Are Your Food Allergies Making You Fat?Posted on February 5th, 2008 |
Categories: Weight Loss | UltraWellness | The UltraSimple Diet | Inflammation | Food Allergies
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Is your digestive system making you fat?
It’s hard to believe – but very true!
Today, I’m going to explain how the bugs in your digestive tract and the way they upset your gut’s immune system just might be behind those extra pounds.
I have observed this phenomenon in thousands of patients. And I’ve developed very effective treatments for it, based on understanding the way in which all the body’s systems – the gut, the immune system, toxins, hormones and more – are connected.
These are what I call the 7 keys to UltraWellness.
You can read even more about it in my book, The UltraSimple Diet, which explains why toxicity and inflammation are key underlying causes of obesity and illness.
And there’s powerful evidence that addressing those key causes can help shed pounds.
Over and over, I’ve seen patients who lose significant amounts of weight, just by cutting food allergens from their diet.
And I have also seen people lose 20 to 30 pounds, simply by balancing the bacterial ecosystem in their intestinal system.
One patient, a 38-year-old woman, had chronic inflammation, fluid retention, acne, fatigue, and joint pain, as well as irritable bowel syndrome with bloating and gas. She had tried every known diet, but was unable to lose weight.
What was her problem?
She could not lose weight because she was inflamed.
But when we had her eliminate the foods to which she was allergic and gave her some healthy bacteria to heal her gut, she lost 35 pounds in a few months – and all her other symptoms went away too.
The big debate in medicine is which comes first: inflammation or obesity.
I have always believed that we become inflamed first, and gain weight second – which makes us even more inflamed, perpetuating the cycle.
==> Now incredible new research bears this out.
Let me tell you a little more about these studies and their implications for treating obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Both studies were done in Europe, where researchers are generally more open-minded.
The first study, published in December 2007, looked at two groups of children. The first group was overweight and the second was normal weight. (1)
The researchers then measured three key factors connected to inflammation.
First, they looked at high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker that shows the general level of inflammation in the body.
Then they looked for plaque or thickening in the carotid arteries (the main arteries that supply the brain) with an ultrasound.
Third, they looked at blood tests for IgG, or the delayed food allergies I talk about in The UltraSimple Diet.
What they found was startling.
The overweight kids had a 3-fold higher level of CRP and a 2.5-fold higher level of IgG antibodies to foods.
This is astounding, since in most medical studies a difference of 20 to 30 percent is considered significant. And in this case, the differences were 300 and 250 percent, respectively.
The overweight children also had much thicker carotid arteries, which are a sign of early atherosclerosis and an indicator of heart disease.
The study suggests that these food allergies are a CAUSE of the inflammation and obesity, not a consequence.
The authors of the study explain that damage to the gut can lead to a leaky gut, allowing food particles to be exposed to the gut’s immune system.
This then triggers a system-wide immune response, leading to inflammation all over the body and producing obesity by increasing insulin resistance.
We already know that inflammation from any cause – bacteria, food, a high-sugar, high-fat diet -– will produce insulin resistance, leading to higher insulin levels. And since insulin is a fat -storage hormone, you store more fat – mostly around the belly.
The authors of the study go on to say that we should consider elimination of IgG food allergens as a way of treating obesity and preventing heart disease.
That means you don’t limit calories, just allergic foods that cause inflammation.
This study draws a remarkable link that has received little attention by conventional medicine.
==> So what exactly causes a leaky gut?
Well, the next study may help explain just that.
The researchers of that study, published in the July 2007 issue of Diabetes, performed a complex but powerful study to tease out which comes first – the chicken or the egg. (2)
What they did was quite ingenious. They took thin mice and then fed them a very high-fat diet.
High-fat diets change the bacterial flora in the gut. The toxin-producing bugs are promoted by the high-fat diet while the anti-inflammatory and protective bugs die off. (And there are over 500 species of bugs in your gut all fighting for territory.)
In fact, our highly processed, high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet – plus many drugs like antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatories, acid-blockers, and hormones – completely alters the bacterial ecosystem in the gut, leading to breakdown, inflammation, and a leaky gut.
Back to the study.
The researchers found that the mice on the equivalent of an American diet produced more of a bacterial toxin called LPS, which then leaked into the body through a leaky gut.
In humans, these toxins then latch onto immune cells, stimulating them to produce a firestorm of inflammatory molecules such as TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1 (cytokines), which in turn block your metabolism and produce insulin resistance, fatty liver, and obesity.
Even more interesting, the researchers also found that even with a normal diet, injecting LPS into the guts of the mice led to the SAME problems – inflammation and obesity.
They didn’t eat a bad diet. Just injecting toxins into them made them fat.
In fact, when you eat a bad diet, bad bugs flourish. Your whole gut ecosystem is upset and the outside world “leaks” in across a damaged gut lining.
The result? Not just obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, but so many allergic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.
The researchers explain how giving antibiotics to rats and cleaning out the bad bugs can prevent diabetes. They explain that by adding soluble fiber to the diet, they can increase the population of the good bugs like Bifidobacteria and decrease the bad bugs – leading to weight loss.
But it doesn’t just happen in lab rats.
I have found the same effects when my patients take the special soluble fiber I recommend in UltraMetabolism called konjac root or glucomannan. The good bacteria feed on the fiber and reduce inflammation.
And there is more to the gut story.
It seems that you are not the only one eating lunch. The bugs in your gut also feast – and they control your fat storage and the calories you absorb. So people with healthy bugs in the gut lose weight, and those with bad bugs gain weight. (3)
Let’s review what you’ve learned.
When you eat a typical American diet, you foster the growth of bad bugs in the gut. They then damage the gut lining and produce toxins that are absorbed into your system.
Because of the damage, partially digested food particles also leak into your bloodstream. Then your immune system reacts to the toxins and foods, producing a firestorm of inflammation.
That inflammation then leads to a fatty toxic liver and insulin resistance, which lead to higher levels of insulin in your body. And insulin is a fat-storage, disease- and aging-promoting hormone.
So an unhealthy gut makes us fat and sick because it makes us toxic and inflamed.
This is groundbreaking research that needs to shake up our thinking about how to help people lose weight and get healthy.
==> Now here are a few simple things to try if you are struggling to lose weight or feel better.
- Try an elimination diet for 3 weeks. Cut out the most common food allergens, including gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, yeast, and peanuts. Some people are sensitive to soy, so you can also cut that out. (See The UltraSimple Diet for a step-by-step plan on how to do this.)
- Eat a whole-foods, plant-based, high-fiber diet.
- Take probiotics daily to boost the healthy bacteria in your gut. Look for those that contain 10 billion CFU of bifidobacteria species and lactobacillus species. Choose from reputable brands.
Within a very few short weeks – even if you do nothing else – you will see a dramatic difference that comes from cooling off inflammation by healing your gut.
Remember, if you want to get rid of that gut, you have to fix your gut.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Have you noticed that inflammation is affecting your weight?
What steps do you plan to take to reduce inflammation?
How has reducing inflammation affected your weight?
Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.
To your good health,
Mark Hyman, M.D.
P.S. For more information on this and other blogs, please go to http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog.
==> References:
(1) Wilders-Truschnig M, Mangge H, Lieners C, et al. IgG Antibodies Against Food Antigens are Correlated with Inflammation and Intima Media Thickness in Obese Juveniles. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2007 Dec 10
(2) Cani PD, Amar J, Iglesias MA, et al. Metabolic endotoxemia initiates obesity and insulin resistance. Diabetes. 2007 Jul;56(7):1761-72.
(3) Bäckhed F, Ding H, Wang T, et al. The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Nov 2;101(44):15718-23. Epub 2004 Oct 25.
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YES!
I have been reading your books and participated in your Beta test a few years ago. I have had some mild success but nothing lasting.
I finally used your Physician finder to find someone in my local area. He ran all the tests and found my thyroid was out of balance and I had leaky gut from when I had cancer radiation to my digestive system. I have started a course of thyroid medication and supplements to help the digestive issue and am feeling better. No stunning weight loss as it has only been a week but I am so relieved to be able to figure out what was wrong. Thank YOU, Dr. Hyman as I didn't know about any of these things before reading your work.
food allergies and fat
I noticed my sinuses became very clogged after eating anything dairy. I stopped dairy and can now breathe easier. I also realized that I have been addicted to all things "white" for most of my life: sugar, flour, rice, pasta... I quit them @ one year ago. Since then I have lost over 30 pounds, just by going about my normal activities (which did not include excercise until recently). With exercise (aqua-aerobics), I am on track to lose @ 50 lbs. I would like to get a full food allergy test, but it is quite expensive ($400). I eat a very healthy diet now (lots of fruit, veggies, very little fried, no red meat, no dairy) and fee great. By the way, I am a 55 yr. old female.
Gut Bacteria
Your blog on gut bacteria caught my attention today. I am not overweight but have followed your food plan since reading your book almost 2 years ago.
In December I came down with an intestional virus or so I thought, in January I was still sick and diagnosed with a c-diff infection. I am the "health nut" of the family and always eat according to your plan with lots of raw food, veggies and fruit, nuts, greens, etc. This was a real blow to my ego to have caught this infection.
Anyway, the c-diff is gone, but my gut is not well. I cannot eat any of the foods I love and feel my body needs without getting the big "D" again. I live on white bread (ugh), white potatoes, white rice, cheese, oatmeal and bananas! I feel like I'm starving myself to death.
I've lost 14lbs since Dec and I was already at a BMI of 21 before this started, so now I'm underweight (in my opinion). I take 2 Culturelle capsules, 3 Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra Probiotics and one Renew Life 50 Billion Ultrimate Flora a day, so I'm getting plenty of probiotics to help heal. I don't understand why my gut is not responding. Whenever I eat something like fruit or veggies, it upsets my system bigtime.
No one understands......Dr. Hyman do you have any suggestions? I want to eat the stuff I love and that my body needs, not this crap I'm eating now!!!
Thanks,
Noreen
all the different letters for a condition
What does TNFa, IL-6 or IL-1 mean? cytokines - what are they?
TNFa, IL-6 etc
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and Interleukin-6 are scientific names for inflammation hormones.
Hormones secreted by adipose tissue (our body fat) include: TNFα, IL-6, Angiotensin, and more. The fatter you get the more of these hormones are produced.
These hormones produce an inflammation response, at least in part, at the vascular level. I like to imagine the insulin resistance from inflammation in two ways relating to a Chinese Finger cuff. It is a children’s toy that is made of heavy duty paper and looks like a woven basket tube. You put your fingers in it and pull then the tube constricts and you can’t get your fingers loose. You ease off and your fingers slip right out.
Angiotensin is a hormone that constricts the blood vessels; it is like the Chinese Finger cuff when you pull the tube is constricted. The holes in the finger cuff are impeded as they tighten. This is similar to the “insulin resistance” in some part at the vascular level the constricted blood vessel has smaller holes for the glucose molecule to get through. It may also inhibit the attachment of the insulin molecule to the insulin receptor. So a tightly squeezed blood vessel inhibits glucose uptake, to some extent.
TNF alpha and IL-6 behave in a slightly different way. Can you imagine an inflamed pimple? The inflammation response at the vascular level interferes with the uptake of glucose by swelling the tissues that the glucose must pass, like the pimple. Left long enough the blood vessels build up scar tissue and place that can become permanent.
TNFa, IL-6 etc
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and Interleukin-6 are scientific names for inflammation hormones.
Hormones secreted by adipose tissue (our body fat) include: TNFα, IL-6, Angiotensin, and more. The fatter you get the more of these hormones are produced.
These hormones produce an inflammation response, at least in part, at the vascular level. I like to imagine the insulin resistance from inflammation in two ways relating to a Chinese Finger cuff. It is a children’s toy that is made of heavy duty paper and looks like a woven basket tube. You put your fingers in it and pull then the tube constricts and you can’t get your fingers loose. You ease off and your fingers slip right out.
Angiotensin is a hormone that constricts the blood vessels; it is like the Chinese Finger cuff when you pull the tube is constricted. The holes in the finger cuff are impeded as they tighten. This is similar to the “insulin resistance” in some part at the vascular level the constricted blood vessel has smaller holes for the glucose molecule to get through. It may also inhibit the attachment of the insulin molecule to the insulin receptor. So a tightly squeezed blood vessel inhibits glucose uptake, to some extent.
TNF alpha and IL-6 behave in a slightly different way. Can you imagine an inflamed pimple? The inflammation response at the vascular level interferes with the uptake of glucose by swelling the tissues that the glucose must pass, like the pimple. Left long enough the blood vessels build up scar tissue and place that can become permanent.
allergy tests
My food allergies were tested when I was 18 months old. At 48, I think it is time to have them tested again. I am hypothyroid on synthroid, have lots of rashes and skin problems, frequent digestive issues, and am unable to lose weight. I have eaten a whole foods, whole grains diet and taken probiotics for years. I sometimes eat things I am allergic to because my allergy list is so extensive that it is difficult to exclude all of the foods all of the time. I am hoping that my allergies might have changed since my first tests were done at such a young age. Can you suggest a physician who can do accurate allergy testing in the Sacramento, San Francisco, or Northern California are? Thanks so much.
inflammation
Dear Dr. Hyman,
I have had my C-RP test done and allergies done. I have also tested very low in thyroid. I have been folloeing the Ultra-Simple diet. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with Chronic fatigue and Fibroamyalgia. I jave done my own "Journey to Wellness" I now know that I do have leaky gut syndrome. I am now eliminating gluten, soy. I am only eating a plant based whole food diet.
I also found Mangosteen (Xango ) juice which is a phytoneutriceutrical drink which contains xanthones, a very high content anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. My crp has fallen and my allergies and joint pain is no longer bothering me . I have seen tremendous difference in my depression and joint pain. I am off7 medications and will never take them again.
I am so excited to have found answers which will now help me live a quality of life I never thought I would have. Thankyou for your book. It is a life saver.
Sincerely,
Lifeenricher
Are Your Food Allergies Making You Fat?
Hi,
Just thought I'd comment on this blog. I've read your first two books and I have been receiving your blogs for awhile in my e-mail. This blog really caught my attention though! I recently saw an allergist as I couldn't take my allergies any more. I started allergy shots and some allergy medication with some improvement. With some Internet research, I felt I had some food allergies and went back for some testing. WOW!
Did I have some allergies is all I can say. Well, I also about a year ago had a C-Reactive Protein test done and it was VERY high, all other test that were done were surprisingly good. After reading today's blog, everything is now making sense. The high C-Reactive, the food allergies, the difficulty in loosing weight, the joint pain, the gastro-intestinal thing, it is all making sense now!! All I can say is I wish I lived closer so I could get an apt with your office, it would probably help me in my recovery if I could address these things with someone who knew what they were dealing with. Please keep the info coming, this has been a God send.
Kim
Trying to determine Food Allergies
Hello, I have both the UltraSimple Diet and Ultra Metabolism books. I have tried the UltraSimple Diet a couple of times over the past year. This Jan, I really buckled down and stretched the 1-week plan into 3. I felt great and had great test results at the doctor. I had my Cardio CRP test, which came back at 4.6. The doctor would like to see the number be between 1-3, and advised me to take more Omega-3. I'm not sure if 4.6 is an alarming number or not--if you could tell me that would be great.
Also, after the first 3 weeks, I started re-introducing foods, using your chart from the UltraMetabolism Guide. Fruits were OK, and eggs seem to be, also. Unfortunately, I had a few 2-3 stretch of days where some foods were eaten that I had not had for awhile, and I noticed I didn't feel as well, but because the foods were multi-ingredient, I can't figure out what may be the culprit. After each of these spells of bad days, I would really buckle down and follow the UltraSimple Diet, and usually within completing one day I already felt much better. I deal with anxiety, and it vanished during the initial 3 weeks. The anxiety re-appeared during the 2-3 day stretches of not quite good eating. I am really wanting to figure out what is triggering the anxiety, because I have been struggling with it over one year, and it is very tiring to deal with. Finally, I am losing some weight, about 10 pounds over the last 6 weeks. It's not fast, but it's coming off. On the days I don't quite follow the plan, my weight loss stops, and a couple of pounds will come back, but within 2 days of returning to the plan, the couple of pounds is gone. Doing this plan is difficult, but I can see that if I can stick to it, I will hopefully find out what's best for me to eat.
Food Allergies/Food additives
I have noticed that I am allergic to any kind of bread/flour products here in the US. However, while traveling in Europe I noticed that I had no reaction including bloating or tiredness when I tried bread products there. This lead me to conclude that either the soil here has something I am allergic to or, more probably, there are chemical preservatives added here that are causing havoc with my system. Perhaps others have noticed something similar?
I was wondering what kind of
I was wondering what kind of fats were fed to the rats...as there are good fats and bad fats.... and in a lot of my study of nutrition we need healthy fats for many reasons. Taking fats out of our diet could lead to other health concerns and it is important to know which fats to remove.
loosing weight
Hi Dr. Hyman,
I have all your books and I have given up gluten, soy, corn, and dairy since Aug. of 07 and I haven't been able to loose a pound! I exercise 3-4 days per week. I am on Nature-thyroid for my thyroid, progesterone cream, and liquid drops of DHEA, Pregnolone and Pro-gest. The pounds just won't come off. I am 62 years of age and in good health. I take probiotics and supplements, which I have done for 20 years.
I am very frustrated, can you help?
Thank you
Charli Van Horn RN BS
losing weight
I am 54 and had trouble losing weight on this program as well although I knew this was the way to go for health. The first go round on Ultrametabolism I lost 5 pounds and no more and the second go round on UltraDiet I lost one pound. I was very frustrated. I did the program a third time and decided this was it for me and this is the way I will eat from now on. I also decided to start counting calories because I knew my portion sizes were too large. I love to eat but even eating too much of the best foods isn't going to take the wieght off - at least not for me. That is when it all started kicking in for me. I chose a daily calorie level that would help me lose a pound a week and it has been working! I have dropped about 12 pounds in eight weeks and I don't have to control my appetite anymore. Eating what's on the program naturally controls my appetite - the longer I follow the program, the less I want to eat. I keep an eating journal and track my calories, water, and exercise. Give it a try - it can't hurt. Good luck.
Ultra simple diet increased cholesterol and triglycerides level
I faithfully have followed the ultrasimple diet. I exercise regularily, and take medication for type 2 diabetes. After following the diet I had my regular blood work done and my Cholesterol increased from 133 to 208. My triglycerides increased from 158 to 342, and my HDL went from 57 to 35. My glucose level is at 1 08. Please advise me what more I can do. My doctor just wants to increase my medication. He did tell me to take omega 3 fish oils which I had not been doing. Thanks. Rtunnell
bugs in intestinal tract
I am an extremely active person but can't get below a certain weight. I have a healthy appetite but don't eat lots of sweets and other highly refined carbs. I had my c-reactive protein checked and found it to be high. I am now on an elimination diet to see if I am allergic to certain foods. I also take lots of antioxidants now including the following:vitamin C 5,000MG /day, vitamin E 800iu a day, alpha Lipoic acid 800mg/day, plenty of fish oil and magnesium. I have also added Konjac to my regimen.
inflammation and obesity
Three years ago I turned 50. I had always considered myself healthy, although I have battled being overweight my whole life. Many pounds lost and gained on various diets...Weight watchers, jenny craig, etc. I lose 40 pounds, then it all gradually comes back. I found out 2 years ago that my C-Reactive Protein levels were off the charts. Mine measured about 26...normal is less than 3! My blood sugar levels are becoming higher, and I developed 'hand psoriasis' which flares up and drives me crazy. My joints are starting to bother me also.
I was 'allergic' to milk as an infant, but thought I 'grew out of it' as an adult. This article about inflammation and weight makes alot of sense to me, and I think I am going to try an elimination diet to see if it helps. I have a cousin who dramatically improved her CRP levels after she eliminated soy and dairy. A nutritionist told her she was 'allegic' to those foods and now she feels 100% better. I do believe that inflammation is reponsible for many of our medical problems. Has anyone else lowered their CRP levles by diet? I am taking 10mg of Zocor now because the CRP levels are so high.
Liz