible goals could be

•   Losing weight
•   Better energy
•   Getting rid of a niggling health problem
•   Improve your digestion or your immune system
•   Get your back in better shape
•   Slowing down the ageing process
•   Improve your mental or emotional wellbeing

These are areas we can help you with.  To find out how what is getting in the way of you feeling healthy, vital and energised, and how you can achieve your health goals, please book in for a free Comprehensive Health Assessment (normally $120).  Your obligation-free Assessment will help to uncover

• What is happening with your health
• What is causing the problems
• What treatment would be most effective for you

Please ring the Clinic on 3376 6911, or email us at reception@cntc.com.au to book in soon.  You only have one life, and if you put things off, you are unlikely to achieve what you want.

 “Change your life today. Don't gamble on

the future, act now, without delay.”

Simone de Beauvoir

Successful Weight Loss

How You Lose Weight Depends on Your Body Shape

Most people think that to become healthy they must lose weight. Actually the opposite is true- in order to lose weight, you need to become more healthy. Every day, many thousands of people around Australia starve themselves or work up a sweat to try and lose weight. Most of them will only lose a few kilos, and when they stop all their hard work, the weight comes back on almost straight way. Getting slim seems to be a constant battle that they can never win.

As we know, having too much weight not only affects your appearance, it also has a damaging effect on your health. Overweight people have a shorter life expectancy, with an increased risk of having heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, etc.

Any therapist will tell you, that if you don't address the causes, you won't get good results, or get short-term improvement only. If you are eating well, exercising, and still not losing weight, something is causing your body to store fat instead of burn it up.

As your body becomes healthier, the weight will start to come off and stay off. How you do this depends on your body shape- whether you are an Apple or a Pear. If you have an apple shaped body your metabolism is dramatically different from someone with a pear shaped body- you assimilate your nutrients differently, you store the extra calories as weight in different ways, your hormones work differently, and you even respond differently to supplements and medications. So the closer your diet and exercise routine matches your body shape, the better and quicker results you will get. Your body shape also determines what type of health problems you are likely to develop in the future.

APPLE SHAPE

The apple shaped person stores most of their body weight in their belly (abdominal region). Women with this shape will generally have narrow hips, greater breast tissue, as well as a relatively large waist. Apple shapes have more weight surrounding their internal organs (visceral weight), which is associated with insulin resistance (so higher diabetes risk), higher blood pressure, and lower levels of 'good' (HDL) cholesterol. This puts them at a greater risk of heart disease - the higher the waist to hip ratio, the higher the risk.

PEAR SHAPE

The pear shaped person carries most of their body weight around their hips, thighs, and buttocks. They will generally have a smaller upper body (smaller breasts) and a heavier lower body. A pear-shaped person is more susceptible to cellulite, varicose veins and eating disorders. (However they have much less risk of heart problems or diabetes.)

The main difference between the types is the way their nervous systems work. The nervous system is the main control system of the body, and it has two parts - the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic. Apple shapes have a stronger sympathetic system, and pear shapes a stronger parasympathetic system.

The sympathetic part is the body's emergency response system ('fight or flight'). The heart beats faster, breathing is faster and shallower, muscles tighten, blood sugar levels are raised, and non-emergency parts of the body are turned right down, such as the digestive system. The thyroid and adrenal glands are stimulated to provide extra energy for fighting or running away. An over-active sympathetic system can cause exhaustion, nervousness, stress, or feelings of panic. Because of their dominant sympathetic system, the bodies of apple shapes are in a constant state of over-stimulation. The body prepares for emergencies by storing up extra reserves, so more weight is deposited in the abdomen. To become slimmer, apple shapes must have their systems turned down. They:

• Have high adrenaline, cortisol and thyroid activity
• Have a faster metabolism
• Tend to reflux
• Tend to anxiety
• Have more bacterial infections
• Need a balance of cardio and strength exercises
• Are salt sensitive, so must have low salt in their diet
• Don't lose weight if they cut fat out of their diet
• Put on weight if they eat sugar
• Need a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates and fats in their diet

The parasympathetic part is the body's nourishing, healing and regeneration system. The body is in 'rest and digest' mode, so its nerves stimulate digestion, as well as the immune system and elimination organs. When this system dominates, the body tends to conserve energy rather than use it. The bodies of pear shapes are in a state of under-activity, so they usually feel tired or fatigued most of the time. Because their bodies run too slow, they don't burn up calories as quickly as usual, so the extra calories are stored as fat. To lose this fat, pear shapes must have their systems stimulated. They:

• Tend to lose weight in the upper body first if they just reduce their calorie intake
• Have a slow metabolism
• Often have blood sugar fluctuations, especially hypoglycaemia
• Tend to bloating
• Tend to depression
• Have more viral infections
• Need cardio exercise
• Are fat sensitive
• Need a high protein, low fat, and low sugar diet

Unless they identify which body shape they are, some people might be trying their hardest, but doing the exact opposite of what they need to be doing to lose weight!

We hope you have enjoyed reading this introduction to successful weight loss. If you are interested in finding out how you can lose weight by having the causes of the problem addressed as well as the symptoms, please call us on 3376 6911 and book in for a free Health Assessment. (The Assessment is valued at $120, but is available at no charge for the moment. There is also no obligation attached to your Assessment whatsoever.) We can then determine the reasons for your weight gain, and the best ways for you to lose it long-term.

Losing weight is one of the best things that you can do for your health and well-being. Not only will you look better, but you will likely have more energy, get tired less easily, and feel younger. As well as enjoying a longer and healthier life!

To get your free 1 hr Health Assessment (valued at $120), and find out how you can lose weight quickly in a way that improves your health, please call us on 3376 6911.