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info@thelucyroseclinic.com.au -
1300 THYROID: 1300 849 764
info@thelucyroseclinic.com.au 1300 THYROID: 1300 849 764
info@thelucyroseclinic.com.au 1300 THYROID: 1300 849 764It is not always easy to determine whether you are bloated, overweight, or both! A simple diet change can actually reduce belly bloating quite quickly for some, yet others may suffer not only a ‘tyre’ around the middle, but suffer from a build-up of fatty tissue around their internal organs, known as visceral fat.
Understanding the cause of the problem is extremely advantageous for accomplishing the results that you desire. In some, it will be a combination of factors. Remember, what someone else swears by may not always be a good choice for you.
From food reactions to parasitic invasion, the list of digestive symptoms is vast and can affect your whole body. In order to commence your journey towards recovery, it is important to identify and understand the differences between bloating and distention.
Bloating is the feeling you get when your abdominal region is larger.
Distention is the “physical” finding that your abdominal area is larger than normal.
You can feel bloated without actually being distended. For example, if you were to eat a large meal you may feel bloated, but you are not actually distended. Many women dread the inevitable comparison to a pregnancy and this leads them to feel anxious and unhappy about their body shape, whilst men are often teased mercilessly about a ‘beer belly’. While overeating can indeed cause weight gain, many try to eat less and exercise more, only to feel exceptionally disheartened and frustrated when no improvements occur (and doesn’t that sound familiar?).
Distention is a more serious condition than bloating, and it can be caused by three different things: 1. Air; 2. Fluid; or 3. Tissue.
Some of the best, most tried and true remedies for bloating and distention include:
Dose: Mix 1tsp of ACV into 100-200ml of water and drink approximately 10-20 minutes before meals.
Dose: Squeeze 1/3 of a fresh lemon into 100-200ml of water and drink approximately 10-20 minutes before meals.
Dose: Mix 1tsp of psyllium husks into ¾ of a glass of water and drink of a night time before bed, away from other supplements and medications.
Food intolerance screening is available for up to 96 different foods, or speak to one of our naturopaths about which foods groups are best avoided for your current state of health. Some foods like nightshades are highly inflammatory, and many thyroid patients find that dairy, gluten and sugar are trigger foods for hypothyroid states.
Abdominal fat and adipose tissue are commonly deposited around the belly or back as a result of endocrine or metabolic issues. Below are some of the symptoms and testing available, as the type of issue you have determines which types of treatment will be most effective:
Thyroid metabolism: cold, depressed, overweight, tired, etc. Blood testing for thyroid hormones include TSH, Free t3 Reverse T3, T4, and Hashimoto’s testing, and iodine urinalysis is also commonly used. If you are unsure whether or not these tests are warranted for you instead of just a basic TSH blood test with your GP, try coming to see us for a Thyroflex test to measure your tissue speeds and help identify whether your weight gain may be thyroid related.
Poor glucose balance: irritability, temperature changes, fluctuations in energy levels, headaches and faintness, etc. Blood testing includes HB1AC, Glucose, Insulin, and Leptins.
Adrenal Hormones: fatigue particularly of a morning, energy peaking of a night, cravings for liquorice and/or salt. Blood testing is recommended for Cortisol, DHEA, and Vitamin D3.
While many fear for their health and feel self-conscious about being bloated or appearing overweight, the health hype information pushed upon us is often more strongly related to the visceral fat. That is not to say that the endocrine issues above are not serious, only that they may or may not be linked to organ fatty deposits.
Visceral fat is body fat which is stored within the abdominal cavity and is therefore deposited around several important internal organs, including the liver, pancreas and intestines. Visceral fat is sometimes referred to as ‘active fat’ because research has shown that this type of fat plays a definitive role in how our hormones function. Storing high amounts of visceral fat potentially leads to an increased risk for the development of several health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.
It is important to determine the difference between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Subcutaneous fat is stored just beneath the skin and can be felt with our hands. Visceral fat cannot be felt with our hands as it is stored intra-abdominally.
We recommend BIA screening because it differentiates between visceral and abdominal fat, muscle, fluid balance and bone density. This is now available within Lucy Rose clinics Australia-wide.
It is a good choice for those who want some physical assessment of their body types before completing pathology tests or as an assessment and tracking method while treating their symptoms and health.