Blog Archives
Could Candida be the reason you are not losing weight?
What do antibiotics, a high-sugar diet, chronic stress and too little sleep have in common? They all play havoc with our gut flora and, therefore, our state of health. An imbalance between the good and bad bugs in the gut creates a very welcoming environment for opportunistic pathogens such as Candida Albicans to multiply to a problematic level. Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast. These microbes (in the right quantities) are actually helpful to our digestive system and we all harbour some in our gastrointestinal tract. Our good bacteria is what usually keeps the yeast in check. Read the rest of this entry
How to assess your risk for heart disease
I get asked this question a lot and while I am not a doctor, I can share with you what I have learned over the years. You can take this info and discuss it with your doctor, especially if they are wanting you to take a statin medication for high cholesterol. I encourage you to do your own research too.
Did you know that 75% of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver? Think about that for a moment. Would your intelligently-designed body manufacture so much cholesterol if it was bad for you? Your body and brain need cholesterol to function properly. We would not survive without it. Cholesterol is important for manufacturing hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol. Cholesterol helps the liver create bile, which enables us to digest food, especially fats. It improves memory and boosts serotonin, the chemical that makes us feel happy. It is also quite normal for cholesterol levels to go up as we age. It shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing. Read the rest of this entry
The problem with too much insulin
A noticeable sign that you might have an issue with insulin is belly fat. This, however, does not mean that all slim, flat-bellied people get off scot-free. If not caught early enough, high insulin can ultimately result in poor health. Before your blood sugar starts to reach diabetic levels, insulin rises first. It is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” that warns one of imminent danger. The build-up of insulin in your blood stream indicates, metabolically speaking, things are no longer working as they should. If left untreated, high levels of insulin develops into insulin resistance (a pre-diabetic state) and, eventually could result in full-blown type 2 diabetes. Read the rest of this entry
Banting Basics: The what and why
I thought a good way to kick off the year was to review the basic principles of Banting and give a short explanation as to why they are important. Here are the ‘rules of the game’. Play by them and you will taste victory. Let these 10 principles guide you towards control over your cravings, improved general health, more energy and effective fat loss.
Weight loss and optimal health takes consistent effort and most importantly it requires us to take responsibility over our food choices – and yes we also need to exercise a degree of willpower and restraint. Taking responsibility is often the biggest hurdle one needs to conquer before progress can be made. Excuses just lead us further away from our goals and the truth is, no-one can do it for you. These principles should help you to get things on track.
Are you eating too much fat?
Fat is a critically important element of an LCHF diet. When carbs are restricted and protein is moderated, the remainder of one’s calories must come from healthy fats. Fat is required for energy and is what makes us feel satisfied after meals. Eating a low carb diet full of healthy fats keeps insulin levels low, which enables the release of stored fat to be burned for fuel. The result? We slim down and feel full of energy. Yes, fat is very important, but does that mean we can eat as much of it as we like, and does the type of fat we choose to eat make any difference to our weight loss efforts?
Fatigue, belly fat, brain fog? It could be your adrenals
Do you suffer from one or more of the following: fatigue, stubborn weight, belly fat, brain fog or insomnia? If “yes,” then you might need to pay some attention to your body’s stress response system, otherwise known as your HPA axis. HPA stands for Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal. Our stress response is governed by the interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. Stress activates the HPA axis and leads to the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that prepare our body for the flight or fight response. While our body’s response to stress is protective in the short-term, the longer the stress response stays activated, the more damaging it is for our health. A commonly used term for this chronic stress response is “adrenal fatigue.”
Want to become a Banting coach?
Are you passionate about the Banting/LCHF lifestyle? Would you like to help others achieve their weight loss goals, and get healthy? This is your chance to be a part of a growing, vibrant community of coaches. We will equip you with the required knowledge, tools and coaching resources, and provide you with on-going support. Read the rest of this entry
Insulin Resistance: The calm before the storm
A few years ago, I got the shock of my life. I was informed that I was on my way to becoming a Type 2 diabetic. I had visions of going blind, having my feet amputated, being paralysed by a stroke or dying of a heart attack. How could this be happening to me. I ate healthily and exercised regularly. I knew I was “heavy”, but flip, I could still fit (albeit snuggly) into an aeroplane seat . Although accessing the on-board entertainment system on the inside of the armrest was always a bit tricky! Read the rest of this entry
Carbohydrates: How much is too much?
Would you like to lose weight? Do you know how many carbohydrates you should be eating in a day to achieve your goal? In this post I aim to provide some answers.
Why do I keep focusing on carbs? Well, we know that carbs in our diet, which include bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruit, cereals, yoghurt and veggies turn to sugar in our bodies. Our bodies deal with the excess sugar by releasing the hormone insulin. Insulin shuttles fat into your cells for storage. So, if you want to lose weight, the key is to keep the amount of insulin in your body as low as possible. The only way to do that is to be careful with carbs. But what does “be careful” with carbs really mean for YOU on a practical level? Read the rest of this entry
Want to lose weight? Avoid these foods.
Are you lacking the practical knowledge of the foods that are sabotaging your weight loss efforts? If you are serious about shedding the flab without feeling deprived or hungry or if you are tired of feeling tired all the time then this is the post to read to get you motivated and started on the path to better health. Read the rest of this entry
Primal Perks 