“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

— Hippocrates

The solution is obvious; we need to lose weight. “The lack of responsiveness of B and T immune cells that accompany overweight resolves with weight loss, so taking off any extra pounds is imperative,” Dr. Klaver (New York-based medical doctor) says.

If you are over-weight or obese, here are some measures to help reduce the load and relieve your immune system of some of the burden.

A. Firm Up with Fish Oil or Flax Seed Oil: The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil or flax seed oil can help people who are over-weight. These beneficial fats reduce inflammation associated with obesity and they seem to support vigorous metabolism by maintaining healthy cell membranes. For people following a relatively low-fat diet, fish oil or flax seed oil contributes to satiety (a sense of fullness and satisfaction after eating). For organic fish oil or flax seed oil, call 08034545819 or 0706368311.

There have been some studies out of Australia showing that people who took fish or flax seed oil in addition to exercising three times a week for 45 minutes lost a higher proportion of body fat than people who did not take fish oil.

B. Fill Up on Fibre: Fibre is an important element of the diet that many of us miss out on. We need 25 grams to 30 grams a day for optimum health but most don’t get up to 15 grams. Fibre could come from fruits and vegetables. Another easy way is to sprinkle a spoon of ground flax seed which already has 4 to 6 grams of fibre in your oat meal, another spoon in your freshly made juice or smoothie, a spoon sprinkled on your yoghourt etc. Before you know it, 25 or 30 grams of fibre a day is achieved with a combination of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

For people with diverticulitis (common in people who are over-weight) flaxseeds are wonderful; you can even put some in your cereal as it contains anti-aging properties.

C. Avoid Trans-fat: Eating fried foods has the same effect like cigarettes; trans-fat do all sorts of bad things to your body. They not only cause you to gain weight faster than you can say “dodo”. They also take a toll on your immune system and may even cause cancer.

Trans-fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, a process called hydrogenation. Fast food outlets use it a lot because it lasts a very long time. But they are terrible for us because our bodies are not primed to process them. When you eat foods cooked with trans-fat, your body undergoes a lot of oxidative stress and stores fat cells quickly. This leads to even more oxidative stress. It stimulates cravings for sugar and other junk foods containing trans-fat, sparking the cycle of weight gain. Be warned: TRANS-FAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD!

D. Flush Away the Pounds (Kg): Most people don’t drink enough water. I have clients who can’t remember the last time they drank water (juice and soda they can remember but not water). Drinking water is important.

Dehydration of a couple of percentage points affects all of your metabolic processes, including your immune system. Dehydration also makes you feel sluggish so, you will be less apt to exercise. To boost your metabolism, your mode and your immune system, drink eight (8) ounce glasses of water per day. To get maximum pound/fat melting power from your water, add lemon which helps prevent sugar cravings.

E. Toss Down Some Oolong Tea: It has been touted as immensely useful for its ability to restore the skin’s youthful appearance. As a bonus, it boosts the immune system and promotes weight loss.

Amanda Lalaro, a public relations specialist in Boston, U.S.A., has this to say: “I started drinking Oolong tea for the beauty benefits, but it has made me much energetic and healthy. Plus, in the few months that I’ve been drinking 2 to 3 cups a day, I have lost weight.” In a Japanese study, Oolong tea was shown to help over-weight people shed pounds (kg).

Finding it difficult to drink 2 to 3 cups a day? Then, go for the Oolong tea diet capsule which even contains green tea and fish oil to speed up weight loss and enhance skin beauty. It’s worth taking even if you already take the tea. Call 08034545819 or 07063685311 for Oolong tea diet capsule.

F. Spice it Up: Sluggish metabolism will make you pile on weight and make your immune system sluggish. Herbs and spices like cayenne pepper, ginger and lemon grass help to speed up metabolism and shrink weight. A bottle of “Body Perfect Healing and Cleansing Cocktail” contains all these and more and will help to achieve your weight loss and healthy living goals.

HEALTH is CHEAP, DISEASE is VERY EXPENSIVE. BE PROACTIVE TOWARDS YOUR HEALTH.

For COUNSELLING, call 08034545819 (Lagos), 08033099204 (Port Harcourt) and 08037090382 (Enugu).