Wave: College of Naturopathic Medicine on how to lose your belly fat

Your queries about natural health answered by Jacquie Lane for the College of Naturopathic Medicine

I can’t lose my belly fat despite exercise.

Normally excess weight tends to settle around the middle for men, and around the hips and thighs for women, unless other factors come into play, such as one of the stress hormones like cortisol.

When your body gears up to deal with either mental or physical stress, the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released to jump-start fats and carbohydrates, to give your body quick energy. These stimulate insulin to be released for the maintenance of blood sugar levels. The end result can be an increase in appetite so that you have the necessary energy to meet the increased needs of your muscles or brain to respond to the stress (think, running from a hungry lion). If you don’t need the sudden power surge, however, excess calories may end up being stored in the metabolically active fat cells around our middle.

Weight gain or loss is dependent on a number of factors including resting metabolic rate, food intake, amount of exercise, and even the types of food consumed and the times of day food is consumed.

So firstly, deal head on with your stress levels by addressing the factors causing it. Add to your workout programme activities that may help reduce stress hormones like swimming, or try a regular massage.

Please check that your diet really is healthy by including seven daily portions of vegetables, fruits and salads.

Choose healthy protein sources such as fish, turkey, beans and lentils. Omit refined carbohydrates such as white bread, biscuits, cakes and confectionary including cereal bars which can be full of sugar.

Unless you’re doing a lot of aerobic exercise such as running or rowing, carbohydrates will settle around your middle, stored for future use, so avoid eating carbohydrates after 7pm, and stick to wholegrain choices at other times of the day.

A wide variety of supplements are useful for reducing body fat whilst exercising, such as a CLA oil and green tea extracts. A nutritional therapist can advise on a specific nutritional plan just for you.

See your health professional for advice.

Events at CNM

6 Aug 6.30pm-8.30pm:
Brighton – Free Open Evening:
train with CNM to become a nutritional therapist.
1 Oct 6.30pm-8.30pm:
London – Seminar: Lose Fat Around The Middle, by Dr Marilyn Glenville.
See CNM website for these
and other events: www.naturopathy-uk.com

Jacquie Lane is both a lecturer and the Director of Studies at CNM, (College of Naturopathic Medicine) in Brighton. Jacquie also runs her own nutrition clinic and manages a biological testing lab specialising in digestive issues. Email Jacquie at:sunshinenutrition@hotmail.co.uk