Want to lose weight? One nutritionist says paying attention to your bowel movements could help.
Author Brenda Watson, who recently penned The Skinny Gut Diet, says that increasing the amount of a certain bacteria in your gut–one that coincidentally makes you “regular”–may also help you lose more weight, though the reasons why aren’t clear.
Now, she wants anyone dealing with obesity to try her diet.
“Fiber isn’t just good for bulking up stool, it’s also the primary source of food for many “good” gut bacteria,” says Watson. “My diet was designed to prevent carbohydrate cravings. By starving out the carb-loving bacteria, over time the bacteria that thrive on low carb food would flourish, and we would no longer be controlled by inexplicable cupcake cravings.”
According to Watson, the Skinny Gut diet focuses on something called Firmicutes, a type of bacteria shown in one study to increase weight loss. Considered a “good gut” bacteria, Watson also notes that fiber helps it thrive, whereas having less fiber–and eating more processed food, especially high in carbohydrates–causes bad bacteria to thrive in the gut instead.
And of course, the more fiber you have, the better your bowel movements.
“This is a significant shift in the way we think about nutrition,” says Watson. “It’s also a useful way to change our own behaviors: Resisting the cake isn’t about denying ourselves, it’s about denying our bacteria. That might make walking away from dessert a bit easier.”
Of course, these recommendations aren’t anything new. Low-carbohydrate diets such as the Paleo and Atkins diet have been popular for years–and have been advocating cutting out processed food long before it became trendy. Watson even advocates diet rules similar to these diets, such as cutting out sugar and focusing on naturally-derived food products instead. In addition, researchers say the theory that certain bacteria cause obesity isn’t necessarily true anymore either–something that Watson also acknowledges.
Still, she believes the diet could be the key to stopping obesity for good. After all, she’s seen it make big changes in obese people already–people who seemingly struggled with weight their entire life suddenly becoming slim after following her diet.
“You see, digestive health is the foundation for total body health,” says Watson. “If you don’t address weight gain at its core–at the gut level–then you can’t lose weight and expect to keep it off.”
While the science behind the diet may be up for debate, health experts agree: It’s a good, sensible way to lose weight. No shady gimmicks, fad diet routines, or other weird rituals to follow either–just your gut.
“Current diet programs do not address the underlying contributor to your weight gain: the gut factor,” says Watson. “And, unfortunately, digestive health is often overlooked.”
Readers: Do you think bacteria can help people lose weight? Why or why not?
Sources:
“Good Poop” Diet is the Next Big Thing – TheDailyBeast.com
The Skinny Gut Diet: Balance Your Digestive System for Permanent Weight Loss – Amazon.com
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