![Obesity_001_[1]](https://glutenfreeworks.com/health/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/Obesity_001_1.jpg)
[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nexplained weight gain is characterized by increased body mass due to excess fat accumulation that is not desired by the individual.
A body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30 signifies being overweight.
What Is Chronic Syndrome Fatigue? [dropcap]C[/dropcap]hronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating illness characterized by persistent or relapsing overwhelming and incapacitating fatigue not relieved by rest, having a definite onset and often accompanied by numerous symptoms…
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the brain, being crucial in brain structure. As such DHA is a key component of neuronal membranes together with arachidonic acid (a major opposing omega-6 fatty acid), making up 15-20% of the brain’s dry mass.
This polyunsaturated fatty acid is obtained from fish sources of food.
In healthy human volunteers, positron emission tomography (PET) has shown that the normal human brain consumes 4.6 mg/day of DHA.1
DHA is particularly concentrated in highly active membranes such as nerve synapses (junctions) and photoreceptors in the eye (retina).
Q: How much DHA is in the retina?
A: DHA makes up more than 30% of the retina.2
In other roles, DHA is an important building material for the eicosanoids, a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction.
DHA has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity as opposed to the opposite problem of insulin resistance, to improve muscle mass, and protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.3
Egert et al. in a study of people aged 19 to 43 years with normal cholesterol showed that DHA intake significantly increased serum HDL (good) cholesterol. Also, DHA significantly decreased fasting serum triglycerides.4
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]PA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is crucial for fetal brain and retina development and the child’s subsequent neurodevelopment among very many other activities in people of all ages.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated long chain fatty acids which must be obtained from animal foods since they do not occur in plants.
In all ages, EPA is essential for normal brain function.
Q: Why is EPA essential to the way the brain works?
A: EPA helps nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other.
In pregnancy, EPA may also play a role in determining the length of gestation and in preventing perinatal depression in the mother.1 and is essential for normal growth in children.
EPA is important building material for the eicosanoids, a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction. Its many important functions are described below.
What Is Obesity?[dropcap]O[/dropcap]besity is an inflammatory metabolic disorder that is characterized by body mass index greater than 30% resulting from excessive body fat stored in adipose tissue.
Q: What is body fat?
A: Body fat is part of the body that functions as a reserve of stored energy. It is composed of fat cells, called adipocytes, having thin membranes between these cells. Adipocytes expand to store fat and shrink as fat is released as needed into the bloodstream for other body cells to use for metabolizing energy.
Each adipocyte contains a drop of triglyceride which is a type of lipid (fat). Triglycerides are a normal component in the bloodstream and, as such, are transported wherever needed as a form of energy. Excess triglycerides are the form of fat that is stored.
Initially, fat that is eaten in the diet is changed by digestive enzymes into the triglyceride form which is a molecule composed of three fatty acids and glycerol. Triglycerides are then absorbed through the small intestinal wall to be delivered to the liver. Of note, the liver can make triglycerides from excess protein and carbohydrates eaten in a meal, especially sugar and alcohol. The liver on the other hand makes cholesterol from triglycerides.
Triglyceride levels in the blood generally increase as weight increases. It is thought that an elevated blood triglyceride level hampers the body’s ability to feel full or satisfied with food that is eaten. Elevated triglyceride levels also increase the risk of clot formation because they cause the blood to become thicker. A normal triglyceride blood level is 150 mg/dL.
The causes of obesity are complex and varied. Those related to gluten sensitivity are discussed below.
What Is Developmental Delay?[dropcap]D[/dropcap]evelopmental delay is failure in infants and young children to meet expected milestones, such as smiling for the first time or taking the first steps, due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas.
These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.1
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]rachidonic acid is a major essential (must have/can’t make) omega-6 fatty acid.
Structurally, arachidonic acid is a key component of nerve membranes, together with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major opposing omega-3 fatty acid, making up 15-20% of the brain’s dry mass and more than 30% of the retina.
In healthy human volunteers, positron emission tomography (PET) has shown that the normal human brain consumes 17.8 mg/day of arachidonic acid.1
Arachidonic acid is particularly concentrated in highly active membranes such as nerve synapses (junctions) and in photoreceptors in the eye retina.2
Arachidonic acid is an important building substance for the eicosanoids.
Q: What function do the eicosanoids have that are derived from arachidonic acid?
A: Eicosanoids are a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction. Eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid are pro-inflammatory, pro-blood clotting, and constrict blood vessels in opposition to those derived from the omega-3 fatty acids which do the opposite in order to keep a balance in the body.
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]eborrhea dermatitis is a recurring inflammatory disorder of sebaceous glands characterized by scaly patches of skin, often with bumps.
Seborrhea dermatitis results from the body’s inflammatory reaction to invasion by pityrosporum yeast that naturally inhabits the scalp and skin.1 Inflammation is the normal response to tissue injury and germ invasion.
Pityrosporum is a yeast that is commonly present worldwide. Its development depends on various factors that predispose to pityriasis versicolor, a chronic and mild superficial yeast infection. These infections usually are asymptomatic without itching or pain and without cellular and/or antibody responses.2
Q: Why are the sebaceous glands particularly affected by this yeast?
A: Pityrosporum yeast is an organism that needs oil produced by sebaceous glands to grow. If conditions permit, this yeast invades the superficial layer of skin and hair shafts to reproduce, causing infection. Such conditions include weakened skin due to nutritional deficiencies, excessive build-up of oil on skin, and altered immunity due to systemic disease such as psoriasis.
In adults, areas of skin that are the most affected have the greatest number of sebaceous glands especially the scalp, back, underarms, and the face including the eyelids, eyebrows and side folds of the nose.
All ages are subject to seborrhea dermatitis, and males have a higher occurence than females.
What Is Increased Appetite?[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ncreased appetite is the increased desire for food.
Q: What causes appetite.
A: Appetite is caused by hunger.
The brain monitors nutritional needs and employs a hunger mechanism to alert us when fresh food is needed. Hunger is mainly caused by the need for protein. Low blood sugar also triggers hunger.
The tempting sight, smell, taste and expectation of food stimulates involuntary sensory nerves. By reflex action, these sensory nerves cause muscle and sensory activity in various digestive organs. Salivary glands in the mouth begin to secrete saliva as stomach glands and muscles become active.1
What Is Linoleic Acid?[dropcap]L[/dropcap]inoleic acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid that comes from plant sources. Essential means the body must have it to maintain health and life sustaining functions. Omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated.
Among its many vital roles in the body, linoleic acid composition of intestinal membranes is important for epithelial cell function and disturbances may contribute to the pathophysiology of celiac disease.1
Q: What are epithelial cells?
A: Epithelial cells make up the surface mucosa of the digestive tract and also the respiratory tract, urinary tract and genital tract.
Linoleic acid is an important building material for the eicosanoids, a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction.2