Many people struggle with maintaining ideal weight all of their lives. Did you know that having food allergies or a food intolerance can be a huge cause of weight gain and adds to the difficulty in getting rid of the excess unwanted pounds? It is important to control caloric intake and also to eliminate foods that are are causing allergic irritations and inflammation in the intestinal tract.

One of the most common proteins found in our food is gluten, over 35% of the United States population is gluten intolerant, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, soy isolated protein, spelt, kamut, seitan, soy sauce, and as an additive to many packaged foods and over the counter medications. Some people will develop celiac sprue , which is a serious and debilitating condition that is a consequence of the inflammation gluten causes.

Another common one is casein, a protein found in all dairy products(cheese, milk, buttermilk, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc whether it is from a cow, goat, sheep, or any other mammal. Both of these proteins cause constant inflammation to the intestinal tract every time a person with this intolerance consumes them, this leads to immune system stress and destruction, leaky gut syndrome, diabetes, auto-immune conditions, brain tissue damage, joint pain, migraines, brain fog and many other degenerative reactions.

Egg white protein can also be another food that people develop an intolerance for. Also causing inflammation and nervous system degeneration.

As you can see, these proteins are very prevalent in the American diet, that is why we are seeing so many autoimmune disorders, as well as an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in this country. Eliminating these proteins will lead to a successful weight loss diet.

Other common food allergens include corn, chocolate, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and peanuts.

Eliminating refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners(especially aspartame, nutrasweet, and saccharin), juices, caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods is also necessary. These foods and ingredients contribute to blood sugar dis regulation, stresses the adrenal glands that produce cortisol, inflame the body and burden the liver with toxins. All of these factors will encourage weight gain and stop you from achieving optimal health and your goal weight change.

It is important to insure that when a person is dropping weight, they are losing fat and not muscle tissue. To ensure this is occurring, one must eat controlled portions of carbohydrates and protein. I suggest you maintain an intake of 40-60 grams of carbohydrate and 240 grams of protein per day, along with eating small meals every two hours to control and support blood sugar regulation. Keeping your blood sugar levels normal is key in helping your brain and body maintain a higher level of metabolism and reducing stress to the insulin regulating glands and organs. This ensures a healthy weight loss.

Aerobic exercise is also key in burning fat and increasing metabolism. Doing 20-60 minutes of running, bicycling, fast walking, swimming, hiking,or a combination of these 4-5 times a week will help you achieve your goals. Exercise done on a regular basis will counter daily stress, promote better and more restful sleep, ensure heart health, increase vitality and mental health.

Proper and restful sleep is also necessary. The body must get 7-8 hours of sound sleep to heal and regenerate as well as reduce daily stress form the body and brain and this is key in succeeding.

Drinking 8-10 glasses a day of filtered or spring water is crucial in hydrating and detoxifying the body from the toxins that will be released from the fat burning and loss. As well as ensuring proper bowel movements.

Adding an additional fiber supplement is also helpful in avoiding constipation and keeping the intestinal tract clean and functional. Psyllium, Cascara Sagrada, and/or apple pectin are safe and effective and easily found.

The combination of all of these will lead you to achieving optimal weight and ensure physical, mental and emotional well being as well as a long quality life free of degenerative diseases, youthful appearance, and mental state.

I recommend the following books, products, and fitness equipment to achieve optimal healthy weight loss.

Low Impact Aerobic Side Stepper