[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
” Take care of your body. This is the only place you have to live”
Jim Rohn
Nutrition is emerging as a major public health issue. However, despite the launch of 4th PNNS (National Nutrition Health Program), obesity continues to increase. It requires dietary education, getting back into motion and appropriate medical monitoring. Unfortunately, the “miracle diet” does not exist and many people have tried everything to lose their pounds, with the only results: frustration and disappointment… And for good reason, we are all different, in our food culture, our heritage genetics, our metabolism and our personality. What if it was possible to look at the problem from another angle? This is what micronutrition offers with personalized support.
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
How is micronutrition effective in weight loss?
Micronutrition complements dietary care by studying the role of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential fatty acids, probiotics) and their beneficial impacts on the proper functioning of the body.
Thanks to targeted questionnaires, it is possible to identify the obstacles that prevent you from losing weight and to establish specific support according to 4 distinct profiles:
- The “digestive” profile
- The “neurotransmitters” profile
- The “micronutrient deficits” profile
- The “cardio-metabolic” profile
Description of the 4 profiles
The digestive profile
It concerns patients reporting digestive disorders such as bloating, stomach aches, heartburn, transit disorders, etc. but also extra-digestive signs in cases of intestinal hyperpermeability (osteo-articular pain, skin problems, chronic fatigue, migraine…). The intestinal mucosa acts as a filter which allows the assimilation of nutrients – micronutrients and prevents the passage of unwanted substances.
The obstacle identified for this profile is a disruption of the intestinal ecosystem, bringing together the intestinal mucosa, the microbiota intestinal and the immune system. Considered as the second brain, the way we eat directly impacts digestion. Stress and insufficient chewing increase digestive work, but also disrupt our intestinal microbiota. This is made up of 100,000 billion bacteria (i.e. 10 times more than our cells) which live in perfect symbiosis with our body. Different studies have shown that overweight people have a microbiota that is “poorer” in certain bacterial species active in energy expenditure and “richer” in others which increase the assimilation of food, therefore the development of mass. oily.
The neurotransmitter profile
It brings together individuals vulnerable to stress, those who have gone on several diets and who “crave” for something sweet around 5 p.m., patients who complain of irritability or morning fatigue compensated by stimulants (coffee, cola, etc.).
The obstacle identified is a possible disruption in the production of neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that act as messengers between 2 nerve cells. At the brain level, 3 of them act on our behavior, our moods, our thoughts and our actions: dopamine (“starter”), norepinephrine (“accelerator”) and serotonin (“brake”). The synthesis of these molecules requires the presence of proteins from food and cofactors (B vitamins, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, etc.). Any imbalance in these neurotransmitters can slow down weight loss: a lack of dopamine can impair motivation to follow dietary goals; norepinephrine contributes to long-term compliance; and finally, sweet snacking and irritability are a sign of a lack of serotonin, the serenity hormone.
The micronutrient deficit profile
This group often evokes fatigue, a feeling of being “physically drained”, drooping eyelids, dry skin, etc.
Our modern diet is today of lower quality and little diversity due to industrialization (pesticides, refining, additives, etc.) and our lifestyle (alcohol consumption, tobacco, stress, etc.). Several studies have demonstrated a drop in the micronutrient density of foods, particularly in iron, magnesium, B vitamins, iodine, omega 3… in favor of “empty calories” (in the form of sugar and fats, salt, processed foods). or soda). Resistance to weight loss with a micronutrient deficit is more present among women due to their eating habits (calorie restriction, “light” foods, repeated diets, etc. to achieve an ideal weight loss) and their increased needs during pregnancy, especially if their micronutrient status is already low to begin with. Certain micronutrients (among others iodine, omega 3) act directly on the mechanisms that control our weight.
The cardio-metabolic profile
It concerns people who tend to have fat located in the stomach, a history of diabetes or who quickly gain weight after stopping sport.
The obstacle identified for this profile is a possible disorder of sugar metabolism and the body’s resistance to insulin. Insulin is a storage hormone produced by the pancreas which intervenes after a meal to bring fats into adipose tissue and sugars and proteins into muscles. It is interesting to note that adipose tissue is involved in regulating food intake through hormones that stimulate hunger and satiety. However, if eating sensations are disrupted, if people tend to snack all day long, the pancreas will be more stressed. It will increase its insulin production in response, but if the situation continues, the target cells will be less sensitive. Others are genetically predisposed to insulin resistance. In all cases, the balance is disrupted, excess sugars are stored directly in the form of fat and the release of storage from adipose tissue is blocked. Other factors can worsen the situation with adipose tissue, such as endocrine disruptors or stress.
Micronutritional support
The treatment of overweight patients begins with a correction of the diet with a Cretan-inspired dietary model adapted according to the patient’s profile. It is also possible to offer targeted food supplements which will act synergistically.
If you would like to know more or if you need support, do not hesitate to contact a health professional specializing in micronutrition.
Sources:
- Hélène Lemaire, Regulate your eating behavior, Lose healthy weight without dieting, Editions Prat, 2014, 267 pages.
- Dr Didier Chos and Dr Laurence Benedetti, Smart weight loss and if everything came from the intestine, our second brain? Editions Albin Michel, 2015, 347 pages.
- Pierre Van Vlodorp, Véronique Liesse and Magali Castro, Mistakes that prevent you from losing weight, Editions Alpen, 2017, 303 pages.
- Dr Didier Chos and Dr Laurence Benedetti, Echos de la micronutrition n°54: Microbiotes, my friends for life !, www.iedm.asso.fr
- Dr Didier CHOS, Resistance to weight loss, INTEGRATIVE HEALTH N°9 – May/June 2009, http://www.iedm.asso.fr/Point-de-vue-des-experts.
- Dr Didier CHOS and Dr Laurence Benedetti, Losing weight with micronutrition, Edition First 2010, 272 pages.