Acupuncture for Weight Loss? Really?

LongIsland.com

Weight loss is probably an issue for most of the population. Statistics show that over 65% of our population is over weight or obese. If you are like most of us, you would like to ...

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Weight loss is probably an issue for most of the population. Statistics show that over 65% of our population is over weight or obese. If you are like most of us, you would like to lose a few (or many) pounds.

It s likely that you have tried the latest exercise equipment or diet system just to be disappointed by the results " or lack of.

Why is it so difficult for so many of us to lose weight? What has changed so dramatically in the last 20 yrs that has lead to this inability to lose weight?

There are many factors that are likely to be contributing to the weight loss issue.

Probably the most pressing is our lack of physical activity. Since our society has shifted from an agricultural/industrial to informational economy, the vast majority of us are stuck behind a desk 8 -10 hrs a day. The body burns a lot less calories doing office work 8 hrs a day that it did doing 8 hrs of field work. Most of us find it difficult to find time to exercise after a long day at work. Our ancestors didn t need to because they were burning thousands of calories every day working.

The second most important factor contributing to weight gain is the over abundance of poor quality foods. Never in human s history has such an abundance of terrible quality foods been available 24hrs a day. These inferior grade foods are severely lacking in nutrition. We never feel full because even though we have eaten a full meal, it lacked the vitamins and nutrients necessary to function so our brains tell us to KEEP EATING! It s a vicious cycle.

The third factor contributing to weight gain is Stress. Our society is one of the most stressed out societies on the planet. And New York is probably the capital. If you ever has spent time in Europe or other parts of the world you may have noticed a more easy going relaxed atmosphere. So how does stress affect your weight? When your brain is under stress it releases cortisol " an adrenaline like hormone that over long periods can cause weight gain along with many other serious side effects like impaired cognitive performance, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia ,decreased bone density, decrease in muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing.

Acupuncture the rescue

Acupuncture has been used by thousands of people to help them lose weight. Recently The International Journal of Obesity January 2009 issue published a review of 31 studies on the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity. The systematic review was comprised of 3013 individual cases where acupuncture was used to reduce body weight. They concluded In light of the evidence, we believe acupuncture is a potentially useful adjunct in weight management.

www.Huntingtonhealth.com/weightloss.html

How does it work?

Acupuncture works on many levels and many systems of the body. For weight loss it directly addresses the 3 primary causes of weight gain.

1)It reduces appetite.

When done correctly acupuncture stimulates the nerves that tell your brain that your stomach is full. Let me repeat that:

IT TELLS YOUR BRAIN THAT YOUR STOMACH IS FULL.

This is quite important when trying to lose weight. This is the theory that ear stapling was developed from. But is much safer when performed by a licensed acupuncturist.

2)It reduces stress.

To reduce cortisol levels, the body must enter a relaxation state. By relaxing the body, it can normalize harmful cortisol levels. When cortisol levels are reduced, the body can heal. Acupuncture works very well at balancing hormones and reducing stress.

3)It increases metabolism.

Your metabolism is the rate at which your body burns fuel. The slower your metabolism, the more your body will store fat. The higher your metabolism, the more your body burns fat. Acupuncture is very effective at improving metabolism and increasing you body s ability to burn fat. This in turn affects your energy. By improving metabolism, you will find you have more energy to exercise instead of crashing at the end of the day.

Acupuncture is not the miracle cure or instant fix that everyone is looking for. It still takes work to change your diet and exercise.

But acupuncture can be a very powerful boost to any weight loss regimen.

Acupuncture will be added as a cornerstone therapy in this year s 2nd annual Long Island Weight Loss Challenge.

If you are interested in adding acupuncture to your weight loss regimen or have questions, please call us at 631.424.8601 and schedule a FREE Consultation.