Do you want to lose weight faster? Take care of your intestine
If you have been on multiple diets and exercise daily to lose weight faster, but the frustration of not seeing results haunts you, take a break. Perhaps you are overlooking a fundamental element to lose extra pounds, which almost no one talks about.
It's about the health of your gut.
And, believe it or not, the microbiota or intestinal flora plays a determining role in the regulation of body weight and diseases associated with obesity.
If you want to know how your intestines can affect the numbers on your scale and what is the best way to take care of them to lose weight in less time, I invite you to continue reading this article.
What is the intestinal microbiota?
The microbiota is the set of living microorganisms that reside in the human intestine.
It contains about 100 billion bacteria of up to 1000 different species. Some of them are good and others can do a lot of damage to your health and your weight.
Good bacteria are your allies, as they help control the multiplication of harmful microorganisms and ensure the balance of the intestinal flora.
And here's some good news: when you achieve bacterial balance, you prevent an inflammatory process responsible for insulin resistance and weight gain from occurring in the intestine.
Do intestinal bacteria influence body weight?
It may seem like a lie, but good bacteria can determine whether you are thin and bad bacteria can determine whether you are overweight. And that happens for several reasons:
So, the secret is that you maintain a balanced and diverse intestinal flora.
What are probiotics and how can they help you lose weight faster?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that stimulate the protective functions of the digestive system and strengthen the immune system.
They are also effective for weight loss, because they help maintain healthy intestinal flora by increasing the amount of beneficial bacteria and preventing the proliferation of harmful microorganisms.
They have the power to facilitate digestion, the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, regulate appetite, eliminate toxins, distribute body fat and strengthen the immune system.
Do you find it hard to believe that probiotics have so many benefits? Look at this:
In Quebec (Canada), research was carried out in which scientists sought to verify whether intestinal bacteria influenced weight loss.
To do this, they recruited 125 obese women who began a weight loss plan for 12 weeks, followed by a maintenance period for the same amount of time. They were randomly divided into two groups: one was given a probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus . The other group received a placebo.
The results were surprising. Those who received the probiotic lost an average of 9.7 more pounds, compared to the placebo group.
And most interestingly, after the maintenance period, women in the treatment group continued to lose weight and body fat.
How to identify if your intestinal flora is healthy?
Intestinal problems are not seen with the naked eye, but they can be felt. So if you have any of these symptoms, it's likely that your gut is not as healthy as you think:
If the discomfort is recurrent, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Another dangerous alteration that an unbalanced microbiota can cause is leaky gut syndrome .
It is an inflammation of the intestinal cells that allows the passage of harmful agents into the blood, which can trigger chronic inflammation, the appearance of serious diseases, fluid retention and difficulty losing weight.
How is the intestinal flora affected?
Intestinal imbalance is attributed to factors such as:
Avoiding these triggers will help you have better health and could help you leave behind the frustration of all the failed attempts you have made to lose weight.
How to improve your intestinal health if you want to lose weight faster
An intestine in optimal condition will make it easier and faster for you to achieve the weight you want. Therefore, you should start:
- Eat enough foods rich in fiber and antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the intestinal lining and fiber cleanses the digestive tract.
- Incorporate yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and fermented vegetables into your diet because they contain natural sources of probiotics. If you want to know more about the use of probiotics, check out the post Probiotics for weight loss: add them to your diet.
- Avoid constipation; Remember that a stagnant colon increases hostile intestinal bacteria that could harm it.
- Reduce alcohol consumption or avoid it completely.
- If necessary, test for food allergies and adapt your diet based on the results.
- Eat foods rich in prebiotics such as asparagus, onions, garlic and artichokes.
- Add omega-3 fatty acids to the diet.
If you want to lose weight faster, maintaining a healthy microbiota is essential.
To do this, you can follow the advice we gave you in this article.
You can also get extra help by supplementing your diet with probiotic supplements to improve intestinal health and a balanced microbiota.