Study: Thin women have different gut bacteria

Here’s a funny cartoon to start your day off with a laugh:

Ah yes, women and weight loss. It seems like so many of us are constantly fighting to take off that extra five, ten, twenty or more.

That’s not to say that men don’t have their battles of the bulge as well, but women are far and away the ones that more often pursue special diets and weight loss aids.

And if there’s one thing that women wanting to lose weight have come to realize it’s that life’s not fair. Because some women seem to drop weight easily and keep it off, while others are on a perpetual diet and that scale number seems forever frozen in time.

If you’re in the latter of those two camps, know this: There are some sneaky factors that may be causing your “fat adherence” that you might not have thought of.

But the good news is once you know about these behind-the-scenes scale tippers, you can in turn do something about them…

And very likely start to see those pounds slide off!

Here are the “Four fat-friendly foes” and how you can help fight back at each.

Fat-friendly foe #1: Having a S-L-O-W metabolism
Metabolism collectively refers to ALL of the chemical processes that occur in your body, with the concern here being the part of metabolism that determines how your body produces and uses energy.

Because of course, this is a big factor in determining your girth and your level of energy (or lack thereof) during the day.

But the good news here is even if your metabolism happens to be on the slow side, there are ways you can help rev it up.

Number one is exercise. Exercise raises your metabolic rate both during your workout AND for several hours afterwards!

So get your doctor’s OK and get moving.

It’s also important to make sure your Vitamin B12 level is healthy. B12 is an important player in your metabolism that generates your body's energy (ATP) from fats and sugars—so when you’re low in it (and statistics show that as many as one in four people are), your metabolism can be sluggish as a result!

Food sources of B12 include beef, herring, mackerel, eggs, milk, cheese, clams, sardines, salmon, crabmeat and oysters.

And if you’re looking to go the route of supplementation, Hydroxaden 2.5 is your ticket.

Hydroxaden 2.5 is a convenient vitamin B12 spray that gives you the 2.5 mg of B12 (in the form of hydroxocobalamin) that is suggested by many nutrition experts. Just five quick sprays under your tongue each day is all it takes.

Fat-friendly foe #2: Having a underactive thyroid
Nowhere in heaven or on earth is there a more effective killer of your weight loss efforts than an under-active thyroid.

Your thyroid stimulates your cell metabolism and regulates your metabolic rate—and when it’s sluggish, so is your metabolism and hence your ability to create energy and burn calories.

You can diet until the cows come home, but if your thyroid is low, I promise you, that scale number will not budge.

If this sounds like you and/or you haven’t had your thyroid tested in a while, it’s best to see your doctor and get checked out. But be sure to ask him or her to do a TRH Challenge test instead of the typical TSH test. The TRH Challenge test is a far more accurate and sensitive test to detect low functioning thyroid.

If your doctor is not familiar with the TRH test, many labs (including Quest Diagnostics) offer it. The CPT code is 83519.

Fat-friendly foe #3: Medications
Although medications are sometimes necessary, the fact remains that they all have side effects—and one of the frequent side effects of medications is weight gain.

Here are 13 common medications that can cause you to pack on the pounds:

• Paxil
• Depakote
• Prozac
• Remeron
• Zyprexa
• Deltasone/prednisone
• Thorazine
• Elavil
• Allegra
• Diabinese
• Insulin
• Tenormin
• Birth control pills

If you are on any of these medications, talk to your doctor about safer alternatives, reducing your dose or maybe exploring natural options. For example, Omega-3 essential fatty acids (fish oil capsules) have been shown to be very helpful with high blood pressure, depression and inflammation.

And if you need a good fish oil formula, our very own VitalMega-3 is as good as it gets!

Fat-friendly foe #4: Having the wrong gut bacteria
Yes, you read that right—your ability (or inability) to take off pounds just might be a result of the bacteria you have residing in your intestinal tract.

According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition by a team of researchers headed by Université Laval Professor Angelo Tremblay, it appears the intestinal flora of obese individuals differs from that of thin people—especially as far as women are concerned.

In the study, Tremblay and his team set out to determine if the consumption of probiotics could help restore the balance of the intestinal microbes in favor of helpful bacteria species that promote a healthy weight.

The researchers recruited 125 overweight men and women, all of whom underwent a 12-week weight-loss diet, followed by a 12-week period aimed at maintaining body weight. Throughout the entire study, half the participants took probiotic supplements from the Lactobacillus rhamnosus family, while the other half received a placebo.

After the 12-week diet period, although the men didn't show much of a difference between the two groups, researchers noted an average weight loss of 4.4 kg (9.7 pounds) in the women in the probiotic group as compared to 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds) in the placebo group.

In addition, after the 12-week maintenance period, the weight of the women in the placebo group remained stable but the probiotic group had continued to lose weight, for a total of 5.2 kg (11.5 pounds) per person!

So in other words, women taking the probiotics lost twice as much weight over the 24-week period of the study!

Plus probiotics can help create a healthier intestinal environment which can mean less gas and bloating, better digestion and improved nutrient absorption—all of which are important to weight loss.

If you’d like to embrace the power of probiotics, then Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula is just what you need.

Super Shield contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus—the bacteria species that was used in the study I quoted above—plus 12 other potent, top quality strains that each have their own unique contribution in how they help ease digestion and enhance your overall health.

Now don’t forget about your diet too!
Even if some of the things I've mentioned up above may be issues in slowing your weight loss, that doesn't mean you can just throw your diet to the wind.

If you want to lose the weight once and for all and eventually maintain a healthy bodyweight when you get there, you must have a diet of real nutritious foods and healthy digestion.

It’s not optional, my friend.

But the good news is, when you use Great Taste No Pain it is easy and tastes delicious!

Great Taste No Pain shows you how to structure easier to digest meals made from REAL, nutritious foods that taste positively fantastic!

When you eat combinations of real foods that can be broken down more efficiently by your stomach and intestines, your body can more easily get the nutrients it needs, you’ll feel fuller longer (and will be less likely to overeat or binge) and you will likely get fewer tummy troubles!

And the dishes in the recipe book are the bomb! You'll be shocked and delighted at how delicious and enjoyable eating for great health can be.

Note: If you've got gluten challenges, I've got you covered too. Great Taste No Gluten is for you instead.

Losing weight can always be a challenge.

But when you address some of the possible factors that may be working against you, and put the power of the right diet to work for you, you can’t go wrong!

And when you do take those pounds off once and for all, please write to me and tell me about your success.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: Always be sure to let your doctor or healthcare provider know what supplements you are taking.