Gut Health and Weight Gain- Is There a Correlation?

 

Bloating, constipation, stomach cramps, all of these are horrible feelings that make you not want to leave the bed, let alone go to the gym. But is there a correlation between bad gut health and weight gain?

YES!!!

A recent study from Harvard University showed that having the right kind of healthy gut bacteria had effects on whether you are lean or not. Everyone has gut bacteria, but certain types are better at getting rid of waste products. The better the gut bacteria you have, the more likely you will be leaner according to the study. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/do-gut-bacteria-inhibit-weight-loss).

Constipation and bloating also causes weight gain from not being able to remove waste from our bodies. Extra waste = extra pounds. Stomach issues like constipation can cause your body not to absorb key nutrients appropriately. An article from Constipation Experts showed that 80% of your immune system comes from your gut, and when you are constipated, your body doesn’t readily absorb key vitamins and minerals (http://www.constipationexperts.co.uk/blog/2013/09/can-constipation-weaken-your-immune-system.html).  A weak immune system will prevent you from wanting to go to the gym.

But Before You Go Out and Buy Cleanses and Detoxes…

A summary of detoxes by Dr. Michael Smith illustrates a point that too many dieters miss. Our bodies don’t need a detox. It detoxes itself. Diets and detoxes that promise “large amount of weight loss in just a few days or weeks” can be detrimental to your health. If you lose a vast amount of weight in a short time frame, most will be muscle and water. This muscle lost will actually wreck havoc on your metabolism and cause it to slow.

Changing your dieting with more nutritious food sources (vegetables, fruits) and lean cuts of protein will promote lean muscle and help your digestive system more than any “detox” does.

Solution

The good news is that there are fixes to these issues:

1. Water will help you get rid of waste in the body. Try to drink 80+ ounces.

2. Fiber. Shoot for 20-25 grams a day. Fiber isn’t used as calories (not really anyway) and are only used to aid in digestion.

3. A good multivitamin/Greens product will help you stay regular, add probioitcs and digestive enzymes to help you with digestion issues.

4. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet.

I suggest Micro Factor from 1st Phorm as a multivitamin with all essential nutrients and vitamins your body needs.

I suggest Opti-Greens 50 as the highest quality greens product with 11 servings of veggies, super foods, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and more!

 

Get your gut right and your life right!

Free Shipping: 1stphorm.com/nutritiontrain

 

Thank you for reading!

 

Dustin Holston
Personal Trainer/Sports Nutritionist