Among the 30 developed countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States ranks near the bottom on most standard measures of heath statistics. According to studies, 40% of all premature deaths in the U.S. are caused by behavioral patterns. We are all familiar with the top causes of death in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, strokes, lung disease, etc. But are these the actual causes of death? Medical public health researchers have been studying that question. What they are discovering is that heart disease, cancer, strokes, etc., are just what end up on the death certificate as the diagnosis, but the actual cause of death is more ominously linked to behavioral patterns. In particular, just second to smoking which kills about 435,000 people per year, obesity and inactivity kill over 350,000 Americans every year. The complacency over these statistics by the general public and the medical industry is appalling. And while the numbers of deaths due to smoking is going down (thanks to surgeon general warnings, powerful counter-marketing campaigns, laws, regulation, and taxation), statistics on deaths by obesity and inactivity keep going up.

So, since being overweight or obese or inactive is a major risk factor for the top killers in the U.S., we want to do our part to spread the message. It’s simple, right? All you need to do is eat a good diet and get some physical activity. How original. I guarantee that every person in the U.S. who is obese has heard that diet and exercise will help them lose weight and lower the risk factor for heart disease, strokes, and cancer. But yet, the numbers keep rising. What’s missing? The intellect.

The intellect is different from intelligence. Intelligence is information, like something we can get from reading a book or taking a class – something external. The intellect, on the other hand, is something internal that we can develop to help us achieve our health goals and ideals. Simply put, when the mind wants to wander into worrying about the past or having anxieties about the future, it is the intellect that can keep the mind focused on the intentions in the present moment. The intellect is the missing piece because, your health in the future is determined by the decisions you make in the present moment.

Another piece that is often missing is hormone evaluation. There is a phenomenon that can develop in the body called insulin resistance (also referred to as Metabolic Syndrome and Syndrome X). Insulin resistance refers to a state whereby the cellular insulin receptor sites become unresponsive to the binding of insulin. Several mechanisms have been found that can contribute to insulin resistance, but for the purposes of this article we are going to focus on one main factor: elevated cortisol. Stress causes the hypothalamus to release corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which signals the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. Elevated cortisol causes insulin resistance, but insulin resistance can, in turn, cause elevated cortisol. It’s a vicious feed-forward cycle.

Conservative estimates suggest that 25-35 percent of Westernized countries suffer from some degree of insulin resistance. That can pencil out to be at least 60 million U.S. adults meeting the following criteria:

Fortunately, with the advances in functional diagnostic lab testing you can easily and non-invasively monitor your cortisol levels. The most accurate way of evaluating the cortisol is a salivary sample. The two main adrenal hormones that are assessed are cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). In general, cortisol tells us how much stress the body has experienced and DHEA tells us how the body is adapting to that stress. Four salivary samples are collected at specific times on a single day and the hormones are analyzed by the lab. More often than not, the rest of the hormone panel is tested along with cortisol and DHEA. Namely, the other main hormones that are involved with metabolism are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Testing all of these hormones together is important because the ratios are just as imperative, if not more imperative, than the individual hormones.

To keep it simple: if man made it, don’t eat it (Jack LaLanne). That will eliminate all highly processed grain flours found in certain breads, pastas, crackers, chips, cookies, pastries, etc. Also, processed meats will be eliminated, like sausage and hot dogs. If you are thinking to yourself, well, what’s left to eat? I recommend the following healthy food choice proportions:

35% Vegetables (raw and/or cooked)
25% Cereal, whole grains (whole oats, brown rice, buckwheat, etc., no overly processed, sugary grains)
25% Beans/legumes, nuts
10% Fish, shell fish
5% Fresh whole fruit (no dried fruit)

There are scientifically proven herbs and nutrients that can help the body burn fat and balance the metabolism.

NewGreens™ is a nutrient-dense superfood that when taken 15 minutes before breakfast and 15 minutes before dinner will help curb the appetite and flush the cells with antioxidants and phytonutrients. These superfoods will help detoxify the body and support the metabolism.

Suppresia-HP™ with Hoodia is a natural non-stimulatory appetite suppressant that can help you crave less and control your portions.

SR-Stamina™ is a blend of herbal adaptogens that help decrease symptoms of fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. It also contains ingredients known to increase stamina and enhance physical performance.

Many receive advice from unqualified people. As well-intentioned as they may be, manipulating the hormones and the metabolism without receiving baseline analyses can drive an imbalance in the wrong direction. Hormones are the main communication source between the various organs and glands in the body and they operate in a strict balance. Take the previous signs and symptoms seriously and get tested, it is easier now than ever it has been. Moreover, if there is an imbalance it can be treated totally naturally without any pharmaceutical medications. If you are obese, overweight, or inactive, I encourage you to not be complacent and start taking the steps to better health and greater longevity.