Weight Loss North Carolina

North Carolina residents interested in learning about weight loss can schedule a consultation with a specialist at Carolina Digestive Health Associates for recommendations from experts.

Americans have a well-documented problem with achieving weight loss. Carrying around too much weight is linked to a host of health problems. Weight loss in North Carolina is, therefore, is a key component of living a healthier lifestyle.

How to Achieve Weight Loss

The old recommendation of diet and exercise is still how weight loss is done today. Controlling the number of calories that go into your body and burning enough of those calories to prevent excess storage is the budget plan that determines whether you maintain, gain, or have weight loss weight. While weight loss has only two components, there are some finer details that merit study.

Diet for Weight Loss

Not only is it important for residents of North Carolina not to eat too much, but you must also be sure to eat the right kinds of foods. Not only can certain foods make you more likely to gain weight, they can also make you feel hungrier, which will lead you to eat even more. The right diet, on the other hand, will satiate you and make weight loss more easily achievable.

1. Reduce sugars and carbs. Your body has two sources of energy, sugar and fat. Your body turns carbs into sugar. When sugar is present, your body will choose to burn it instead of the fat. By reducing sugars, you force your body to rely on burning fat as an energy source. With less sugar, your body has less insulin, which allows your kidneys to shed excess sodium and water. Also, reducing sugar will reduce feelings of hunger, making weight loss easier.
2. Eat protein. Weight loss means eating healthy meats, not processed deli meats. Good sources of protein are beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish, shrimp and eggs with the yolk. Good sources of plant protein are beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Not only will these foods provide you with necessary protein, but they will boost your metabolism. This often means weight loss as you will burn more fat while satiating your hunger, and you will consume fewer calories.
3. Eat vegetables. Plants provide vitamins and minerals, and vegetables are filling yet low in carbs, which helps with weight loss. Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes, kale, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, cucumber and asparagus are all excellent vegetables, and there are countless more to choose from. Vegetables also provide your body with fiber, which can soak up fat and sugar and stimulate weight loss.
4. Eat fruit. Fruit has healthy natural sugars that will help reduce cravings for processed sugars. It is also high in fiber which can mitigate the negative effects of sugars. Fruit is a good source of many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and fundamental to weight loss.

Exercise for Weight Loss

The second component of weight loss for residents of North Carolina is moving your body, as it was designed to do. Once calories go into your body, you need to burn them or they will accumulate in the form of fat. Exercise not only leads to weight loss, but allows all kinds of systems and processes in your body to work optimally.

• Walk. So many of us spend our working days sitting down when we are made for walking. Try to get at least thirty minutes of walking in every day, whether you are trying for weight loss or not. If you can walk more than that, even better.

• Run. Humans are natural sprinters. Once your weight loss starts to work and you feel more energy, take advantage of it and do some sprinting for better heart health and muscle tone.

• Lift weights. Lifting weights not only burns calories, it keeps your metabolism burning them at a higher rate, which is perfect for weight loss.

If you are a North Carolina resident and weight loss is your goal, contact the experts at Carolina Digestive Health Associates for advice. Call (704) 324-8776 to schedule a consultation today in North Carolina.

Carolina Digestive Health Associates

Carolina Digestive Health Associates is a group of gastroenterologists serving the residents of North Carolina. We have fourteen highly rated GI doctors who provide service at eight offices and five endoscopy centers. Our doctors work in all major hospitals in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Our physicians, together with our highly trained physician assistants and nurse practitioners, cover a wide range of specialties and are skilled in diagnosis and treatment. Whether you have chronic problems with your digestive tract, a recent, acute attack or simply want a checkup, our team is here in North Carolina to help you reach your healthcare goals.

What We Do

Our team of gastroenterologists in North Carolina is trained to diagnose gastric conditions involving the esophagus, the stomach, the liver, the colon and the rectum. Once we make a diagnosis, we can form a treatment plan tailored to the specific patient and their needs. Some of the common conditions we treat include:

• Constipation
• Bloating and gas
• Celiac disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Colorectal cancer
• Diarrhea
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver
• Gallstone
• Gastritis
• GERD
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Obesity
• Ulcers

Our team has experience diagnosing and treating these conditions and many more. North Carolina residents in the Charlotte area have come to trust our expertise and our friendly customer service.

Procedures

Our specialists cover a wide variety of fields within gastroenterology and can perform an array of procedures once they have made a diagnosis. Some of the more common procedures are:

• Rectal manometry. This test determines if the rectum is functioning properly and helps to diagnose fecal incontinence and chronic constipation.
• Breath test. A GI doctor can diagnose certain digestive conditions by measuring the gases which a patient exhales.
• Colonoscopy. By means of a camera inserted into the body, doctors can view the intestine and look for polyps, ulcers, bleeding, inflammation and even cancer.
• Polypectomy. If doctors discover polyps during an endoscopy, they will use this procedure to remove them.
• Upper endoscopy. Similar to a colonoscopy, this procedure views the esophagus, stomach and upper duodenum for inflammation, ulcers and abnormal growths.
• Esophageal manometry. This test is to determine the strength of the muscles that you use to swallow, which can affect conditions like heartburn.
• Feeding tubes. A GI doctor can insert a feeding tube when necessary if a patient is not able to feed him or herself.
• ORBERA Gastric Balloon. The FDA has approved our non-surgical program to help patients lose weight and form healthy habits to maintain a stable, healthy weight in the long term.

Research

At Carolina Digestive Health Associates in North Carolina, we participate in many clinical research trials. Medicine is a field that constantly advances, and we encourage and participate in this process to discover new and better ways to diagnose and treat digestive disorders. Sometimes, these trials provide treatment options to our patients in North Carolina that they would not be able to get anywhere else.

When Should You Come to See Us?

Persistent or severe symptoms are reasons to schedule a consultation with us in North Carolina. We also recommend regular screenings starting at age 45 for colon cancer. You may need to see a general practitioner first to get a referral. Come see us if you experience any of the following:

• Constipation. Fewer than three bowel movements a week means constipation. If it persists, contact us.
• Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem, but if it doesn't go away it could be a sign of something more serious.
• Heartburn. A burning your stomach and chest could be your stomach acid inflaming the lining of your esophagus.
• Stomach pain. Severe stomach pain could mean you have a gallstone. More persistent, burning pain could be an ulcer.
• Bloating. If you bloat after a meal, your body might be reacting to something you ate. A gastroenterologist can diagnose the cause.
• Hemorrhoids. If the veins in your rectum are swollen or feel irritated, you may have hemorrhoids, which a GI doctor can treat.
• Blood in your stool. If your stool is black and tarry, or if there is red in the water after a bowel movement, you may have a severe problem that requires immediate attention.

For any of the above symptoms or a cancer screening in North Carolina, contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates for a consultation. Call us at (704) 324-8776 and let one of our highly skilled gastroenterologists assist you.