When we talk about diets and weight loss, most of the time we’re talking about a fairly simple equation. ‘Calories in’ equals ‘calories out’, i.e. the more you diet and exercise, the more weight you will lose. It’s a simple concept, and one that holds true for most people, most of the time.
However, there are occasions when other parts of your physiology can actually stop you from losing weight, even when you think you’re doing everything right. If you’ve reached a plateau in your diet, or you can’t lose weight, perhaps you’ve been looking in the wrong place.
We’re actually talking about an opportunistic yeast named Candida Albicans. Now you probably never knew this, but your intestines are full of billions of microorganisms. Most of these actually have a very important role to play. They form a crucial part of your immune system, they help you to digest food easily and they regulate the acidity in your gut. However sometimes when your immune system is weak, the Candida yeast can start to multiply and dominate the other microorganisms in your intestine. This is a Candida overgrowth, or systemic Candidiasis, and it could be why you’re having trouble shaking off those pounds.
There are a couple of ways in which a Candida overgrowth can lead to an increase in weight.
According to The Candida Diet, typical triggers for Candida overgrowth include a diet that is consistently high in carbohydrates, a lengthy period of time under stress, or a recent course of antibiotics. If any of these warning signs apply to you, it might be responsible for your weight gain.
Of course it’s important to realize that everyone has at least some Candida Albicans in their gut. Its only when it grows out of control that it starts to cause problems. Weight gain isn’t the only symptom to look out for. Symptoms can be as specific as skin rash or vaginal yeast infections, but they can also be as vague as ‘brain fog’, fatigue and indigestion. Looking at the way you eat and live is a better way to judge whether you might be susceptible to a Candida overgrowth, so here are those triggers again:
We’ve already covered why sugar and carbs can lead to systemic Candida, but the other two probably need some explanation.
Firstly, stress fundamentally weakens your immune system. This means that the usual mechanisms preventing the Candida from getting out of control are absent, leaving you vulnerable to an infection.
Secondly, a course of antibiotics will kill virtually all the microorganisms in your gut. The ‘good bacteria’ (those that help your digestion and immune system) will replenish over time, but this gives the faster-growing Candida yeast a great opportunity to colonize the gut. This is one reason why antibiotics should be used only when you really need them!
Most of these are significant risk factors for girls in the modeling industry. Most of the girls you meet will be practicing some kind of low-carb diet, so they are probably not eating enough sugar to let their Candida get out of control. However the party invitations and free alcohol often balance that out. Additionally, stress is definitely an issue, particularly when you're trying to fit the endless castings around modeling jobs and still enjoy a social life. And antibiotics are a risk factor that can apply to absolutely anyone.
Luckily, there’s plenty you can do about a Candida overgrowth. The Candida Diet has three stages (click here for a summary of the Candida Diet). It’s not an easy diet to follow, but it gets results. The bonus is that it is a very healthy diet to follow. It’s low in carbs, high in healthy vegetables and proteins, so you should see your skin glowing and your energy levels rebounding, as well as losing a little weight. You can find all the supplements you need for the diet at an online store that specializes in supplements for Candida treatment.
There are also some excellent eBooks out there that can lend you a guiding hand while you fight your Candida. The first is the Ultimate Candida Diet plan, a program created by Lisa Richards. The second that I like is written by Linda Allen, and you can find a good summary in this Yeast Infection No More review.
This is a great example of why you can’t just look at one part of the body in isolation. Narrowly focusing on calorie restriction can work for some people, but most of us need to take a balanced approach to our diet. What happens to your waist line is linked to everything happening in your body. That’s why it’s so important to eat well, live healthily, and take care of your body. After all, it’s the only one you’ve got!
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