College Weight Gain: A Heavy Burden On The Minds Of Teens

The family is all abuzz. Jun will be home this summer, his first summer as a college man. My parents were so excited that they have already forgotten the visit they made to Jun’s dorm a month ago. Well, that’s the way parents are. Anyways, when Jun opened our front door and stepped into the house, everyone was on him almost immediately. But amidst all those chatter, the smiles, the welcome home remarks, there was one comment that rang through the whole house. It was my niece saying joy, have you gotten fat. Jun, fortunately, just brushed it off. However, to some people, college weight gain cannot be brushed off quite easily.

Studies have been undertaken which on the issue of gaining weight during college. Although, the truth of the matter has been confirmed quite a number of times, the actual reason behind the phenomena is not as conclusive as other people might like.  It is said that the first year of one’s stay in college can easily result to a 10 or even a 20-pound increase in body weight. A number of reasons have been cited as the causes of getting a bigger butt while you’re in college. Actually, some of the clues that explain this phenomenon are really quite obvious, when you look at them closely.

One of the possible reasons is that they might over do this concept of being free. Some students or most students see their first year in college as their chance to be free from their parents. Although, some might handle this quite well adapting to the school and his/her peers. They loose control and eat and drink whatever they want and whenever they want. They don’t concern themselves with their diet. Compared to when their mom’s were in control of what they eat, these first year college folks drown themselves with sodas and fill their bellies with junk foods. The school cafeteria is also an easy place to stuff more fat since the food there is often times complete. With appetizers, main course, and most especially desserts, college folks are more likely to overeat there than in any other place in campus.

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Causes Of Unexplained Weight Gain

Unexplained weight gain happens when people undergo or experience substantial accumulation of added pounds that cannot be attributed to dieting or overeating. This can actually happen both ways, unexplained weight changes can either see one losing or gaining a considerable amount of weight. For both cases, there may be certain factors involved. Unexplained weight gain usually happens when people consumes more calories that they can use. This can be brought about by overeating but also through other means such as lack of physical activity, hormonal changes as well as mood swings. It would be easy if the weight gain can be attributed to one’s diet that usually is composed of too much calories that the body can use for energy. This leads the body to convert the excess calories into fat cells and store it up in the body for later use, thus resulting in weight gain.

But there are instances that weight gain cannot be directly attributed to one’s diet or overeating. Some people undergo weight changes even though they try to follow the same diet routine for the longest time to maintain their weight. Unexplained weight gain in this case can be attributed other means. Some may be caused by some underlying illness or disorder. Some can also be caused by changes that happen in the body or changes in lifestyles. Here are some of the known causes of unintentional or unexplained weight gain in people.

People going through aging may experience some gradual decrease in their metabolism. This decreases the body’s capacity to burn calories more efficiently which results in an excess of calories which the body converts to fat for later use. The low metabolism brought about by aging may be a cause of weight gain for people above the age of 35. Elderly people may also experience bouts of weight loss since aging may also bring about loss of appetite.

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MENOPAUSE IS NOT A HORMONE IMBALANCE!

Standard Medicine May Have IT ALL WRONG!

The position that the reason for all the menopause symptoms is due to an imbalance of hormones is a superficial perspective and deserves a deeper look. Menopause symptoms may include:

hot flashes irregular periods vaginal & urinary changes sleep disturbances feeling overwhelmed weight gain loss of desire craving: sweet carbs, alcohol minor to major depression hair loss ear ringing headaches bloating, nausea worsening allergies bone density loss changes in breath & body odor

decreased fertility night sweats changes in appearance fatigue vaginal dryness irritability constipation/diarrhea anxiety/palpitations memory problems & fuzzy thinking fibroids aching joints changes in menstruation changes in sexual desire or function mood swings hair loss/thinning Skin changes

Are these symptoms tied to deficiency of hormones? Could it be systemic? The whole body is may be suffering from top to bottom.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL – UNDERLYING CAUSE: 

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective: Menopause is considered a deficiency condition of the liver and qi (life force). When the blood and energy quality is weak and toxic then all of the organs are not able to perform their job. This condition causes the liver to overheat which rises through the body, wreaking havoc in its path. The heart, lungs, digestion, glands, throat, mouth & teeth, nose, eyes, ears, brain, skin and hair become heated and dried resulting in the symptoms, listed above. In addition, the liver does not filter the blood where it becomes sluggish and clotted.

Because the body is deficient of essential body energy and quality filtered blood, then the glands do not perform normally. Their secretions may be sporadic or non-releasing altogether. When the blood is filtered, normally, enriched then all the body’s organs improve. Gradually, the energy comes back and they are able to function normally. The glandular functions, secrete once again, assisting the body in its healthy function.

The body is not absent of hormones. The blood is clogged like sludge. Glands are not receiving/transmitting essential messages, timely and/or minimally!

Then why do we add or give more hormones. Doesn’t that risk an overload of hormones? Remember when you were a kid and your hormones were super revved. We don’t want to risk going through that again. We have enough hormones. If we nourish our blood, exercise, sleep, manage stress, etc. our hormones come back and supports increased balance.

So if Chinese medicine knows the problem, then what is their answer to this to this deficiency? Look below.

What Restores Normal Hormone Function? 

Chinese Medicine Has Had An Answer for this for More Than a 1000 Years!

Traditional Chinese Medicine has 20+ formulas for menopause. But which one is the best? This requires a seasoned Master herbalist to respond to this. While most women fall into 6 major constitution types such as:

• cold
• damp
• deficient
• hot
• dry
• excess

Most menopausal women are a deficient constitution with hot characteristics and benefit 95% of the time from Menopause Comfort. I know that is a little confusing but more info follows. The exception is during the summertime.

Some women, who are more hot than the usual population, require a colder formula, Paramalin, to offset the excess internal heat produced in the liver.

 

“3000 Years of Chinese Herbal Medicine Provides the Best Menopause Formulation”

While not all women have to experience extreme characteristics of menopause, enough are disturbed that real relief is essential. The herbs, below, balance the hormones-progesterone & estrogen, cool nourish and stimulate the liver. This improves the blood which assists all the organs in the body which further lifts the body’s functioning. The herb selection centers and alleviates the conditions listed above.

 These herbs work best for Menopause symptoms by reducing the typical heat signs stemming from the liver managing too much toxicity and/or excess food intake, etc.

1. Radix Angelica Sinensis

Benefits: Blood deficiency related to the Heart and Liver. Especially improves palid, ashen complexion, lusterless nails, tinnitus, blurred vision, and palpitations, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and dysmenorrheal, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, and carbuncles due to blood stasis, especially accompanied by cold from deficiency, dry intestines due to blood deficiency. Tonifies the blood and regulates the menses, invigorates and harmonizes the blood and disperses cold, reduces swelling, expels pus, generates flesh, and alleviates pain: used in treating sores and abscesses, treats coughs. Moistens dryness and lubricates the Intestines, Internally, it moistens the organs because of its concentrated fluids and sweetness; externally, it thrusts out to the muscle layer because of its acrid, warm nature.

2. Bupleuri Radix

Bupleurum tonifies the Heart, Spleen, and Lungs, while it facilitates the fluid pathways, Unblocks the orifices and expels heat. Promotes urination, reduces dampness with such symptoms as phlegm and thin mucus, diarrhea, and edema. Supports the body’s energy, makes it an important choice for promoting urination and leaching out dampness. It can be used whenever there is urinary difficulty, edema, phlegm, or thin mucus, regardless of whether the condition is hot or cold, deficient or excessive in nature.

3. Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae

The Liver directly relates to tendons (sinews), which can cramp and spasm if unsupported by filtered blood from a normal functioning liver. Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae elevates the Liver Blood quality and thereby relieves pain (cramped tendons, flanks and abdomen). The Liver stores the blood, and reduced blood storage can affect other blood organs, such as the Heart, and the “sea of blood”, which refers to the Womb and its associated vessels. If the Heart lacks the support of Liver blood then palpitations and insomnia follow. If the womb lacks the support of Liver blood then irregular menstruation, infertility or dysmenorrheal presents. Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae supports the Spleen when the liver is challenged. It cools, nourishes and re-invigorates reduces night sweats.

4. Atractylodes Rhizoma – White

Atractylodes Rhizoma is an essential herb for nourishing the Spleen and Stomach when dampness obstructs its normal functioning. It clears dampness in the muscles and flesh – and thereby restores harmony and halts sweating. Benefits the Spleen when deficient and prevents  miscarriage. Benefits: diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite and vomiting. Dries dampness removing obstructions. Stops sweating. Calms the fetus.

 5. Gardeniae Fructus

Cools fire and heat in the Heart, Lungs, Stomach, Liver, and Triple Burner, eliminating hot irritability in situations such as warm pathogen diseases with agitation and insomnia. Gardeniae Fructus is also good for clearing damp-heat, and is used for jaundice and urinary difficulty, guiding damp-heat out through the urine. Gardeniae Fructus drains Triple Burner fire, cools epigastric heat, treats sensations of heat and pain in the cardiac region, dissipates pent-up heat, and mobilizes blocked energy. It is an essential herb for the treatment of heat in the chest.

6. Moutan Cortex

This herb enables body heat drainage, invigorates the blood, disperses stagnation, and vents lurking heat in the body.

7. Zingiberis Rhizoma recens – (ginger)

Ginger opens phlegm and re-energizes, alleviates nausea and vomiting, and driving out all microbes and negative energy.  If only its peel is used, its warm nature is somewhat reduced, but is excellent for unblocking urination. Ginger should be added in small amounts to food, where it strengthens the Stomach.

8. Glycyrrhizae Radix (Licorice)

 Balances the qualities of other herbs, antidote. Enters all 12 channels (meridians) via the Heart, Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels.Invigorates the spleen and improves the body’s energy. Beneficial for weakness, short breath, poor appetite, exhaustion, loose stools. Replenishes the blood and balances the pulse. Stops coughing by moistening the lungs. Brings a neutral balance to the lungs. Clears heat fire due to toxicity for mouth and throat sores. Reduces pain and spasms in the legs and abdomen. Due to the harmonizing effects of licorice, cold and hot as well as any toxicity are offset. Kamcho (Korean) opens up all the channels thus serves to transport other herbal effects to all parts of the body. Licorice is also used as an antidote for many toxic substances, inside and outside the body.

10. Menthae Haplocalycis Herba

Benefits:  sores and rashes on the skin, headache and red eyes, superficial visual obstructions, sore throat, and mouth ulcers.

 

Summary

The combination of traditional Chinese herbs synergistically improves all the conditions that are benefitted by the herbs singularly.

Would you like to find these herbs contained in proven safe compound that corrects the menopause condition in 2 hours? The formula has been combined to the right amount of each herb to optimize results for women.

Mark Hammer C.M.H.
Master Herbalist-Asian Medicine

May, 2009