Symptoms such as weight gain, headaches, gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation and/or diarrhea are all signs that someone may have allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities to food. Sometimes the symptoms can happen immediately and sometimes they may not be experienced for several days after eating a particular food. Many times we do not even associate our symptoms with the reactions we have to consuming sensitive foods.

For many people when they ingest gluten, the body perceives the grain as a dangerous foreign invader. Consequently, the body starts an immune attack to get rid of the attacker by causing inflammation (our body’s way of attacking an antigen). Constant exposure to gluten means constant inflammation and puts a real burden on the body’s defense mechanism. Not only that, the continual need for cortisol (our body’s natural anti-inflammatory made from the adrenals) causes the adrenal glands to burn out. You may recall that your adrenals are also required for blood sugar stabilization (insulin output). So if we are having difficulty managing our blood sugar levels due to Adrenal exhaustion, we are also going to find it difficult to lose weight.

Second to this, is that gluten has an effect on the functioning of your thyroid hormone which is responsible for energy and fat metabolism.

Continually consumption of glutinous foods and the inflammatory response causes your body to go into a state of auto immunity, hence why Celiac disease is an auto- immune disease. The body cannot differentiate between gluten and its own glands and as a result starts thinking that your thyroid gland is a foreign invader.
So those of you, who have had reports of high levels of Anti-TPO (Thyroperoxidase Abs) and have had their doctor discuss an Auto-immune Thyroiditis, please take note; your body is attacking its own thyroid. If this is the case, it is HIGHLY recommended that you exclude gluten from your diet as a faulty thyroid affects your metabolism and how well you can burn fat!

Finally, if your adrenals are exhausted (from daily stressors such as diet, vigorous exercise or poor quality sleep), this will have an effect on your thyroid gland. Excessive cortisol output is also linked with inhibiting your TSH levels and the enzyme that converts T4 to T3 (the active form).

So just by eating gluten may have a double hormonal whammy in your quest to lose weight.

To the nervous system and hormonal system, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve just had a car accident, are going through a divorce, are under the pressure of too many deadlines at work, or even just won $100,000,000 in the lottery!

Your hormonal and nervous systems react the same way – it’s just stress”

~ Paul Chek, Founder PPS Mastery Programme, From his e-book The last 4 doctors

Cholesterol Is the Precursor to All Steroid Hormones.

Synthesis of Steroid Hormones From Cholesterol

What are they?

Xenoestrogens (pronounced zen o es tro gens) are harming
chemicals present in many common items that we are in contact with on a daily
basis.
They enter the body through inhalation, ingestion and through our skin and act as estrogen mimickers.
To help me explain further, imagine that you have a bodyguard who is manning the ‘hormone estrogen room’. The guards only allow access to the hormone estrogen VIP members. Unfortunately, when xenoestrogens try to enter this room, the bodyguards can’t establish if these chemicals are the real hormone estrogen or not and as a consequence the chemicals gain access to the blood stream.

Excess levels of estrogen
can cause ‘Estrogen Dominance’ which is a hormonal imbalance and can cause a
whole host of problems. Problems can range from female hormone issues such as
excessive PMS symptoms; cramps, breast tenderness, mood swings to male symptoms such as breast formation.

These chemicals can also promote abnormal cell growth which we know is the basis of cancer formation.

How is Estrogen Dominance caused?

Estrogen is metabolized and excreted through the liver. We
already know that our liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body; it
continually has to detoxify toxins such as processed foods, junk foods,
alcohol, smoke, medications and environmental pollution.

With such a heavy work
load, when the estrogen or xenoestrogens make their pathway to the liver, the
liver has to turn away the estrogen, as it ‘can’t make room’ to carry out the
detoxification process. As a result the xenoestrogens have to re-circulate in
the blood stream causing a higher level of estrogen in comparison to other
hormones. This also allows them to cause the same damage that they originally
did on their first journey. So it is bad enough that we allow xenoestrogens to
enter the body but now we are finding that we cannot eliminate the dangerous
chemicals.

Where can they be found?

Commercially raised animal meat and dairy contain
xenoestrogens. Synthetic hormones are injected into these animals so that they
grow bigger and produce more milk resulting in financial gain. They can also be
found in pesticides on fruits and vegetables. One particular xenoestrogen is
found in Styrofoam especially when hot food or drink is mixed with it such as
coffee in a Styrofoam cup. The chemicals are leached from the plastic through
to the liquid and then we ingest them as we drink our coffee.

Xenoestrogens can also be found in beauty care products such as hair dyes and aerosols that we can inhale.
Plastics are also a major contributor and xenoestrogens are found in plastic water bottles and Tupperware. In addition, mothers need to be aware that their babies are ingesting xenoestrogens through their heated up milk bottles.

How can we reduce our contact with these harmful chemicals?

· Eat organic meat and dairy as they have not been injected with growth hormones.

· Eat organic fruits and vegetables where pesticides have not been used.

· Use glass or stainless steel to drink your liquids.

· Purchase glass Tupperware for home use.

· Take a container to restaurants to use as a doggy bag rather than a plastic box.

· Don’t buy milk in plastic wax coated containers.

· Look for organic beauty care products.

-Breast feed your baby.

· Don’t microwave food in plastic containers.

Unfortunately, we can’t eliminate all contact with these harmful chemicals unless we lobby for major political change in favour of a greener planet. Unbeknown to us we regularly inhale toxic fumes that act as estrogen mimickers when we inhale the fumes given off by vehicle tires. However, we are in control of what we eat, drink and how we prepare our foods. Any small effort will contribute to a healthier you and our planet.

If you think you may be suffering from estrogen dominance or
would like to find out more about your hormone levels; I run a series of
diagnostic lab tests that can establish your personal levels of toxicity and
hormone imbalance.

A hormone balancing treatment programme may last up to 6 months or longer depending on your current lifestyle habits.

Please feel free to contact me for more details.