Although being overweight and obesity are much more common problems, there are many individuals who desire to gain weight because their body weight is below normal. They also want to add some fat or muscle mass in order to look and feel better.
Being underweight can be the result of poor nutrition and unhealthy dietary habits. Many individuals, however, are underweight as a result of chronic illnesses or due to naturally fast metabolism and genetic predispositions.
Whether it’s due to genetic or underlying medical conditions, gaining weight and maintaining a healthy weight can be a difficult task. In this case, it might be more difficult to gain weight in a healthy way. Nevertheless, with the right food choices, carefully selected nutritional supplements and properly implemented health principles, it is possible.
KEY CAUSES OF UNDERWEIGHT
- Deficiency of digestive enzymes and stomach acid. It leads to poor digestion and malabsorption of fats, protein, and carbs.
- Zinc deficiency (very common today). Zinc is required for the production of digestive enzymes. Without zinc, we can't break down our food, especially protein. Therefore, even if we eat food rich in nutrients and protein, we may not see the benefits.
- Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency may cause or contribute to certain eating disorders including anorexia.
- Fast eating without chewing food properly.
- Fast metabolism of macronutrients and genetic predispositions.
- Intestinal parasites may cause underweight due to malnutrition.
- Gluten sensitivity.
- Candida albicans overgrowth.
- Hyperthyroidism. Overactive thyroid boosts metabolism and makes it difficult to gain weight.
- IBS and inflammatory bowel disease may also lead to weight loss.
- Depression and chronic stress.
- Bulimia or anorexia.
- Cancer and other chronic conditions.
- Type 1 diabetes.
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT MAY CAUSE UNDERWEIGHT
- Kill intestinal parasites by eating more raw vegetables, and avoiding refined sugar. The following supplements are most recommended against intestinal parasites: Black seed oil, Wormwood, Neem oil, and Bromelain.
- Treat Candida albicans overgrowth with Sacardi and Black seed oil At the same time, avoid anything with sugar.
- Go on a healthy diet and use Super Greens, Magnesium bisglycinate, and UltraProbio (or Coliprobio) if you suffer from IBS and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Some people with anorexia or bulimia reported that high doses of Vitamin B1 were very helpful.
- Increase serotonin with 5-HTP Tryptophan, Magcitra and take Omegazon in case your underweight is linked to mood problems.
- Take ColiProbio and avoid foods congaing gluten if you are gluten sensitive.
- Treat Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
NUTRITIONAL AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
If you’re trying to gain weight without any harmful effects, there are certainly high in calories yet healthy foods and lifestyle improvements that can help.
- Consume plenty of cold-pressed olive oil, raw organic coconut oil, and fresh cold-pressed flax oil (avoid other oils and fats).
- Often eat avocados as they are high in calories and very healthy.
- Include organic nut butter, Tahini, and Humus.
- Soaked overnight in filtered water nuts and seeds (Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, etc.) as they are rich in healthy calories.
- Get your protein from cooked pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.).
- Eat organic well-cooked soya beans and organic Tofu.
- Get your carbs from fruit smoothies, bananas, and dried fruits such as dates, figs, and raisins instead of products containing refined sugar.
- If you eat meat and dairy make sure they come from grass-fed animals.
- Try to have your meals always at the same time as it will improve digestion and absorption of nutrients.
- Eat slowly and chew your food properly.
- Regular exercise is used to lose weight but it can also help to gain weight. With proper nutrition, the right exercise can help to increase your muscles and body weight. In addition, it will improve your overall health, digestion, and assimilation of nutrients. It will also help to treat some of the possible underlying causes of your underweight.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
- Take a good quality supplement with digestive enzymes, such as Digeston Max or Digeston Plus. The deficiency of digestive 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 formulas (UltraProbio, ColiProbio, or DailyProbio) 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 (regarded as “the only perfect food on earth”) before each meal as it may help you to gain weight. Use it alternatively with Tang Forte (Royal Jelly).
- Take 10mg of Zinc Citrate twice daily after meals. 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. It may also increase the appetite and help to promote good bacterial growth in the gut. You can take three tablets of Brewer’s Yeast before meals (or with smoothies) three times a day or 5 tablets two times daily.
- Heal, detoxify, and regenerate your gastrointestinal tract and whole body by taking Super Greens (1 tablespoon 15-30 minutes before meals with fruit smoothie twice daily) and Chlorella. Use them together or interchangeably.
- Take Vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and Folate) as B vitamins play a particularly important role in dealing with appetite and metabolism. An excellent alternative to B complex can be Healthy Mega - a multivitamin-mineral formula that is exceptionally high in B vitamins.
- Try taking Creatine as it may help you gain weight. Combining it with a healthy and high in calories meal, especially after a workout, may help to increase body weight. It also 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. Since creatine increases the metabolic rate your appetite should increase too. If you start taking creatine, make sure you drink a lot of liquids.
- Take Fenugreek tablets or mix ground fenugreek seeds with raw honey or Manuka honey and take 1 teaspoon of the mixture before every meal. Some farmers feed their animals with fenugreek seeds to fatten them. Fenugreek may help you gain weight because it improves the absorption of protein and fat. In addition, it is very healthy and gives many other benefits.
- Take 200mg of Magnesium twice daily as poor appetite may be caused by magnesium deficiency!
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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.
