When treating someone who is trying to slim down, many naturopaths will first examine the person’s daily food intake. “Many people cut out sugar, but may still be eating high amounts of carbohydrates,” says naturopath Annalies Corse. “Refined carbs are broken down into glucose and, if you’re eating glucose in excess, your pancreas releases large amounts of insulin, causing your body to store the glucose as fat.”
A naturopath may suggest blood tests to check if you are releasing excess insulin (which impairs your ability to lose weight and increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease), as well as to investigate your thyroid
and hormonal health.
Have you tried everything but still can’t slim down?
You’ve tried the latest diets, special eating plans, weights machines, and gym workouts, but those extra kilos aren’t shifting. It may be that your body is crying out for an alternative solution to losing weight. Here are ways to work on weight loss naturally.
Try this at home!
“Drink green tea organic and loose leaf – for optimum health,” says Corse. one to three cups daily is ideal.
Chinese reflexology
“In Chinese medicine, there are many reasons why somebody has gained weight,” says reflexologist Andre Tse. “For instance, if somebody has too much ‘heat’ in their stomach, their metabolism is very fast. This mainly affects those whose diet may consist of fried foods and alcohol.”
On the other hand, weight gain and an inability to slim down may be caused by a weak digestive system “where the patient’s spleen and stomach aren’t working correctly – their digestion isn’t metabolising the food properly, so they
keep the weight on”. Many people who don’t exercise enough and are eating too many sweet and fatty foods have a poor digestive system. “You may also have chronic loose stools, low energy, brain fog, and a low immune
system,” says Tse. Reflexology concentrates on warming up the ‘kidney yang’, encouraging healthy digestion and metabolism.
In this ancient Chinese art, it’s believed certain points on the foot correspond to specific areas of the body.
The kidney yang area is Top tip! To help reduce appetite, stimulate the ball of the foot directly behind the big toe for about 60 seconds, half an hour before eating.
‘heated’ by massaging points on the foot – specifically those related to the kidney, bladder, thyroid and adrenals, which
stimulates the metabolism.
“I also concentrate on the liver area, as it plays an important part in moving the body’s digestive energy,” he says.
Read part 2 of “How do I slim down, naturally?” here.
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