Opt for The Weight Loss Program in MN and Educate Yourself in Nutrition Proportion

“Weight loss can change your whole character. That always amazed me: Shedding pounds does change your personality. It changes your philosophy of life because you recognize that you are capable of using your mind to change your body.”

-Jean Nidetch

With our hectic daily schedules, trying to maintain our work-life balance, we are often forced to eat food that is not healthy and at times we are tempted to eat our favorite fast foods. It is hard to resist the temptation to walk past those fast food corners serving delectable foods that not only tantalizes our taste buds but are also easy to eat on the go. We have people in our lives who encourage us to eat healthy and at times we even make resolutions but always end up procrastinating. This leads to unwanted weight gain and is one of the major causes of obesity all across the globe. Reality strikes when you look at yourself in the full length mirror and see your puffy cheeks and enlarged belly. Weight loss is one of the most important agendas for human kind after global warming, such an issue that almost every person at some point in their lives has personally considered the best way to lose weight.

Some suggest to go on a diet, while others advise you to join a gym to lose those extra pounds and get rid of your love handles. Truth be told, none of them are going to work in your favor if you do not have the knowledge of food. You don’t have to graduate and have a degree to educate yourself about food, it simply requires you to know the foods that are good for your body and mind. Some of the most effective weight loss programs in MN offer one-to-one counseling and group classes that teach you about nutrition proportion and offers an in-depth metabolic balance analysis. A personalized Metabolic Balance plan based upon your blood chemistry can provide you the precise list of foods that your body will respond to in a positive way. By opting for a personalized nutritional plan, you would not only see an improvement in the rate of your weight loss but will also observe your energy improve and your health restored.

Get Your Life Back On Track With The Metabolic Balance Plan

Did you know that diabetes affects roughly 30 million people in the US, but only 23 million have been diagnosed? Also, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US?(1) The total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States has reached the mark of $327 billion in 2017. (2) All in all, the increasing numbers of growth of diabetes cases in the United States are quite worrying.

(3)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2017.
http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/basics/cdc-statistics-report-2017.pdf

Metabolic Syndrome is the root cause of diabetes, and is related to heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stress. Once an individual has been diagnosed with one of these conditions, chances of him or her developing the other conditions increases. The only way to prevent the downward spiral of health issues is to change the metabolism. Bringing about this change may seem difficult, but a personalized plan can be easier to follow in the Metabolic Balance Plan.

While you may be new to the concept of The Metabolic Balance (MB) plan, it was developed 20 years ago in Germany. The MB plan is based on the belief that the body will respond to quality foods and return to proper metabolic balance when those foods are part of a lifestyle plan. The MB plan is most effective for weight management because it focuses on the proper control of insulin. Once the insulin comes under control, it becomes easier to improve the levels of cholesterol & blood pressure. Other hormones of the body will begin to release normally in the body and weight loss will take place in a natural way.

For those desiring to reverse diabetes, The Metabolic Balance plan can be an important step toward success. All you need is a personalized Metabolic Balance Plan and the support of a Certified Metabolic Balance Coach to help you achieve the desired positive changes in your life.

To schedule your appointment today, visit www.nutritionproportion.net/schedule/

(1) “Deaths and Mortality.” (2018) National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm  Accessed 07/25/2018

(2) “The Cost of Diabetes.” (2018) American Diabetes Association.  http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy/news-events/cost-of-diabetes.html  Accessed 07/25/2018

(3)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2017.
http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/basics/cdc-statistics-report-2017.pdf

The Hidden Syndrome

The Hidden Syndrome affects more Americans than any other disease.  It accounts for the top causes of death in the United States, causing shipwreck to millions of lives.  The hidden syndrome is obvious and yet you will rarely hear the term “Metabolic Syndrome.”   Metabolic Syndrome is the collection of symptoms related to your metabolism.  You metabolism is how your body processes the food that you eat – to convert it into fuel or to store it for later use.   You have heard people say, “Yeah, he has a fast metabolism.  He can eat anything and will not gain a pound.”  You recognize that metabolism has something to do with weight, but there is so much more to it than that.

Metabolic Syndrome is related to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stress.  These health challenges are the leading causes of death in the United States.  Frequently, an individual diagnosed with one of these challenges will quickly advance to one of the other health issues soon after, unless they address the core issue of metabolism.

·         About 800,000 Americans died of some form of heart disease in 2017. (1)

·         30 million Americans (9.4%) have diabetes, but only 23 million have been diagnosed. (2)

·         More than 85% of adults are overweight or obese. (2)

Think of Metabolic Syndrome as the Bermuda Triangle of medical diagnosis.  You may recall the Bermuda Triangle is a region of the Atlantic Ocean known to have more shipwrecks or disappearances than any other region in the world.  Similarly, Metabolic Syndrome is a triangle of health issues connecting cholesterol, blood sugar, and obesity.  Once you have been diagnosed with heart disease, obesity, or diabetes, you can find yourself moving into the triangle of Metabolic Syndrome if you do not address how to change your metabolism.

There is a way out of the "Triangle"

There is a way out of Metabolic Syndrome.  The key is to understand how your metabolism works. Different methods have been promoted for increasing your metabolism, such as Atkins diet, Paleo diet, or the Keto diet.  But if you don’t understand the primary mechanism that regulates your metabolism, you will not find a lasting answer to stabilizing your metabolism and realizing real health again.

The master hormone of your metabolism is insulin.  Every time you eat food, the body is monitoring the fuels in that meal and insulin is produced.  The higher the sugar content of the meal, the higher the insulin response will be.  This response is exactly what should happen to protect your body from sugar overload.  Insulin signals the body to store the extra sugar for later use as a fuel.   Your body responds quickly as long as it has space to store the extra fuel.  Storage takes place in the fat cells and muscle cells, and you gain a little weight.   So high insulin is an important trigger for weight gain.

As long as insulin levels are high, your body is receiving the signal to store energy.  This means you cannot lose weight, your blood sugar levels are staying too high, your blood vessels are under stress.   High insulin levels will block your ability to burn fat.  High insulin levels will block your ability to make natural anti-inflammatory hormones.  High insulin levels will block your ability to make natural anti-aging hormones.  But insulin is simply responding to your diet choices.  You must find the right plan to help reduce your insulin safely, naturally, and in a way that will be a lifestyle for you.  This is exactly what the Metabolic Balance Plan provides.

The Metabolic Balance Plan

The Metabolic Balance plan (MB) was developed 20 years ago in Germany, by a team of health professionals that recognized that a lifestyle plan is the only true solution to the growing obesity epidemic around the world.  The MB plan is based on the belief that your body will respond to quality foods and return to proper metabolic balance when those foods are part of a lifestyle plan.  After 20 years, the results demonstrate the MB plan is the most effective plan for weight management available today.   As discussed earlier, when you bring insulin under control, you will also see cholesterol levels improve, blood pressure improve, other hormones in your body will be released to operate correctly, and weight loss will happen naturally.

A Personalized Plan

Your MB plan is based upon a careful blood analysis of 35 values to determine your current metabolic state.  These values are matched with a food database to determine exactly what foods are best for you to achieve metabolic balance again.   This list of foods is assembled into a 3 day menu plan, which identifies the best protein for each meal, the amount of carbohydrates, and the quality fats you should consume.  About 1 million plans have been developed world-wide, since Metabolic Balance began 20 years ago.  You can get your own personalized plan by contact a Certified Metabolic Balance Coach today.

Time for Change

Metabolic Syndrome has dominated the American health scene for too long.  These related health issues are described as “Lifestyle diseases,” which means the choices we each have made are the choices that create the diseases we are enduring. (3)   While genetics or heredity may play a role in an individual’s health, you have options available for how you will manage the genetic road map.   A personalized metabolic balance plan is a significant step toward precision medicine using quality whole foods.  You can change your metabolism and avoid the Metabolic Syndrome “triangle” that the majority of Americans are getting lost in.

The Evidence of Change

Many individuals around the world have received a personalized Metabolic Balance Plan and personally testify to the effectiveness of the plan.  Clients at Nutrition Proportion have achieved an average weight loss of 10 lbs in the first month using whole foods.  But this is only the beginning of the change that is possible.   Here is a personal testimony -

Since switching to the metabolic balance plan, my quality of life has improved in dramatic ways. After years of struggling with fatigue, brain fog, constant bloating, skin problems, hair loss, mood swings, insomnia, and constant cravings I finally am doing normal things that I have not had the energy to do in years, perhaps ever! I was one of those health nuts who only ate healthy and worked out regularly, even if I did not have the energy. I was following the trim healthy mama diet plan along with many friends, and I was the only one not losing weight from it which was incredibly discouraging. I had gotten my thyroid tested and learned that it was low. After starting a medication and being on it for 1 month with no relief from any symptoms, and even some weight gain I decided to try something new, which was metabolic balance. 

From the beginning I loved having the list of foods that I could eat. Dr. Aldrich was awesome, as whenever I had a question (and I had a lot of questions!) I just emailed him and received a response within a couple of hours, usually sooner. I really appreciated that as usually I was in need of quick answers.

The biggest change for me is that I put very little effort into weight maintenance now, I am at a healthy weight and if I go off plan for a meal and that leads to a couple of days I can get back on plan and be back to normal within a day or two. I also sleep much better and have much more energy than I did before. My hormones are balanced, no more low thyroid. I would recommend this plan to everyone!! Even if you think you are not in need of a change, the actual healthy way to eat and plan specific to your body’s needs is so surprising and helpful! I am forever grateful the God led me to this plan and to Dr. Aldrich for the help in achieving a better quality of life and healthier habits to teach my children. 

Your Next Step

Whether you are looking to reduce your cholesterol naturally, reverse diabetes, or be able to wear that smaller size outfit - the key is to get a personalized Metabolic Balance Plan and work with a Certified Metabolic Balance Coach to guide you to positive change.  At Nutrition Proportion, Dr. Noel Aldrich is available to guide you through the steps needed to bring your metabolism under control and see your health improve.  Information seminars are provided monthly and individual consults can be scheduled easily.  Contact us today to start your personalized plan.

References:

(1)  Jackson, E. (2017) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: 2017 Update.  February 9, 2017.   https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2017/02/09/14/58/heart-disease-and-stroke-statistics-2017     Accessed July 12, 2018.

(2)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2017.   http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/basics/cdc-statistics-report-2017.pdf

(3) Majid, A. (2018) Mapped: the global epidemic of ‘lifestyle’ disease in charts. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/mapped-global-epidemic-lifestyle-disease-charts/  Accessed July 12, 2018.

Your Success

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Your success is dependent upon your commitment to change.  Not the change of the moment, but the commitment to the change required to complete the journey.

You probably measure success the way most people do – the goal is accomplished or progress toward the goal is observed.  But what about when the goal has not been reached.  You started well. You had good resources.  Time was on your side.  Still, you find yourself right where you began or perhaps farther away (or so it seems).  The answer to this dilemma is still the same – “Don’t Quit”. 

I have heard the statement, “But we did that before and it did not work.”  You may remember the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  But the counter statement goes, “The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing expecting different results.”  There are those who are persistent, yet don’t seem to make lasting progress.  I am not encouraging anyone to jump onto the hamster wheel of life, which only leads to futile living.  There is more than persistence required to reach a goal because you do not see clearly all the twists and turns along the way.  Therefore, the important question to ask is, “Why did it not work?”   “Why did I miss the goal?”

As you begin to change, the environment begins to change around you, and in you.  New obstacles and challenges to your ultimate goal will rise up.   These obstacles will test your commitment to the goal you have determined to reach.  As I work with individuals to reach a health goal, sometimes the body responds in unexpected ways. A pain may resurface that has not been seen in 10 years, a thought pattern may become evident that was hidden before, or a relationship may be seen to be a more negative influence than you understood earlier.  These obstacles increase the value of your goal as you commit to the original intent.

Change in the body takes time.  The average body cell has a life cycle of 90 days.  While some changes can be observed quickly when removing caffeine, or decreasing sugar intake, many of the changes in the body require a brand new cell to take the place of the one that has been living in a toxic environment.  As you continue to pursue healthy changes, new cells are generated that only know this new healthy environment.  As more new cells, experience the new environment, more healthy responses will be realized.  You need to consider a longer timeline towards successful and lasting health changes.

The change of the moment is easy compared to the commitment required after finding so many failed ways to the goal.  Thomas Edison, one of history’s great inventors, has been credited to have said, “I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”   You need to see that you have gained insight and valuable experience with each effort you apply to reach your goal. 

You cannot succeed alone.  In nature, we see the bee hive and the ant colony thrive because each member works together.  The activity of these species has been called “swarm theory.”   The individual ant or bee will not accomplish much on its own, but together the colony has an intelligence to accomplish amazing things.  This understanding of swarm theory has been applied recently with drones to create the light show at the 2018 Winter Olympics.  1,200 drones with LED lights flew in synchronized patterns to the amazement of the world.   You will be amazed at how relationships can increase your own ability to reach goals.  You need to connect with true friends. You need to connect with God.  You need to look beyond yourself for true health and vitality.

In this age of smart phones and IPads, where everyone is looking at a screen and not talking face to face, you can quickly assume that you have to do this on your own.  Or perhaps, you have taken the mindset, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”  What is true is you have to commit yourself to change because no one else can commit for you.  What is not true is that you have to achieve the change all on your own.  Thomas Edison needed his laboratory assistants, George Washington needed his Revolutionary Army, Martin Luther King, Jr., needed dreamers who shared the dream with him.  You need to identify those true friends who will commit with you and agree that the goal is worth the effort.  Who are those “swarm friends” who you will join to reach the goals that are important for life?  

This week a friend of mine took the old phrase of “try, try again,” and rewrote it for me.  “If at first you don’t succeed – analyze why, adjust, and retry.”  I appreciate these friends who speak truth into my life and help me to press on toward the goal before me.   Like the ants and bees who work together for the health of the colony, these friends are an encouragement to press on in the face of the obstacles and the new challenges that arise.  

Let’s consider my friend’s statement:

Analyze why - What has changed since the original decision was made?  Consider both the positive and negative things.  Take new measurements of the situation to determine where you are now.

Adjust - To continue on the exact same path may not be wise.  If a ship or a plane is one degree off on the steering, the vehicle will not reach the intended destination.  Adjustment is constantly required to get the vehicle to the right place and you need to regularly “adjust” your body to get to the planned destination.

Retry - Put new energy into the effort with the new information you have gathered.  There is no success in quitting.   There is no joy in resigning. 

Your success is dependent on your commitment to change.  Not the decision to change, but the commitment to change required to complete the journey.   Let’s walk this journey together.  Your success is our focus. Contact us and tell us what your health goal for 2018 is.

If you want to start a journey toward better health, let Nutrition Proportion be a friend to come alongside to assist and encourage.   We believe nutrition is designed for healing.   Nutrition is the foundation toward any real progress in health and vitality because nutrition is designed by a loving Creator to sustain life and help your body to respond in the way it was designed.  Contact us with your questions today.

Do One Thing in 2018

I was asked recently, "Is there one food you would recommend to be eaten every day?"

My response – “One apple a day.”

Perhaps you have heard this saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."   The original saying is 150 years old and states, "Eat an apple on going to bed and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." (1)

This is one of those sayings that has scientific evidence in many areas.

Medications - A 2015 study of apple consumption observed that those who consumed one apple a day required less prescription drugs. (2)  Those who eat one apple a day probably make other healthy choices as well that contribute to this positive association between apples and reduced drugs.

Heart Disease - A 2017 study compared apples high in flavonoids, which are found in the apple skin, with apples low in flavonoids and observed improved blood flow through the brachial arteries when the high flavonoid apples were eaten. (3)  In other words, these apples improved the blood flow through the body.

Cholesterol - The healthy control of cholesterol has also been improved with an apple a day.  A study comparing modern apples with the Annurca apple observed that two small annurca apples a day significantly lowered the bad cholesterol and increased the good cholesterol. (4)  The annurca apple is known for its higher flavonoid content.  Older, heritage apples typically have high flavonoid and polyphenol content.

Blood Sugar – Those individuals who had a daily intake of apple polyphenols, which are from the skin of the apple, had an improved ability to manage blood sugar compared to individuals who did not consume the polyphenols. (5)   One possible reason for this improved sugar control is the polyphenols seem to reduce the sugar absorption ability of the intestines by closing the primary “door” that sugar passes through in the intestines. (6)  

Colon Health – The ability of the polyphenols of apples to “close the door” on sugar transport to cells is one of the pathways to stop the growth of cancer cells in the colon. (7)  A cancer cell has many more “doors” to bring in sugar to accelerate growth, so polyphenols help to close these doors and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.  The peeling of the apple contains the highest content of effective polyphenols with anti-oxidant activity, anti-bacterial activity, and anti-cancer activity. (8)

The older apple varieties that have high polyphenol content include – Braeburn, Jonathan, McIntosh, Gravenstein, and Annurca.  Avoid the newer varieties that have been bred for increased sugar content and size.

An apple a day is one of eight guidelines followed in the Metabolic Balance Program®, a program developed 20 years ago in Germany.  This program provides a personalized meal plan based on your unique blood chemistry.  Those who have followed their personal Metabolic Balance Plan have observed blood sugar levels become controlled, cholesterol levels improve, inflammation decreased, acid reflux disappear, and the body shifts to a healthy weight.

A Free information session about the Metabolic Balance plan is scheduled monthly.  Contact Nutrition Proportion for the next Free Information Session.

References:

1. MacGill, Markus (March 31, 2015) Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?  Medicinal News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/291683.php

2. Davis M. et al. (2015) Association between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits. Appealing the Conventional Wisdom that an Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. JAMA Intern Med, 75, number 5, published online 30 March 2015, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.5466.

3. Bondonno NP, et al. (2017) Flavonoid Rich Apple Improves Endothelial Function in Individuals at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Molecular Nutrition Food Research. 30 October 2017, doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700674

4. Tenore GC. (2017)  Annurca Apple as a Functional Food for the Contribution to a Healthy Balance of Plasma Cholesterol Levels: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 97(7):2107-2115. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.8016

5. Shoji T, et al. (2017) Chronic Administration of Apple Polyphenols Ameliorates Hyperglycemia in High-Normal and Borderline Subjects: a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 129:43-51. 10.1016/j.diabres.2017.03.028

6. Schulze C, et al. (2014) Inhibition of the Intestinal Sodium-Coupled Glucose Transporter 1 (SGLT1) by Extracts and Polyphenols from Apple Reduces Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels in Rats and Humans. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 58(9):1795-1808. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201400016

7. Lin ST, et al. (2016) Apple Polyphenol Phloretin Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth via Inhibition of the Type 2 Glucose Transporter and Activation of p53-mediated Signaling. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 64(36):6826-6837. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02861

8. Luo J, et al. (2016) Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antiproliferative Activities of Free and Bound Phenolics from Peel and Flesh of Fuji Apple. Journal of Food Science. 81(7):M1735-42.  doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.13353