The Naturopathic Way to Lose Weight

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than one billion overweight people in the world, with at least 300 million of them struggling with obesity. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 50% of Americans are overweight with approximately 13% struggling with obesity.

Most individuals would agree that diets work at taking off weight initially - the real problem lies in maintaining the weight loss. Fad diets are not designed as a long-term solution and are an unreasonable approach to successful weight management. Studies have shown that diets have a propensity to fail, as most dieters eventually regain the weight.

A Naturopathic Approach

Traditional naturopaths believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. It is my opinion that changing the way we view food is the beginning of a healthier approach to weight loss. The solution to weight loss starts with an understanding that the body needs food as an energy source for the overall function of the body.

Eat Foods Close to Nature

Optimal body functionality starts with a daily food regimen that consists of whole, raw, and fresh food. This translates into eliminating or at least reducing foods that are:

•Processed and refined
•Prepared with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and chemical additives

Stop Placing the Focus on Food

We live in a society that is obsessed with food! Most social activities are designed around over-indulging in food and drink. Happy hour might provide free food, but the cost to your body associated with such indulgencies has the potential to cause great harm. Instead of congregating at the local pub, take the focus away from the food, and make it instead on an activity. For example, instead of happy hour, meet at the local juice bar.

Stress Eating

It is safe to say that life is difficult, and for many, the daily stresses of balancing work and raising a family can take a serious toll on one's emotional and physical health. More and more people are using food as a distraction. Food becomes a distorted way to temporarily escape from emotional stress.

Three-Prong Approach to Weight Loss

There are many positive approaches to losing and maintaining a healthy weight. From my perspective, the solution to weight loss is a three-prong approach that encourages success and involves making a commitment to:

•Eating healthier
•Daily activity
•Daily expression of feelings

The three-Prong approach fits together like a puzzle:

•Eating healthier results in a more proficient digestive system.
•Incorporating daily activity increases metabolism of digested food.
•Developing better coping mechanisms reduces the need to feed the pain.



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Disclaimer: Dr. Mundorff is a Registered Nurse and Board Certified Naturopath, and not a medical doctor. The information in this column is for educational purposes only and should not be used to self-diagnose and treat diseases. Naturopathy is a complementary practice to health care and should be used in conjunction with a competent health care practitioner. Many herbal and homeopathic remedies can actually be contraindicated in many health conditions, with certain prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. Please consult your physician before starting any alternative modalities.