UNDERWEIGHT

Written by Slawomir Gromadzki, MPH

Although today overweight and obesity are much more common problems, there are many individuals who ask how to gain weight as their body weight is below normal.

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF UNDERWEIGHT

– Fast metabolism

– Deficiency of digestive enzymes and stomach acid. It leads to poor digestion and absorption of fats, protein, and carbs

– Gluten sensitivity

– Intestinal parasites

– Candida albicans overgrowth

– Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

– Zinc deficiency (without zinc protein digestion is disturbed)

– IBS and Crohn’s disease may also lead to weight loss

– Fast eating without chewing food properly and long enough

– Depression

– Bulimia or Anorexia

– Cancer and other chronic conditions

TREATMENT

First, do your best to find out whether you suffer from any of the above-listed conditions. If you do go to the DISEASES section, find an appropriate subject and deal with the problem according to the information and recommendations included there.

– Check if you are free from Intestinal parasites

– Treat Candida albicans overgrowth

– Treat Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

– Treat IBS and Crohn’s disease

– Treat Depression

– Treat Anorexia

In addition, try to implement the following principles:

– Eat very slowly chewing food properly!

– Select high in calorie yet healthy foods such as organic nut butters, soaked overnight in water nuts and seeds (Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, etc.), cold-pressed olive oil and cold-pressed flax oil (avoid other oils and fats), avocados are excellent, pulses, organic cooked soya beans, Tofu, bananas, or dried fruits such as dates, figs (instead of products containing refined sugar), etc. If you eat meat and dairy use only meat and dairy from grass-fed animals.

– Take a good quality supplement with digestive enzymes (they must include betaine and pancreatin, as deficiency of these enzymes is a frequent cause of being underweight). Pancreatin is needed as its deficiency causes poor digestion and leads to weight loss. Candida (which may cause underweight) thrives in a lack of digestive enzymes, especially pancreatin and betaine, leading to weight loss.

– Use good quality probiotic formula (UltraProbio, Symprove, etc.) to increase the number of friendly bacteria in your gut and the condition of your intestines. It will improve the absorption of fats, protein, and carbs.

– Take one heaped teaspoon of Bee pollen (“the only perfect food on earth” with meals as it should help to gain weight. Use it alternatively with Royal jelly.

– Take 20 to 50 mg of Zinc after breakfast as zinc deficiency is quite common today and without this mineral, protein can’t be properly digested. Lack of zinc may also contribute to allergic reactions and gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity and allergies contribute to inflammation of the intestine which disturbs the proper absorption of macronutrients.

Brewer’s Yeast is rich in chromium, B vitamins, and minerals. It may help gain weight because it is very nutritious and due to the fact that it may increase appetite and helps to promote good bacterial growth in the intestine. You can take 3 tablets of Brewer’s Yeast before meals (or with smoothies) three times a day or two times 5 tablets.

– Heal, detoxify and regenerate your gastrointestinal tract and whole body by taking Chlorella, Spirulina and other superfoods. Use them alternatively or interchangeably.

– Take good quality multivitamin-mineral formula (such as Daily Essentials by Phoenix Nutrition) after breakfast: 1 tablet after breakfast. Do not use cheap formulas as their potency is very low and they contain only a short list of inorganic ingredients.

– Since Vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Folate) play a particularly important role in dealing with appetite and metabolism I recommend getting multivitamin-mineral formula which is high in B vitamins. One of my favourite ones is Healthy Mega (HealthAid) as compared with other popular formulas it may contain even up to 60 times higher concentrations of B vitamins per tablet. Adults may take 1 tablet of Healthy Mega after breakfast, children 1/2 tablet (or less) crushed and mixed with juice after breakfast.

–  Try to take creatine to gain weight. It increases the water amount in muscles thus helping the body to retain more water. As a result, you may get from 1 to 3 pounds of weight gain in just one week. At the same time, by absorbing water in muscles, creatine boosts strength. The usual amount is 5 grams per day, but it is better to consult an expert before you decide to take more. If you start taking creatine, make sure you drink a lot of liquids because otherwise, it can lead to dehydration. Since creatine increases the metabolic rate your appetite should increase too. Combining it with a healthy and high in calories meal, especially after a workout, may help to increase body weight.

ADDITIONAL REMEDIES

– Mix ground fenugreek with raw honey or Manuka honey and take 1 teaspoon of the mixture before every meal. In my former country (Poland) some farmers often mixed some fenugreek with food to fatten animals as fenugreek was improving the absorption of protein and fat. Apart from that, fenugreek is very healthy and gives many benefits.

– You may also use Centaurium tincture as it is the best herb to regulate the acidity of the stomach and improve digestion.

– Learn to control stress.

Eat your food very slowly and always at the same time! Do not eat more than three meals a day. Just try to eat more healthy caloric foods during those three meals. In this way, your stomach and the gastrointestinal tract will have some time to rest and regenerate themselves and digestion and absorption will be improved. If you consume many meals a day, as some suggest, your gastrointestinal tract never rests and won’t work efficiently!

– Eliminate gluten and sugar from your diet! Eat plenty of fresh and dried fruits instead.

TO IMPROVE APPETITE, USE THE FOLLOWING

Bee pollen and Royal jelly
– Take 200 to 400 mg of Magnesium as poor appetite may be caused by magnesium deficiency!
Centaurium
Zinc
Spirulina, Chlorella

Any information or product suggested on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Consult your primary healthcare physician before using any supplements or making any changes to your regime.