Why Can’t I Lose Weight? 6 Tips to Help You Lose Weight
Sometimes it’s like a spell: You do sports, eat healthy food and still the superfluous pounds don’t want to disappear. Your intestinal flora can be to blame for this. Why this is so and what you can do about it. Here are the 6 tips to help you lose weight…
Gut flora decides on weight
If the bowel is fine, we’re healthy. Our Human gastrointestinal microbiota, also known as gut flora consists of billions of bacteria that regulate our digestion and metabolism. According to a study published in the specialist journal “Nature”, the gut flora also influences a person’s weight and whether or not they develop metabolic disorders.
For the study, the scientists divided the test persons into two groups: One group had a species-rich intestinal flora (gut flora) and the second group had up to 40 percent less microbial colonization. The latter were more often overweight, had a disturbed fat metabolism or showed insulin resistance, a precursor to type II diabetes. They were therefore more likely to continue to suffer from overweight in the future.
The study shows: The greater the diversity of bacteria in the intestine, the lower the risk of physical inflammation and weight gain. The intestinal flora in people with low diversity is mainly colonised by the bacterial strains Bacteroides and Ruminococcus. A healthy intestinal flora consists mainly of the four bacterial strains Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. But why do some people have a bacterial “desert landscape” in their intestines?
Antibiotics: Reason for all evil?
Antibiotics are naturally formed metabolites of fungi and bacteria. Even in small amounts they inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and eventually kill them. If they are used in humans mainly for bacterial infectious diseases, they are also used in animal husbandry as a growth and performance-enhancing agent. A practice that is under criticism.
But the use of antibiotics also causes problems in humans. Because some doctors prescribe antibiotics very quickly and also for viral infections such as flu and colds – although they only help against bacteria – we are building up resistance. Then antibiotics no longer help. But often we ourselves are too careless with the medicine, for example by discontinuing it prematurely or by not following the instructions for use. Then resistant bacteria can survive and become resistant to the drug, i.e. insensitive to the antibiotic.
The frequent intake of antibiotics also has a negative effect on our intestinal flora. The drug cannot distinguish between good and bad bacteria and therefore destroys all bacteria.
This can change the ratio between the individual strains of bacteria and thus also affect our weight. On the one hand, bacteria can block metabolic enzymes and thus inhibit the burning of fat. On the other hand, they can influence hormones that regulate our feeling of hunger. Even normally indigestible substances can thus be converted into glucose and stored in the body as fat.
So what to do? Do not speculate, but create facts!
6 Tips to Help You Lose Weight
1. Stool sample for a gut flora check
Talk to your family doctor: By means of a stool sample, which is sent to the laboratory and examined for pathogenic microorganisms such as parasites, bacteria and fungi, your family doctor can determine whether further steps are even necessary.
2. Change the diet
If the stool sample is normal, you should change your diet. Try to eat a vegetarian diet if possible, eat lots of protein and avoid sugar and gluten if possible. This will prevent inflammation and the proliferation of unwanted bacteria.
3. Allow inflammations to heal
If your gastrointestinal tract is inflamed, it should heal first. After that, a light diet with lots of fibre and nutrients is recommended. This will help your immune system back on its feet.
4. Enrich the gut flora with probiotic cultures
Not only easily digestible, nutritious food ensures a healthy gut flora. Probiotic cultures can also promote the intestinal microbiota. Sauerkraut is ideal for this purpose. But homeopathic, probiotic strains are also available in pharmacies.
5. Antibiotics only if necessary
Antibiotics cannot help with influenza and viral colds. The only thing that helps is a warm chicken soup, zinc, vitamin C and a lot of sleep.
6. Avoid unhealthy fats and carbohydrates
A high-fat high-carb diet can have a negative effect not only on the gastrointestinal flora, but also on your weight and thus on your sense of well-being.