We’ve all heard of the quick fixes for belly fat. Take a “magic” pill, try a certain diet, you can even get it surgically removed. Unfortunately, none of these “fixes” get to the root of the problem, and that is why do you have belly fat in the first place? Until you determine the answer to that question and work to alleviate it, you will continually struggle with belly fat.
There is also something else to consider when you’re concerned about belly fat. Did you know that belly fat could be an indicator of more serious health concerns going on in the body? Belly fat is linked with many other diseases that can be affecting you because it’s actually composed of visceral fat. This is the fat that’s deep within your body, often surrounding your heart, lungs, liver and other organs. Visceral fat can be a contributor to things like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and even breast and colon cancer. This is why it’s very important not to ignore belly fat.
The good news is that there are natural ways to manage belly fat and get back on the path to wellness. A great place to find the right help and guidance to do this is with a functional medicine provider. This type of practitioner has extensive training in helping patients with chronic health issues like hormone issues which can often be the cause of stubborn belly fat. The first step is to get a complete picture of your health and determine exactly where imbalances may be occurring, this gives your practitioner the “map” to guide you back on the path to wellness, correct imbalances, and achieve the long-term results that you desire.
A functional medicine doctor starts with comprehensive lab testing and a thorough physical evaluation. This helps them determine the root cause of your condition. Then they create a customized care plan that is based on your specific needs rather than using the “one size fits all” model for care that many patients experience in traditional medicine. This truly helps patients achieve effective long-term results and helps them meet their health goals.
Functional medicine also provides support that goes beyond even the recovery process through coaching, mentoring and educating the patient. The idea is to give the patient the knowledge and tools that they need to effectively manage their condition for a lifetime. Through functional medicine, many patients are able to break the cycle of return trips to their primary care doctor that achieves little to no result. Functional wellness is offering patients a life-changing option for health care designed to personalize their care and achieve optimum results.
-Dr. Ashley Woyak, Forward Natural Medicine