Jelly Belly

Many of my patients have asked me on suggestion of getting rid of their "jelly belly" and in my research I have found advice from a fitness expert,nutritionist and a naturopathic doctor. Here are a few of their suggestions:

Tailor workouts to belly fat. Burn visceral fat with interval training. Spend between 10% and 20% of cardio time doing high--intensity bursts. After a warm-up walk or run at an accelerated speed for about 90 seconds. Slow down until you recover;then do another burst.I do this myself to help increase my running speed.

Strengthen the core. Muscles between your ribs and pelvis support the abdomen,keep you upright,and maintain a flat stomach.These muscles weaken with age;as ribs sink toward the pelvis,the belly pushes out.
Pilates, balance ball exercises, and yoga are things I incorporate into my routine. Try variations of crunches and plank exercises with pilates,balance ball and yoga. There are some great DVD's you can acquire through Yoga Journal or GAIAM.

Balance metabolism with diet. Processed foods cause improper metabolism. They increase blood sugar and insulin levels,raising diabetes risk. Eat five or six small, whole-food meals a day,with no more than 4 hours between eating. Skipping meals sends your body into "starvation mode" causing metabolism to slow and fat-cell production to increase.I also taylor herbal formulas to help improve digestion and absorption of food.

Focus on portions. Soluble fiber-rich foods,like beans,oatmeal,bananas,and citrus tend to absorb water, making you less likely to overeat. Fiber also helps absorb toxins. Half your plate should contain nonstarchy veggies like broccoli,green beans,cauliflower,bok choy etc. The other portions of the plate should be one-fourth lean protein and one-fourth complex carbs such as quinoa, brown rice or sweet potato. Avoid more than 2 alcoholic beverages per week.

Support hormones. Sixteen hormones affect weight gain!To balance hormones, avoid artificial sweeteners and hydrogenated oils;eat protein,fiber,and healthy fats.Exercise,but don't lift weights excessively,which can increase production of cortisol,the stress hormone that fosters belly fat.


Sleep tight. Deep slumber boosts melatonin and stimulates growth hormones,which help skin,bone, and muscle regeneration and cut down on belly fat.Sleep no fewer than 7 hours nightly in a pitch-black room between 68 and 70 degrees,which allows for optimal production of recuperative hormones.Getting enough sleep also lowers cortisol levels.

Listen to your liver. Excess estrogen can cause belly fat. Manage estrogen levels by optimizing liver function. Turmeric,calcium D-glucarate,magnesium,and B vitamins aid in estrogen detox.Fiber binds and eliminates excess estrogen. Aim for 35-40 grams daily from ground flaxseed,chia seeds or oat bran.

Pet Therapy

Animals are amazing creatures.They have demonstrated widespread ability to improve the health and well-being of people of all ages, including those with acute and chronic medical conditions, and those with psychiatric illnesses and developmental challenges.Numerous formal programs have emerged in which animals are used specifically to reach therapeutic goals, and the areas in which animals are so utilized include psychotherapy,physical and occupational therapy.

Most of us are familiar with assistance dogs for the visually impaired,but there are also hearing-assist dogs and specially-trained assistance dogs for Parkinson's patients. Great danes are found to be particularly good for Parkinson's patients because they are sweet-natured,gentle,big,strong,and responsive. It is also believed that dog's have a very acute sense of smell and have been used to help in detecting an oncoming seizure. Prior to the seizure,the brain shows increased electrical activity that a dog can sense the same way they sense an oncoming thunderstorm.

Other animals such as horses,sheep,pigs,chickens,and birds have been helpful in assisting emotionally disturbed children towards developing trust and becoming more responsible. Studies have found that all lot of these children harbor deep sorrow and intense rage and as a group, have not experienced a lot of positive touching.It has been found that the animals provide a kind of non-threatening touch and provide nurture they badly need.

Hippotherapy is the technical term for therapy with horses. Riding a horses involves a person's pelvis to tilt up,sideways,forward and back.This movement has been found useful for people with physical or neurological handicaps because it helps them reacquaint their muscles that leads to improve strength,muscle control and eye-hand coordination.

Other therapeutic programs have utilized llamas to interact with autistic children.Because the hands of autistic children tend to be sensitive, stroking a llama spine to feel the difference between soft fur and firm bone structure has helped these children in developing sensory integration.

Numerous studies have been conducted showing the role of pets in treating chronic conditions.Chronic pain disrupts normal functioning and reduces activity levels which can often be accompanied by depression and anxiety.Pets have been reported to have a powerful anti-anxiety effect that helps to improve pain thresholds. When bonding with an animal, feeling of acceptance,pleasure,nurturing and love can be stimulated. These feelings cause changes in brain chemistry that help release positive mood-altering biochemicals such as dopamine,beta-endorphing,prolactin,phenylethylamine and oxytocin.

Study after study has shown the benefits to health and well-being of pet owners. They are a source of companionship,nurturing, and affection. We are greatly attached to our pets for good reasons....our pets are a life-affirming,life-enhancing aspect of what it means to be alive and well. I have two cats: Charlie and Sam.