Reading: Why Diets Don’t Work

Last week we had our largest Coffee And Conversation to date! I sat down with Lyn-Genet Recitas, the bestselling author of The Plan, a groundbreaking anti-inflammatory nutritional protocol, and Dr. Steven Zodkoy, a nationally recognized leader in clinical nutrition and alternative medical care. His book, Misdiagnosed: The Adrenal Fatigue Link, exposed the underlying cause of many of today’s chronic health conditions. We talked about why that “healthy” salad or salmon may not be helping you lose weight, how to take care of your aging body, and so much more. If you weren’t able to join us, here are some key pointers you don’t want to miss.

Your Metabolism Doesn’t Actually Slow As You Age

Lyn-Genet explained that it is actually our lifestyle choices (what we eat, how much we exercise, how we handle stress) that slow down our metabolism. As we age, we lose more digestive enzymes and find increased hormonal imbalance. Hormones like cortisol, which is related to stress, make it more difficult for the body to function properly. Inflammation and foods that cause it are also reasons why your body may be having negative reactions to food. Recitas and Zodkoy say that we need to listen to our bodies because every individual has a different inflammatory response to a food. If your friend is eating cheeseburgers and not gaining weight, that’s great for her. But you may eat an avocado and find your body is reacting poorly to it. How do you know? You’ll get gas, feel bloated, and/or gain weight. Remember: If you’re having a bad reaction to a food, you shouldn’t treat the reaction (no Pepto Bismol or Tums) — you should stop eating the food.

Have a Thyroid Issue? Ask Your Doctor About Your Reverse T3

Lyn-Genet explains that thyroid issues are usually a result of high levels of estrogen, or estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance affects your gut, which in turn produces more yeast to attack your thyroid. How do you know something is wrong? You can ask your doctor. Remember: if your estrogen is high, your reverse T3 (the hormone that inhibits thyroid function) is high. If your reverse T3 is high, you are metabolically inactive. This may be the culprit for your weight gain. 

Probiotics! Probiotics! Probiotics!

While Recitas and Zodkoy were not enthusiastic about supplements, they both highly encouraged taking a probiotic to get your body and gut back on track. However, you still need to address the underlying problem: Why did you lose the good bacteria to begin with? In her book, Recitas recommends probiotics like this one:

Want to watch the full discussion? UPGRADE your membership TODAY and view all previous Coffee & Conversations in full for FREE, and more! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for our next Coffee & Conversation on Wednesday, September 12th at 8 pm: “How to Be Funny at Work and Add Humor to Presentations.”

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