Losing Weight and Body Chemicals
Recent advances in laboratory medicine and diligent clinical correlation in real patients by several companies has opened a door for diagnosing and treating chemical imbalances in the brain. I mentioned in this newsletter several weeks ago that CMRS has begun doing urine tests for brain neurotransmitters. The ones that can be measured accurately and that are important clinically include dopamine, seratonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and gaba. Interestingly, as many as 70% of the population suffers from some degree of neurotransmitter imbalance.
A wide range of medical conditions may be caused or aggravated by neurotransmitter imbalances. So far the most common reason I have been ordering the test is for chronically depressed patients who are no longer doing well on maintenance antidepressant medication. Such medications as Prozak, Paxil, and Zoloft work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake into neurons after a nerve impulse has been transmitted. They will also definitely contribute to depletion of neurotransmitter levels after longer term use. The end result is that these medications seem to stop helping after a while. The only way to remedy that situation is to test for the neurotransmitter levels and use amino acid therapy to replenish any that are found to be deficient. Other conditions in which neurotransmitter balance is important are migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s disease, obesity and overeating, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, and insomnia.
The connection between brain neurotransmitters and weight is an interesting one. Low levels of brain chemicals tend to rev up the appetite center leading to increased calorie intake resulting in more body fat. Testing brain chemistry and prescribing balancing amino acids can normalize both mood and eating habits, resulting in weight loss. Furthermore, certain amino acid/medication protocols can safely replace the use of appetite suppressing drugs and bring about safe weight loss. I also am a strong believer in the diet typing testing program that we offer at Caring Medical. It involves questionnaires, a glucose-insulin tolerance test, and a blood pH test.
The results help me determine the required proportion of carbohydrates, fats, and protein for that individual’s diet type. Beyond that, calorie counting may still be required with those patients having a substantial amount of weight to lose. A general rule is that the total number of daily calories consumed should equal the goal weight multiplied by 10, minus 500. For example a person with a goal weight of 140 pounds should eat 140x10=1400 minus 500=900 calories per day. Such low calorie diets should be medically supervised. Consistent exercise, of course, is also important.
Finally, hormones are crucial in the evaluation and treatment of the overweight patient. Levels of the fat promoting hormones of insulin, cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid must be taken into account to get results in obesity. Use of pharmaceutical hormone preparations or oral contraceptives containing estrogen often start the weight gain process in my patients. Estrogen like substances are also common to our environment and may be contributing to the earlier menarche, weight and cellulite problems, and larger breast mass in our teenage girls. A vicious circle develops as increasing body fat increases estrogen production in the body. Hormone testing, estrogen blockade, and hormone balancing can help. Stress leading to elevated cortisol levels is also a huge factor, and everyone knows how stress can cause overeating or junk food binges.
High carbohydrate diets and insulin resistance syndrome, which I wrote about recently, are another major problem which especially causes expansion of the abdominal fat pad. Fasting insulin levels or glucose-insulin tolerance tests precisely diagnose these abnormalities. Thyroid hormone deficiencies, thyroid diseases, and inadequate conversion of thyroxine into tri-iodothyronine (Wilson’s syndrome) are all common clinical conditions impacting weight disorders.
Weight problems are a very frustrating concern of patients and doctors alike. The comprehensive approach taken here at Caring Medical can help you sort out the mystery of being unable to lose, or worse, of gradually increasing weight over the years.
Obesity is associated with increased incidence of almost every disease known to man including cancer, early death, and impaired quality of life. Get motivated. You can do it. We can help.
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