It's almost summertime, when people start remembering the New Year's resolutions to lose weight that they lost track of in the last few busy months! If you've battled losing weight in the past, acupuncture could be the key to your success.

Why am I not losing weight?

Issues with losing and keeping weight off have been linked to imbalances in the "microbiome," or the bacterial environment in your gut. Stress or depression could also be holding onto those extra pounds! People suffering from poor mental health are more likely to overeat or eat irregularly, throwing off the body's cycle of digestion and burning fat.

Where does acupuncture come in?

Acupuncture can reduce and correct imbalances in the gut flora. A study conducted in Shanghai found that regular acupuncture treatment over 6 weeks reduced the average BMI from 28 to 25 and generated favorable changes in the microbiome.

Acupuncture points on the ears have been shown to control appetite and correct bloating and indigestion. Ear acupuncture alone in studies has been shown to lead to an average weight loss of 3 lbs in less than 6 weeks without any changes in diet or exercise, though treatments that ran longer than 6 weeks were more successful.

What can I do in addition to acupuncture?

Incorporating dietary changes along with acupuncture is vitally important. Fad diets don't work for long-term weight loss, which is why we focus on teaching patients to make good lifestyle changes that they can adhere to long-term. Cutting out gluten, starchy foods and processed, sugary foods can reduce bloating and help you feel full longer while helping you lose weight. Switching from bleached table salt to pink Himalayan salt will also help decrease your body's water retention and improve gut health.

Exercise is also an important factor secondary to dietary choices. The best way to lose weight is not walking for hours on the treadmill, but incorporating high-intensity strength training which will help you burn fat long-term. This type of workout can be guided by a personal trainer using strength training machines to monitor your form and progress, or it can be done with little to no equipment pretty much anywhere you go.

Supplements like L-Glutamine and L-Carnitine reduce bloating, decrease hunger cravings, and speed up the metabolism to burn fat more quickly. They can be found individually as well as in all-inclusive detox kits such as Designs for Health's VegeCleanse Plus, a 14-day natural detox program that includes all supplements and shakes required for each day.

For the month of May we are offering a special on a full weight-loss kit, as well as a complimentary weight loss starter pack for all of our new and existing patients! Give us a call at (321) 972-2940 to schedule your health consultation today.

Sources:

Ehrenfeld, Temma. "Can Acupuncture Help you Lose Weight?" (April 20, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-gently/201804/can-acupuncture-help-you-lose-weight

Xu, Zhuting; Ruifen Li; Cailan Zhu; Mingyu Li. "Effect of acupuncture treatment for weight loss on gut flora in patients with simple obesity." Retrieved from http://aim.bmj.com/content/31/1/116.long

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