In this short post I thought I’d quickly go over a few things that are often ignored or unknown in the development of “fat-loss resistance” (and excess adiposity) so that you can be better equipped to correct such a condition. As I’ve already discussed in other articles, weight gain and weight loss are by no means a simple energy balance issue. An enormous matrix exists for the regulation and improvement of one’s health (both physically and non-physically) and therefore the pattern in which adipose tissue is deposited or removed. Today let’s focus on the state of one’s gastrointestinal tract and the health of one’s microbiome (the collection of genomes from all of the microbes inhabiting the body).
Everyone develops a microbiome that is unique and specific to them as the collection and proportion of microbes that end up inhabiting one’s body are genetically- and environmentally-determined (the environment being the much larger determinant). Some of the most important factors which help to shape one’s microbiome early on include: gestational age, vaginal vs. C-section delivery, having been breast-fed vs. formula-fed, antibiotic use, infant hospitalization length, and of course the health and diversity of the mother’s microbiota. Looking at two dietary factors that can disrupt the microbiome, a low intake of prebiotics or fiber as well as an excessive intake of lipids for your metabolic type can promote the proliferation of pathogenic, gram-negative bacteria, which can then increase your exposure to lipopolysaccharides (also known as endotoxins) as bad bacteria house these endotoxins in their cell walls [1]. An increase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration is bad news for fat loss for two primary reasons. The first of which is the decrease in one’s protection against organochlorines (often used in pesticides) that can invoke estrogen dominance (promoting fat gain) and a lowering of active T3 levels (decreasing one’s metabolic rate) [2]. The second reason is the manner in which LPSs facilitate inflammation in the gut, Leaky-gut development, and the onset of an inflammatory cascade once they breach the gut lining [3]. The initiation of this inflammatory cascade can encourage the development of insulin resistance, a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from adipose tissue, a lowering of thyroid hormone output, and a blocking of thyroid hormone receptors (all of which strongly nullify attempts at fat loss) [4]. Furthermore, an increase of LPS entering the bloodstream can promote a notable shift toward gluconeogenesis (new glucose formation) which can pull glutamine and other amino acids out of the gut lining, further exacerbating the leaky gut and inflammatory cycles. Under this condition, amino acids can also be pulled from muscle tissue, degrading your major metabolic furnaces and decreasing your ability to oxidize fat tissue. So what are some things you can do to improve your gut health? This depends on the person and whether or not they have any microbial infections, a leaky gut, low stomach acid, poor pancreas function, a stressed liver, and other considerations but here are some general recommendations:
References:
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDenton Coleman is an Exercise Physiologist and Medical Researcher. Archives
October 2023
Categories |