Why Gut Health?
The Nutrition of the Centenarian Method largely focuses on improving your gut health.
Why is that?
Simple Answer: Because a healthy gut allows the body to be in a relaxed state. It also helps balance hormones, which is a big reason people cannot lose weight.
Both of these reasons promote fat loss. Here’s how this works:
The Gut is defined as the entire tract between the mouth and the other end where waste comes out. In this tract, there is an enormous absorption area. It is the size of a tennis court when laid out.
If this system is working properly, nutrients are allowed to be efficiently absorbed. And particles, toxins and bad microbes are prevented from entering the blood stream.
The Gut Barrier lines the entire tract. It not only feeds and protects the health of the GI tract. It also feeds and protects the nutritional health of the entire body.
The Gut Barrier decides what is absorbed and what is prevented from entering the body. The only problem is when the barrier is inflamed (typically from unhealthy food), it cannot do this job properly.
If the barrier isn’t working properly, these particles, toxins and bad microbes enter the body. Since they are foreign to the body, the body launches an attack against them.
I break down the conditions of what this can lead to by level. Some of the first things that happen when you have an unhealthy gut microbiome and compromised gut barrier are classified in the first level:
First Level:
Gas, Bloating, Indigestion, Heartburn/Acid Reflux, Abdominal Pain, Low Energy, Brain Fog/Decreased Concentration, Chronic Diarrhea, Poor Sleep.
And left unhealthy for long enough, some of these more advanced conditions (listed below in the second level) can manifest:
Second Level:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Thyroid Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Depression/Anxiety, Psoriasis, Gastric Ulcers, Joint Pain, Obesity/Belly Fat, Fatty Liver Disease, Auto-immune Diseases, Type 2 Diabetes, Hormonal Storms.
When the barrier is compromised, it can impact every organ in the body, not just your digestive tract.
Furthermore, when the gut and the barrier are compromised, your digestive tract AND the organs affiliated with your digestive health, are over-worked, imbalanced and stressed.
The body cannot let go of weight in a natural manner when it is stressed. In fact, a stressed body release stress hormones (cortisol) which signal to the body to retain weight.
If you can improve your gut health, you can bring the body into a more settled state in which it is more apt to let go of weight, especially belly fat.
But it goes beyond that.
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with weight (especially as they age) is because of what I refer to as hormonal storms.
Hormones need to be balanced and working properly for you to be healthy. The following are hormones that NEED a healthy gut microbiome to work properly.
This is why my focus for the Centenarian Method is your Gut Health. You now know why!
-Dr. Bucci
Why is that?
Simple Answer: Because a healthy gut allows the body to be in a relaxed state. It also helps balance hormones, which is a big reason people cannot lose weight.
Both of these reasons promote fat loss. Here’s how this works:
The Gut is defined as the entire tract between the mouth and the other end where waste comes out. In this tract, there is an enormous absorption area. It is the size of a tennis court when laid out.
If this system is working properly, nutrients are allowed to be efficiently absorbed. And particles, toxins and bad microbes are prevented from entering the blood stream.
The Gut Barrier lines the entire tract. It not only feeds and protects the health of the GI tract. It also feeds and protects the nutritional health of the entire body.
The Gut Barrier decides what is absorbed and what is prevented from entering the body. The only problem is when the barrier is inflamed (typically from unhealthy food), it cannot do this job properly.
If the barrier isn’t working properly, these particles, toxins and bad microbes enter the body. Since they are foreign to the body, the body launches an attack against them.
I break down the conditions of what this can lead to by level. Some of the first things that happen when you have an unhealthy gut microbiome and compromised gut barrier are classified in the first level:
First Level:
Gas, Bloating, Indigestion, Heartburn/Acid Reflux, Abdominal Pain, Low Energy, Brain Fog/Decreased Concentration, Chronic Diarrhea, Poor Sleep.
And left unhealthy for long enough, some of these more advanced conditions (listed below in the second level) can manifest:
Second Level:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Thyroid Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Depression/Anxiety, Psoriasis, Gastric Ulcers, Joint Pain, Obesity/Belly Fat, Fatty Liver Disease, Auto-immune Diseases, Type 2 Diabetes, Hormonal Storms.
When the barrier is compromised, it can impact every organ in the body, not just your digestive tract.
Furthermore, when the gut and the barrier are compromised, your digestive tract AND the organs affiliated with your digestive health, are over-worked, imbalanced and stressed.
The body cannot let go of weight in a natural manner when it is stressed. In fact, a stressed body release stress hormones (cortisol) which signal to the body to retain weight.
If you can improve your gut health, you can bring the body into a more settled state in which it is more apt to let go of weight, especially belly fat.
But it goes beyond that.
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with weight (especially as they age) is because of what I refer to as hormonal storms.
Hormones need to be balanced and working properly for you to be healthy. The following are hormones that NEED a healthy gut microbiome to work properly.
- Thyroid hormone - The enzyme that converts thyroid hormone into its active form needs a healthy gut. This in turn supports your metabolism and fat loss!
- Insulin (blood sugar regulation) - A healthy gut minimizes insulin resistance and the chance of diabetes AND reduces digestive inflammation, which will promote fat loss.
- Ghrelin (the hunger hormone) - A healthy gut sends signals to the brain to keep you full by regulating ghrelin.
- Estrogen balance is crucial for women, especially as they age. Things like bone density, immune regulation and even brain function are all impacted by estrogen. But so is metabolism. With a compromised gut microbiome, estrogen can be imbalanced.
- Testosterone is essential for an efficient digestive system (especially colon motility). A healthy gut lead to nutrient absorption, reduced inflammation, and boosted metabolism. All 3 of these of essential for optimal testosterone levels.
This is why my focus for the Centenarian Method is your Gut Health. You now know why!
-Dr. Bucci