If you do not digest your food properly (which most people cannot do well), any chemical toxins present in the food you eat are absorbed from the small intestine through the hepatoportal artery and intoxicate the liver. The liver sends this trash out in adipose tissue aka fat. And the body will keep building out fat as more and more chemical toxins are consumed. The result: weight gain. This is the body’s defense mechanism to protect organs and glands from the adverse health effects of chemical toxins.
I had an extra ~17 pounds hanging around that I could not get rid of until I learned about this mechanism. Exercising more and eating less is NOT the answer. You may have come to this conclusion by experience, a time consuming and disappointing trial and error.
During this time, I avoided getting my picture taken. I did dig up the following picture of puffy, overweight me (on the left), compared to a current slim picture of me (on the right).
I achieved this weight loss by optimizing my digestion and body via professional grade, living source supplementation, avoiding chemical toxins, and changing my diet.
You can do this too.
That’s what this article is about.
Let’s get into it…
Yes you are ingesting these bad boys.
The US uses approximately 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides per year. That’s 1,200,000,000.
Studies of urine of the US population have shown that Americans have high levels of pesticides in their bodies.
Research of the umbilical cord of newborns shows that “of the 287 chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.” Environmental Working Group
Chemical toxins are real and poor digestion almost guarantees the body will place these in fat tissue.
Chemical toxins are present throughout the entire food process—from farm to table. Some of these chemicals remain in the food and get in the body and may stay there for decades.
Pesticides, fungicides, preservatives, PCBs, BPAs, and heavy metals are just some of the chemical toxins present in food.
Preservatives are added to processed foods such as bread, cereals, candy, and meat. Research shows that they may damage nerve cells and are a source of headaches, nausea, weakness, and difficulty breathing. PCBs (Perchlorinated biphenyls) found in certain fish are linked to brain damage and behavioral disorders. Although they are banned, PCBs still remain in our environment and leech into food. Food packaged in plastic may contain phthalates which are linked to behavior problems. That’s just the tip of the chemical iceberg. Take a look at the chart below take from Physicians for Social Responsibility (which is still just a brief overview).
Source:Toxic chemicals in our food system. Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Not only do these chemical toxins promote weight gain they are incredibly detrimental to the brain, nervous system, and overall health. Since we’re on the topic of the brain, let’s discuss the hypothalamus in relation to weight gain, satiety, and chemical toxins.
The hypothalamus is an almond size portion of the brain that is part of the limbic system. Emotional life is housed in the limbic system and it plays a role in memory formation. The hypothalamus controls: sleep, thirst, fatigue, attachment behaviors, temperature, circadian rhythms, and hunger. Let’s focus in the latter.
The hypothalamus receives a signal from the gut that it has had enough food— an “I’m full” satiety signal. Researchers have found that even when this pathway works well, some people still don’t stop eating. Why? Studies find that serotonin is too low and needs to be raised. Noni specifically Premier Noni is an effective and natural way to raise serotonin without using an elephant dosage of tryptophan (a powerful neurotransmitter which in access is an excitotoxin).
MSG and the pesticides (chemical toxins) found in grapes, raisins, and American wine/alcohol along with eating lots of sugar and junk food, also dramatically destabilize the hypothalamus and cause excessive eating which leads to weight gain. Getting the appetite mechanism to ground zero by resetting the hypothalamus is key to losing weight fast and keeping it off. A wonderful way to do this is with an adaptogenic formula such as Adaptogen R3. To learn more about this ace, click here.
gas
bloating
acid reflux/heartburn
belching
diarrhea
constipation
rashes/acne/eczema
weight gain
And more…
The first way to improve digestion is by supplementing with digestive enzymes.
Enzyme production decreases with age—a 13% decrease every 10 years. So, every year you are able to digest less and less food and that means more and more rotting food hanging out in your digestive tract which contributes to weight gain. If this food contains chemical toxins (often does) then the fat growth mechanism kicks in increasing your waist line. No bueno. By age 40 your enzyme production is 25% lower and by age 70 you produce about 30% of the enzymes you need to digest your food.
By taking a live source digestive enzyme like Premier Digest you ensure you digest your food. Premier Digest is a plant source broad spectrum digestive enzyme formula that is derived using a proprietary Japanese fermentation process. It supports key digestive needs such as fat, protein, starch, lactose, sugar, and fiber.
Having an adequate amount of hydrochloric acid (HCL) known as stomach acid is vitally important to proper digestion and a slim physique. Just like digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid production decreases with age and must be supplemented.
Hydrochloric acid is the holy grail of digestion because of its many functions. HCL helps: absorb protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and iron, avoid gas, bloating, and acid reflux (because you are digesting instead of fermenting food), suppress growth of ingested bacteria and candida, evade brain-gut mood imbalances—to name a few.
The HCL I use is a clean, live source product. Zero additives, fillers, or synthetics. To get this amazing Premier HCL, click here.
You are committed to improving your digestion and resetting your hypothalamus, now let’s discuss a few dietary changes.
Chemical toxins are all over but you can significantly decrease your load. One way to do this is to eat organic fresh vegetables and fruits. Researchers at Stanford University reviewed a massive body of evidence “to compare pesticide residues, antibiotic resistance, and vitamin and nutrient levels in organic and conventionally produced foods.” They found “that consumers who eat organic fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce pesticide concentrations in their bodies.”
You may not be able to go 100% organic so here is a rule I follow: Foods that have thick skins (for example: lemons, grapefruit, avocados, bananas) are safer to purchase commercial then foods that have thin skins or no skin (for example: peaches, apples, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, kale) that should always be purchased organic.
Additionally, The Environmental Working Group developed a list of 12 foods that must be purchased organic because these tend to have high pesticide levels when commercially grown: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, nectarines-imported, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, kale/collard greens, and summer squash.
When you get a sweet tooth, grab some dried or fresh sweet fruit such as mango, pineapple, or apricot and eat up. This way you get your sugar but also vitamins and minerals that are in these fruits. By substituting this way, it is much easier to get off of processed snacks.
Click here to get FREE access to Hot Body Now: Discover 3 Tips that Burn Up to 28% More Fat Everyday Ebook. This 7 minute read will help you shed those stubborn pounds. It’s scientifically packed and easy to implement.
I often get asked what else I would recommend to speed up the weight loss process. The following products are effective additions to your weight loss arsenal. These are live food source, pure, and professional grade.
Trim Body Blend, Premier. Trim Body Blend is a delicious, protein based meal blend that supports lean body weight, immunity, and anti-aging. Add this powder to your morning smoothie or before you exercise. It is fantastic for peak performance when you work out.
Lean Advantage, Premier. Lean Advantage contains green coffee extract which is a weight loss ace. It has a mild thermogenic effect that promotes fat burning. Lean Advantage contains a broad spectrum of antioxidants and other botanicals such as raspberry ketones, turmeric, and green tea (and more). ZERO harsh over stimulating ingredients.
Reishi, Premier. Reishi also known as Ganoderma lucidum is a mountain grown, 100% pure (No solvents, fumigants, or pesticides, toxic fillers or binders) liver and immune support powerful herb. Reishi supports Phase I and Phase II liver detoxification. Optimizing liver function is important for fat burning and fat loss. The liver helps remove the chemical toxins that we discussed earlier in this article from the body so you want to make sure to strengthen this organ.
Get into action! When you purchase the products I discussed in this article, I'm including my bonus protocol that outlines how I use them. Let the fat burning begin...
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Adequate stomach acid aka hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is the holy grail of digestion because of its many functions. HCL helps: absorb protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and iron, avoid gas, bloating, and acid reflux (because you are digesting instead of fermenting food), suppress growth of ingested bacteria and candida, and evade brain-gut mood imbalances....
Emily Pobratyn
Author