Author Archives: Holistic Family Practice

What are the benefits of naturopathic weight loss?

Hey there! So, you’re curious about the benefits of naturopathic weight loss? Well, I’ve got some info for you!
First off, let’s talk about what naturopathic weight loss even is. It’s a holistic approach to weight loss that focuses on the root causes of weight gain rather than just treating the symptoms. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) use a combination of nutrition, exercise, stress management, and natural supplements to help their patients achieve long-lasting weight loss and overall better health.

Now, onto the benefits! Here are just a few reasons why naturopathic weight loss might be a good option for you:

1. Personalized approach: Unlike one-size-fits-all diets or weight loss programs, naturopathic weight loss is explicitly tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. Your ND will work with you to create a personalized plan that considers your medical history, lifestyle, and preferences.

2. Sustainable weight loss: Naturopathic weight loss focuses on making gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes to help you lose weight and keep it off long-term. This is because it addresses the root causes of weight gain rather than just trying to reduce calorie intake or increase exercise.

3. Improved overall health: By improving your diet, exercise habits, and stress management techniques, naturopathic weight loss can help improve your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic diseases.

What options are available for naturopathic weight loss near me?

Hey there! If you’re looking for naturopathic weight loss options near you, then you’re definitely on the right track! Naturopathy is a great way to approach weight loss naturally and sustainably. Here are a few options that you can consider:

1. Naturopathic doctors: Naturopathic doctors are certified healthcare providers specializing in natural medicine. They can provide personalized nutrition and lifestyle advice to help you achieve your weight loss goals. You can find a naturopathic doctor near you by searching online or through the website of the American Naturopathic Association.

2. Wellness centers: Many wellness centers offer naturopathic weight loss programs that combine nutrition counseling, exercise guidance, and stress management techniques to help you lose weight healthily and sustainably. Some wellness centers also offer hypnotherapy, which has been shown to help with weight loss by reducing stress and improving digestion.

3. Online programs: If you prefer a more flexible approach, we have online programs such as our holistic weight loss program that can help you with naturopathic weight loss. These programs typically offer personalized nutrition plans, exercise routines, and support from a community of like-minded individuals.

No matter which option you choose, remember that the key to successful weight loss is consistency and patience. Naturopathy is a great way to approach weight loss holistically and sustainably, so don’t be afraid to try it.

Are there any naturopathic weight loss programs in my area?

Hey there! That’s a great question. Naturopathic weight loss programs have gained popularity in recent years as people look for more holistic approaches to weight loss. Some options are likely available in your area.

To start, you can do a quick Google search for “naturopathic weight loss programs [your city or town name]” to see what comes up. You may also want to check out local health food stores or wellness centers to see if they offer any programs or can recommend a practitioner.

Another option is to look for a certified naturopathic doctor in your area specializing in weight loss. They can work with you to develop a customized plan considering your needs and goals. You can search for Board Certified Naturopathic NDs on the American Naturopathic Association website.

Before signing up for any program or working with a practitioner, be sure to do your research and read reviews from past clients. It’s also a good idea to check with your other healthcare providers to see if they have any referrals for you.

Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Are there any diet plans designed explicitly for naturopathic weight loss?

Hey there! If you want to lose weight naturally, you might be interested in naturopathic weight loss. Naturopathy treats the whole person, considering physical, emotional, and environmental factors.

So, are there any diet plans designed explicitly for naturopathic weight loss? The short answer is yes! Here are a few examples:

1. The Mediterranean diet: This isn’t strictly a naturopathic diet, but it does emphasize whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources like fish and chicken. It also encourages healthy fats like olive oil and nuts and limits processed foods, sugar, and saturated fats. Many naturopaths recommend this diet for weight loss and overall health.

2. The Paleolithic diet: Also known as the “Paleo” diet, this eating plan is based on what our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era. It focuses on whole, unprocessed foods like meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, eliminating grains, dairy, and processed foods. Some naturopaths recommend this diet for weight loss, as it can effectively reduce inflammation and balance blood sugar.

3. The Anti-Inflammatory diet: This diet is designed to reduce inflammation, which can contribute to weight gain and other health issues. It emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like nuts and seeds. It also recommends limiting or avoiding foods known to cause inflammation, such as sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates. Many naturopaths recommend this diet for weight loss and overall health, as it can help improve digestion, reduce bloating, and increase energy levels.

Remember, every person is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Working with a certified naturopathic doctor who can customize a diet plan that fits your needs and goals is essential. They can also recommend supplements and other natural remedies to support your weight loss journey. You can achieve your weight loss goals healthily and sustainably with the proper guidance and support.

What lifestyle changes can I make to support naturopathic weight loss?

If you’re looking to support naturopathic weight loss, there are a few lifestyle changes you can make that can help. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Eat a Whole Foods Diet: Eating whole foods means choosing foods as close to their natural state as possible. This means avoiding processed foods and selecting fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Eating this way can help you feel full longer and give your body the nutrients it needs to function optimally.

2. Cut Back on Sugar: Sugar is one of the biggest culprits for weight gain. It can spike your blood sugar levels and cause cravings, leading to overeating. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks and opt for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.

3. Get Moving: Exercise is a crucial component of weight loss. Even small amounts of physical activity can make a big difference. So try to exercise at least 30 minutes daily, whether going for a walk, doing yoga, or hitting the gym.

4. Reduce Stress: Stress can lead to weight gain by causing your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can increase appetite and promote fat storage. Try to find ways to reduce stress, such as practicing mindfulness, relaxing, or talking to a friend.

5. Get Enough Sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your hormones and lead to weight gain. Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to support your weight loss journey. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, avoid screens before bed, and make sure your sleep environment is comfortable and dark.

These lifestyle changes can support your naturopathic weight loss journey and improve your overall health and well-being. Remember, working with a certified naturopathic doctor to customize a diet and lifestyle plan that fits your needs and goals is essential. With their guidance and support, you can achieve your weight loss goals healthily and sustainably.

Dr. Erica Steele – Are you tired of constantly jumping from one fad diet to another with little or no results? I know, I would be. My name is Dr. Erica Steele. I’m a holistic doctor in family practice. I hold six degrees in my field, all in natural healthcare. I am here to tell you it’s time to say goodbye to those quick-fix solutions and hello, to a healthier, more abundant, holistic lifestyle that will help you achieve your weight loss goals. Holistic weight loss is a natural and effective approach that considers the entire person, not just the physical, environmental, mental, emotional, spiritual, and even ancestral. Sometimes people hold onto trauma from their family lineage, and letting go of that means releasing those unhealthy patterns.

We will look closer at what holistic weight loss is and how you can use these principles to help achieve your weight loss goals. Macronutrients are the three primary nutrients that provide energy to our bodies. That’s carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. We will talk about each one of those carbohydrates as the body’s primary energy source. They can be found in foods like grains, fruits, and vegetables to maintain a healthy diet.

It’s essential to focus on consuming complex carbohydrates, such as your fruits and your vegetables, rather than simple carbohydrates, which are your sugars, pieces of bread, and pasta. Proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues within our body. They can be found in meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and legumes. You want to include sources of protein with each meal and snack. Some vegetarian options, such as lentils or black beans that have lower fat.

You want to focus on consuming lean protein sources. If you eat meat such as skinless chicken or fish to reduce your intake of unhealthy fats. I’m not a proponent of a vegetarian diet, but you can utilize a vegetarian diet. I was raised vegetarian. So, I’m aware of all the health benefits, but from a protein perspective, it’s minimal. You really must watch your protein if you choose to be a vegetarian.

Fats are an essential part of our healthy diet, but it’s important to be mindful of the types of fats and how much we consume; even healthy fats can build up. If you don’t have the activity level to run or workout, the number of fats you’re consuming, you’re going to store it as visceral fat, which is fat around your organs.

Good sources of fat include nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive oil. But again, make sure you watch those numbers. If you want to lose weight, you want at most 20% of your metabolic amount, which is your calories. Avoid consuming unhealthy fats altogether. Those are trans and saturated fats like fried food and processed foods. Those all have those in there. Balancing your macronutrient intake is essential for maintaining a healthy diet and creating a holistic lifestyle. We tend to look at our mindset first and our emotional connection second. Then, we start looking at diet and nutrition because if we don’t have the mindset to sustain ourselves, we will go to our default diet, which is often unhealthy, fast, unconscious, and not fully present. You want to balance your diet with carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. So, in general, a person can consume 45 to 65% of their calories from carbohydrates, 20 to 35% from protein, and then 20 to 35% from healthy fats. That ratio is determined by multiple factors. We look at the pre-patient’s body composition. We look at their visceral fat. We look at their biochemistry. There’s a lot of difference between what they’re digesting and assimilating. This is what allows us to create more of an individualized plan.

Individual macronutrient needs may vary based on your age or gender and physical activity levels. For example, an athlete may require a higher intake of carbohydrates, or they can do a higher grade of fat because they’re going to be burning it off. So why do older adults focus on higher protein intake to support muscle health?

Macronutrients are crucial in maintaining a holistic health, lifestyle, and weight loss plan. Keeping a habit out of the fad diets and being mindful and present to what you’re eating by consuming a balanced intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats is a massive step in the right direction if you want to reach your goals.

Dr. Erica Steele – One, a natural and effective approach to weight loss. Let’s get back to our basics. But first, my name is Dr. Erica Steele. I’m a holistic doctor in family practice. I hold six degrees in my field. They’re all in the natural health care space. I went to school so you don’t have to. Alright, here we go. So when we’re trying to lose weight, we need to get back to the basics. It’s not about the fancy, it’s not about the diets. It’s not about the potions, the quick begs. It’s not even really about the supplements. We want to first start with our mindset.

Stress management, our water, our movement. And of course our nutrition, those five things in and of itself will help you to achieve your weight loss goals. When we’re looking for a natural and effective approach, it’s really what you’re doing consistently. Over a long period of time. It’s not the quick fix. Okay. I’m going to do some extreme diet for a month and drop all this weight because a lot of times what happens with that is you gain it all back. Once you stop, it’s just not sustainable.

And it can actually be harmful to your system. Let’s get out of this. Fad diet quick fix or there’s some magical pill, potion, or even person, right? Like there are so many ways to get to the same place. I don’t believe in gruesomeness. I don’t believe there’s only one person. Who’s got all the answers and I’m going to keep going to them and they’re going to be my guru. I’m not into that.

I don’t want your power as a doctor. I don’t want you to give it to me. I, my role is to educate you, coach you and hold you accountable so that you’re able to achieve the results that you’re looking for. If you want to get back to your basics and you are interested in learning more, we do have a holistic weight loss.

Coaching program that is coming up. It is a group coaching program. So we’ll be working with lots of people on helping them achieve their weight loss goal. So you won’t just be an island to yourself working. One-on-one we’ll be working as a group. You’ll have an app to download on your phone that will have daily videos and activities for you to do. And we’ll meet as a group once a month to be able to really cement and, and really get some of those coaching questions, satisfied and understood so that we can all move forward. As a group, we’ll create a nice supportive network for you to be able to meet friends, build motivations, especially if you don’t have that.

Support system in your life, we will create one. So getting back to basics is really important. I talked about what that means, and if you’re looking for us to help you please share, subscribe, and click below. And join our upcoming group.

Dr Steele: So let’s talk about some of the hidden dangers and risks for people trying to lose weight. My name is Dr. Erica Steele. I’m a holistic doctor and family practice. I hold six degrees in my field, all in the natural health care space. And I went to school. So you don’t have to. All right. Obesity. We all know that obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world. And it’s important to understand that the challenges that people face when trying to lose weight, it’s not just that people are lazy or that they don’t feel motivated. There are so many reasons why a person can’t necessarily lose rates.

So we’re going to discuss some of those dangers and pain points that I’ve seen in my practice with people trying to lose weight. First health risks. One of the biggest dangers of obesity is all the health risks that are posed. We know that. Obesity increases risk of let’s say developing heart disease, diabetes, or even certain cancers. So people are waiting, they have higher risk of developing hypertension, stroke and heart attack, but they could also have underlying issues that could be affecting it, like mold exposure or digestion, assimilation issues.

So it’s not always just again that they’re not able to do it. Sometimes there’s another health barrier that prevents them. Secondly, emotional pain. Losing weight can actually be very difficult and an emotional journey for people, especially if they’ve experienced abuse or sexual trauma. People tend to hold on, wait too. As a means to protect themselves, people who are overweight often face shame, embarrassment, low self-esteem, and these negative emotions can be difficult to overcome, come to terms with, and finally let go.

Additionally, people can find it difficult to stick to a diet or exercise plan based on not fully loving themselves, which can lead to frustration. And disappointment I’ve often seen in my practice. People will choose these really crazy outlandish diets. And then they’ll white knuckling for a short period of time and then crash and burn and fail. And then they’re beating themselves up after the fact.

There’s physical pain. So losing weight can also be physically painful for some people. Especially people who are overweight, they may experience joint pain discomfort, which can prevent them from being able to work out or move their bodies. And so if they don’t have enough physical activity and those let’s say dopamine and epinephrine and norepinephrine is not running through their system, they don’t necessarily feel motivated to get up off of the couch and move their bodies, knees, hips, back, all different muscle tensions.

So then a lot of times those people will resort to those crash diets, which can lead to muscle loss. And again create further physical pain. Yo-yo dieting. We touched on this a little bit, but people have a cycle of losing and gaining weight. And that’s a very big danger that people face when they’re losing, trying to lose weight. This can be frustrating, disheartening, and also has very negative effects on a person’s health. So if one minute they’re doing keto and the next minute they’re going to be a vegan.

And the next minute they definitely can be depleting. A lot of core nutrients that their bodies actually need. I know I’ve seen it in my own personal health journey, and I’ve also seen it in working with other people, just because of a diet. What is touted as the healthiest doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthy for you. Yo-yo dieting can also lead to loss of muscle mass.

Some, even in osteopenia, osteoporosis, I’ve seen those connections as well, especially for people that are malnourished with their proteins for years and years on end. There’s also a lot of weight stigma around people trying to lose weight. People who are overweight often face discrimination, negative stereotypes, which can be very emotionally hurtful and damaging to their weight. Stigmas can also make it more difficult for people to asset access, resources and support that they need.

Because the consciousness is that people that have weight they’re lazy, they don’t want to work. They don’t want to do anything. They just sit around and eat that common comment that I’ve heard, which is horrible, is Push yourself away from the table or push yourself away from the plate. It’s not just as simple as that. There’s so many different dynamics that go into a person losing weight.

Cost. So sometimes losing weight can be expensive, many weight loss programs and products such as diet plans, supplements, and gym memberships can be very costly and sometimes just out of reach for a lot of people. Additionally people who are overweight may need to purchase new clothing as they lose weight, which can also add to the cost. So some people economically they’re like, I can’t lose weight because I just have all these clothes and I can’t afford to change them. So those can be some of the barriers to entry, not to mention the cost of food and organic food and natural things sometimes can be a cost that many people can’t bear.

Time constraints, losing weight can also be incredibly time-consuming. Many people struggle to find the time to prepare healthy meals, exercise, attend weight loss, support groups, or even go to the doctor. And so some weight loss methods such as bariatric surgery also can require significant recovery time.

And sometimes people are looking for that quick fix solution, which has other risks later on down the road that they don’t speak about. It’s incredibly important for people to begin to make time for themselves, especially if they’re considering a health journey such as losing weight. Again, that’s definitely a component that many people struggle with as they’re running around, trying to do 25 things and keep everything together.

Social isolation, losing weight can also lead to social isolation if people who are trying to lose weight may feel self-conscious about their appearance, which may make it difficult for them to. To participate in some social activities and events. People who are trying to lose weight may feel this way.

They’re missing out on foods and drinks that they enjoy, and they just don’t want the temptation of going to a party or an event where they’re going to really have to face their fears and their addictions and all of that. Sometimes it’s just easier for them not to go, which can lead to feelings of sadness as well as loneliness.

So losing weight can be a very dangerous as well as painful journey for many people. So it’s important to be aware of the dangers and pain points. And to seek support and resources to help overcome, remember slow and steady is definitely the best practice when it comes to losing weight and make sure that you reward yourself as you’re making progress along the way and don’t be discouraged. Keep pushing forward towards your weight loss goals. I can, I believe in you and if you want to reach out and I can help.