Having trouble dropping those last 10 lbs.? It may not be an issue of willpower. If nutritional author Dr. Eric Berg is to be believed, being overweight is your body’s reaction to a dysfunctional glandular system. In his book, The 7 Principles of Fat Burning, Berg explains why body shape is the best indicator of which hormones are unbalanced, and explains why assessing body shape is crucial to creating the right plan to nurture the glands back to healthy function. Because each gland controls distinct body features, readers quickly learn to differentiate one gland from another. Each body shape requires corrective actions in addition to eating and exercise plans to restore the body shape. To lose weight, avoiding the fat-storing triggers and stimulating the fat-burning hormones is key.
THE FOUR BODYTYPES
Each of these shapes is labeled for the weakened gland causing it: Adrenal, ovary, thyroid and liver. Each also has particular cravings, pains, sensations, or occurrences associated with each.
1. Adrenal. The adrenal type has fat that sags from the abdomen. This type craves salt or chocolate, has anxiety, feels the need for coffee or stimulants, suffers from chronic inflammation and tends to wake up in the middle of the night. This person needs foods high in potassium, calcium and vitamin C, like leafy greens, mushrooms, oranges, grapefruit and apples. He should also consume adequate amounts of protein (50-75 grams) to replace loss of body protein (muscles). Light and slow exercise is ideal for this bodytype. An adrenal bodytype is already in a state of “burnout,” and adding more stress through intense exercise will stress the adrenal glands even more.
2. Ovary. Obviously, this type is exclusively found in women. Someone with an ovary type carries excess fat accumulated around hips and thighs (“saddlebags”),with a lower stomach bulge just beneath the navel. This type craves ice cream, cream cheese, sour cream or milk, often has pain in the lower back/hip area, suffers from hot flashes and lowered sex drive, and has problems surrounding menstruation. Ovary types need to consume lots of cruciferous vegetables, since they are antiestrogenic. They should also consume adequate amounts of protein (50-75 grams) to help trigger fat-burning hormones. Meats and fats consumed should be hormone-free, since environmental hormones can affect ovaries. Ideally, this type should combine light and intense exercise for maximum benefit.
3. Thyroid. Those in this category will show weight gain all over the body rather than just in one particular place. This person craves sweets, breads and pasta, can suffer from depression, often has brittle nails, dry hair and hair loss, becomes tired in the early evening and has dry skin especially on the hands and elbows.
The thyroid bodytype needs iodine and should consume lots of non-cruciferous vegetables. In addition, the metabolic rate is slow and cannot tolerate excessive protein. Going light on fats is advised. High-intensity, short-duration exercise is recommended for this bodytype.
4. Liver. Someone with a malfunctioning liver has fluid that leaks into the sac around the abdomen, giving a “potbelly” appearance. This type craves deep-friend foods or potato chips, has pain or tightness in the right shoulder area, often suffers from flaky skin or dandruff in eyebrows and scalp, has hot or swollen feet, shows a yellow tint in the whites of the yes, is irritable in the morning, and often has a tight feeling over the right lower stomach area or ribcage. Liver types need foods high in potassium such as cruciferous vegetables, and should also consume easily digestible protein sources (i.e., fish and eggs). High-intensity, short-duration exercise is recommended. Berg’s plan teaches readers how to attack the true cause of their weight problems: Unbalanced hormones. As he so aptly explains, you can achieve weight loss and better health after you help your glandular system operate in a balanced way.
by Eric Berg
