Perth Naturopathic Nutrition Expert Perth Western Australia | Women`s Health | Weight Loss | Detox Programs | Counselling

That Spare Tyre

Following my last column discussing how to reduce your biological age through Cellular Health Analysis I received countless calls from readers interested to know more. In this column I will tell you a little more about CHA and about the perils of the spare tyre. The one that may be lurking about your middle.

Following a CHA test, you will receive a report which graphs your body composition which includes body fat, muscle mass, cellular health, toxicity, fluid retention, your energy production capability and your biological age. The report also tells your "fat distribution index" which is based on your waistline measurement. If you are carrying a bit too much of a tyre around your waist, your fat distribution index may state "moderate" or "high" risk. The "risk" is of developing chronic disease such as heart disease or diabetes. A too large waistline measurement will also increase your biological age because one of the biomarkers of ageing is increased body fat. A sure way to decrease your biological age is to shift excess body fat. And, the aim, of course, is to age more slowly biologically than chronologically. If your biological age is quite a bit older than the chronological, it is possible to reduce it.

The problem with a spare tyre is that too much of one can make shifting the excess body fat a tad difficult. If you have tried diets and not been able to reduce your weight, you may have a condition called insulin resistance. This is where glucose cannot make it into your cells despite ample insulin being produced by your body. During digestion carbohydrate foods are broken down to glucose. Insulin is needed to transport the glucose into the cells.

Insulin resistance may occur when body fat levels are too high and exercise is too low. It is basically a malfunctioning of the insulin receptor sites in the cells. To compensate, your body produces more insulin to try to move the glucose into the cells so they can produce the energy for your activities, but this compounds the problem.

If you have this problem, you will most likely feel constantly tired, have low energy, crave carbohydrate foods (like bread, pasta, sugary foods, biscuits and so forth), and your spare tyre may be difficult to shift or it may keep expanding. Left uncorrected, insulin resistance can become Type II diabetes which is a serious disease. Many people are walking about not realising they have either condition which is a problem because diabetes left untreated can result in serious complications.

If a client presents with this picture and their CHA test results show a high risk I place them onto a lowered carbohydrate food plan along with some specific nutrients which help prevent insulin resistance. Taking some of the carbohydrates out of the picture and having a better balance of nutrients has the marvellous ability to turn insulin resistance around.

The result? Greater energy, a steadily shrinking spare tyre, reduced carbohydrate cravings and a fabulous sense of well being.

If you have a spare tyre, don’t delay seeking our professional help. After all, it is all about you!

- As seen in The Western Suburbs Weekly, Perth - Tuesday 31st January 2006