Weight Loss


 I am obese and need some assistance losing weight. What do you recommend taking to assist in a healthy overall weight loss?

 

Weight loss can be a very daunting task especially when you have a lot to lose.  You must remember that no supplement will take the place of the appropriate dietary changes and exercise program.  There are no easy ways out when it comes to weight loss but with the proper guidance, support and hard work you can transform your body and your life.  It is a great time to start working with a nutritionist or nutritionally oriented doctor to get you started.

When it comes to supplements, there are few recommendations that can be helpful to improve the outcome of dietary and lifestyle changes.  Chromium is an important mineral that supports the body in managing blood sugar and insulin.  Insulin is a hormone in your body that signals the storage of energy, primarily as fat.  If you can better regulate insulin output by managing blood sugar more efficiently, the signal to store energy as fat can be potentially decreased.  There is a significant amount of literature that suggests chromium can be a very effective tool in facilitating weight loss by improving the insulin/blood sugar interaction.

CLA, better known as Conjugated Linoleic Acid, had one landmark study showing that when given to overweight adults in a dose of about 3.2 grams daily, weight loss was achieved without any increase in physical activity or dietary changes.  The weight loss would not be enough to make a huge difference in your obesity but would certainly work to facilitate your weight loss if you combine it with the right improvements in your diet and lifestyle. 

As a final helpful hint, 5-HTP is an amino acid that can help to reduce appetite to help with portion control.  When taken 15-30 minutes before a meal, 5-HTP may reduce your appetite without acting as a stimulant.   If you are taking an anti-depressant medication, you should not take 5-HTP because it can alter their effectiveness. 

Making major changes to your lifestyle and diet can be a daunting task but it is truly the only way to achieve the necessary long term results required to bring your body back into balance and harmony.  Take things one day at a time and remember that life's greatest rewards usually require hard work and perseverance. 

In Health,

Dr. Passero



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Lead Medical Director

As a certified and fully trained Naturopathic Doctor, Passero has trained and preceptored with some of the nation's leading doctors in the field of natural medicine, working under the guidance of MD’s, Chiropractors, Naturopaths and Acupuncturists. Furthermore, he is currently the Vice President of the Maryland Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

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