How Food Sensitivities Impact Your Weight by Nancy Masoud, LockedIN Wellness

Food sensitivities can hinder weight loss by causing inflammation, disrupting digestion, and potentially leading to increased calorie intake and decreased nutrient absorption. Addressing these sensitivities through dietary changes can significantly improve weight loss outcomes.

Here's how food sensitivities can affect weight loss:

• Inflammation:

• A food sensitivity is a type of immune response which causes Chronic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance which can make it more difficult to lose weight.

• Metabolic Disruption:

• Food sensitivities can negatively impact your metabolism by interfering with hormones like cortisol, insulin, leptin, and others. These hormones play a key role in regulating hunger, fat storage, and energy production.
  

• Digestion and Nutrient Absorption Issues:

• Food sensitivities can irritate and inflame the digestive lining causing bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea. This digestive inflammation interferes with nutrient absorption and metabolism, which can hinder weight loss and contribute to nutrient deficiencies that can cause cravings and contribute to overeating.

• The Appearance of Weight Gain:

• Symptoms like bloating, inflammation, swelling, water retention, and abdominal distension caused by food sensitivities can contribute to the appearance of excess weight, even if there isn't a significant change on the scale.

• Changes to the Gut Microbiome:

• Did you know that your gut microbiome produces your own endogenous GLP-1 peptides? Food sensitivities can impact the balance of bacteria in the gut, reducing the beneficial ones that produce beneficial compounds like GLP-1s and SCFAs like butyrate, which can contribute to weight gain and obesity.

• What you can do:

• Seek professional guidance:
  Make an appointment at LockedIN Wellness for food sensitivity testing and personalized advice on managing food sensitivities and creating a healthy eating plan that supports sustainable weight loss and overall health.

• Healing and Elimination diets:
  Work with an experienced practitioner to identify food sensitivities by systematically removing and reintroducing foods to see how your body responds. Elimination diets can be difficult and restrictive; working with an experienced professional will help ensure that you can still get the nutrition you need during the process.

• Focus on nutrient-rich foods:
  When eliminating foods, ensure you're replacing them with healthy alternatives that provide the necessary nutrients. Prioritize lean proteins, fiber, veggies, and fruits, and limit processed and convenience foods, sugars, and alcohol.

• Address gut health:
  Underlying gut health issues can contribute to the development of food sensitivities, and vice-versa. If you have struggled with poor digestive health for an extended period of time, consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor or a GI specialist to address any underlying digestive issues.

Contributing research and writing by Chandra Menkveld, Holistic Health Coach, LockedIN Wellness

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