HEALTH – WELLBEING – BLOG/MAGAZINE

Intestinal bacteria grow – we are used to the intestinal flora that is naturally healthy

The pounds are finally falling off again. Read my story below and discover why nothing helped at first and what ultimately made the difference.

Written by: Barbara Lang

Darmbakterien aufbauen – wenn die Darmflora aus ihrem natürlichen Gleichgewicht geraten ist

Hello, my name is Barbara and I have been struggling with being overweight for 10 years.

Since my pregnancy 10 years ago I have gained 20 kg. And for a long time I didn't know why.

If you're reading this article, you're probably also struggling with being overweight.

So I don't have to explain to you how hard that is.

Therefore, I will spare you the lines about shame , lack of self-confidence and health problems in the future.

What I want to talk about, however, is the not infrequent general judgment of fellow human beings.

People often say, "Just exercise more" or "Just eat healthier."

Or my favorite: "If you just eat less, you will lose weight. It's not that difficult."

I believed these people for a long time.

And then I felt even worse as one diet after another failed.

Now I know: No, simply eating less or exercising more is not always the solution.

Yes, I know what a calorie deficit or basal metabolic rate is.

In theory, you will lose weight if you eat fewer calories than your body burns.

In practice, however, this is not always the case.

For example, I followed a vegan diet for 5 years .

No meat, fish or eggs. Lots of vegetables, few carbohydrates.

I counted my calories down to the number . 1600 kcal per day.

The theory goes that my waist gold should have just melted away.

Unfortunately that didn't happen.

It just didn't make sense to me.

How is it possible that I eat so little and yet I no longer lose weight?

Today I know what it was.

I missed a crucial piece of the puzzle.

After more than 10 years of suffering, I made a decisive discovery

I found a method that allowed me to lose no less than 5 kg in 6 weeks.

After a total of 3 months it was even 10 kg. And I have been able to maintain my new weight to this day.

I feel healthier, more active and full of energy.

I accomplished all of this without changing my diet , going on a diet , or medical interventions.

And best of all, it's a completely natural method that has even improved my blood counts .

But that's not all: during my research I also discovered why so many people find it so difficult to lose their belly fat.

Even though they are already in a calorie deficit and eat healthy.

I found out what the handbrake is that you have to release to finally take it off.

If you have the same problems as me, be sure to read this article.

In recent years I have poured my heart and soul into this subject and searched like a maniac for a solution to my problem.

I would now like to share my findings with the world. Because I'm sure it will help you too.

So far I have been able to maintain my target weight effortlessly

How did I come to this discovery and what is it about?

As mentioned above, not only have I tried all kinds of diets, but I have also been vegan for 5 years.

Every diet has failed.

With the best diets I lost a lot of weight in the first few weeks, but after that I either didn't gain it

Do you know how frustrating that is? or the well-known yo-yo effect.

You struggle through the diet and go without all kinds of foods for months - only to end up not losing any weight at all or to gain the weight you've lost right back due to the yo-yo effect.

Or like me: you lose the first 5-7 kg and after that it just doesn't work anymore. It's as if the body is saying, "this far and no further."

When I started documenting my food intake in detail over a 6-month period, I realized something was wrong.

I ate an average of 1600 kcal per day.

For a woman of 172 cm and 86 kg, this means that I should have lost weight.

Every calorie calculator on the Internet confirmed that my basic consumption is more than 2000 kcal per day.

Nevertheless, nothing has changed on the scale.

It felt like my body had a plan other than losing weight.

It was as if a handbrake had been pulled somewhere in my body, causing the number on the scale to simply stop moving.

But that wasn't all: I also felt more and more tired and lethargic.

It was very difficult not to fall into a downward spiral here.

With great effort, I still dragged myself to the gym twice a week.

But nothing got better.

To make matters worse, there was a very unpleasant event in my life at that time.

No, thank God it wasn't my wedding.

It was a class reunion.

The class horror reunion. Or the missing puzzle piece?

I was never a fat kid, but I was never particularly slim either.

Admittedly: I have n't always eaten healthy , especially when I was younger.

For breakfast we enjoyed cornflakes, orange juice and a bite of the delicious croissant.

I felt all the more nervous thinking about the upcoming class reunion.

What would my former colleagues think of me?

Barbara, who now suddenly looks 15 kg heavier ?

As is often the case in life, people worry unnecessarily about future scenarios that never come true.

My weight was of course a topic of conversation. And at first I found that uncomfortable.

But my classmates were also available with advice and support.

To be precise, it was my then girlfriend Sabine who approached me about this.

Sabine studied medicine after leaving school and met her husband Oliver.

A respected dietitian from the US, whom she met during a semester abroad and who now lives and works in Berlin.

When I told her about the phenomenon that I had not been able to lose weight for months despite a calorie deficit , her alarm bells immediately started ringing.

That sounded familiar to her.

Her husband Oliver has often had to deal with this. It was anything but surprising to him.

Sabine then kindly offered me to come to her husband's practice.

That's exactly what I did a week later.

Fatty liver disease as the culprit

Oliver warmly welcomed me to his practice and got straight to the point.

When I told Oliver about my many failed attempts to lose weight, he immediately raised his suspicions.

He said:

'When I hear that women do not lose weight despite a calorie deficit and often feel tired, then in 9 out of 10 cases this has to do with metabolism.'

One organ in particular is responsible for metabolism:

The liver.

So Oliver had me do a detailed blood test first.

Two weeks later I was back at his practice in Berlin.

The result of the test was shocking .

Despite my now healthy, low-fat diet, my cholesterol and triglyceride levels were slightly elevated.

When I asked, I discovered that nutrition only has a limited effect on these values.

Much of this is hereditary and is linked to increased sugar and fat consumption at a younger age.

The so-called gamma GT value (gamma-glutamyl transferase) was also increased, which indicates fatty liver disease.

ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) were on the borderline, but were not (yet) elevated.

Elevated gamma-GT, AST and ALT levels may indicate fatty liver disease.

“There's a very good chance you have a fatty liver,” Oliver told me at the time.

Liver values ​​and their meaning

In my case, the liver values ​​spoke a clear language.

If the gamma-GT value is elevated (in my case it was 49 U/l), this is a sign of fatty liver disease.

If ALT and AST are elevated, you are often already in stage 2 - an inflamed fatty liver.

However, you should also be careful with the liver values: even if the values ​​look good, you can suffer from a

fatty liver disease . The cholesterol value in particular is often misunderstood.

That's why Oliver recommends listening to your symptoms first and foremost.

Unexplained weight gain, or stubborn belly fat despite a calorie deficit , and severe fatigue even after adequate sleep are among the symptoms.

What is fatty liver disease?

The term fatty liver is used when a large proportion of the liver cells contain fat.

Just as the body can accumulate fat on the outside, fat also accumulates on the inside - sometimes even on the organs.

That is why people who are overweight and have a lot of body fat usually also have fatty liver disease.

It is estimated that 20-30% of all Dutch people suffer from fatty liver disease.

Yes, you read that correctly. About one in four people in the Netherlands has fatty liver disease.

Many even do that without realizing it.

This is because the classic symptom - a feeling of pressure in the upper right abdomen - often only occurs with advanced fatty liver disease.

Much more common are symptoms such as failed attempts to lose weight despite a calorie deficit, dry skin and itching, excessive sweating and constant fatigue.

Fatty liver disease is often classified into three stages:

  1. A fatty liver without inflammation. In this case, there is no pain because the liver has no pain receptors.
  2. Steatohepatitis or fatty liver, i.e. a fatty liver with an inflammatory response . A feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen, bloating and often a feeling of fullness are symptoms of this stage.
  3. Cirrhosis of the liver . From this point the disease is irreversible!

It is estimated that just under half of all those affected move from stage 1 to stage 2.

Liver cirrhosis occurs in just under 10% of cases.

Overweight people in particular are often affected by fatty liver disease. More and more children and young people.

“An unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, or another illness can cause so-called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to develop.

developed."

- Amsterdam University Hospital

Fatty liver disease is often the result of an unhealthy diet or the use of strong medications for other diseases.other diseases.

In medical terminology it is called NAFL – non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Sugar in particular plays a major role.

Oliver showed me the following study.

This study showed that high consumption of fructose and sugar can lead to a fatty liver and even disrupt the gut microbiome .

The problem with this? It is now almost impossible to avoid sugar and sugary substances.

The food industry today "hides" sugar in the ingredient descriptions of many foods.

Instead of sugar you will find words like maltrose , lactose or corn syrup .

Even so-called healthy foods such as granola bars or various diet products are affected.

Yes, even too much fruit or smoothies promote fatty liver.

This is because the fructose it contains is also converted into sugar and later into fat.

What an irony : you buy a light yogurt with extra little fat to eat healthily, and in the end you only promote fatty liver disease due to the added sugar!

What is the connection between fatty liver disease and my failed attempts at weight loss?

The diagnosis of fatty liver disease was quite a shock to me at first.

But I didn't quite understand why a fatty liver disease would suddenly prevent me from losing weight.

Oliver then explained to me exactly what role the liver plays.

After this explanation I realized why I couldn't lose weight anymore and always felt so tired.

Suddenly it became clear why my diets had all failed.

"The liver is the central organ of the entire metabolism . If the liver is limited in its function , it is almost impossible to lose weight effectively ." says Oliver.

The liver and metabolism

Have you ever wondered what metabolism actually is?

What has become a buzzword means nothing more than the transformation of substances in the body.

The metabolic processes mainly take place in the liver.

The liver can be seen as a waste separation and disposal system.

Everything we absorb is chemically or physically transformed in such a way that we can use it for further processes.

Sooner or later, everything we ingest ends up in the liver and is broken down there.

This applies to both medicines and food .

A piece of cake , for example, is split and crushed in the stomach and intestines.

Some of it is then transported to the liver, where the beneficial nutrients are metabolized depending on what the body needs at the time.

The unusable parts are prepared by the liver for breakdown and "waste processing".

Therefore, the liver is also considered a detoxification organ.

Up to this point, Oliver's explanation was understandable and unsurprising.

But what he told me next was something I had never heard before.

He said: "Obesity is often associated with the storage of harmful substances in the liver."

If a person can eat whatever he or she wants and simply not gain weight, this is colloquially dismissed as a "fast metabolism."

In reality, this simply means that this person's liver is not yet impaired in its function and can metabolize everything without any problems.

Conversely, this means that an unhealthy liver - like mine - reaches its limits more quickly.

And this then manifests itself in fatigue and weight problems .

This is also the reason why you don't gain weight as quickly at a younger age - the liver is still normal

fitter and not yet burdened with medications, unhealthy food or alcohol.

Ideally, a healthy liver is able to process fats, toxins and hormones effortlessly.

You can imagine the whole thing as a waste sorting installation with a conveyor belt.

The assembly line workers (the so-called liver lobes) have the task of sorting everything usable from the unusable.

However, if the workers are overloaded and can no longer keep up, the liver simply has to store everything together as a stopgap solution (fats, toxins, hormones) in the same place.

In some people, the liver is already so slow that it can no longer process fat as well as it used to.

The fats consumed with food are then not burned as energy , but end up as e on the hips.

That's why I couldn't lose weight despite eating 1600 calories a day.

My liver can no longer optimally process the calories I consume every day.

More hip fat accumulates than in someone with a healthy liver.

According to the calorie calculator , my body should burn 2000 kcal per day.

But how do I know how much he really burns with a sluggish liver?

What if he only burns 1500 kcal?

“Your metabolism is running with the handbrake on because your liver is overloaded ,” was Oliver's conclusion.

It was clear to me: I had to release the handbrake .

Summary so far:

  • 20-30% of all people in the Netherlands have fatty liver disease.
  • Overweight people in particular are affected by constant fatigue, dry skin and itching , but problems with losing weight despite a calorie deficit can also be indications of fatty liver disease.
  • Obesity is linked to liver health.
  • A sluggish, overloaded liver leads to more fat in the body. Even if you don't eat too many calories.
  • Without a healthy liver, it is incredibly difficult to maintain or lose weight .

Fatty liver disease can be cured

But Oliver also had good news for me.

The liver is the only organ in the human body that can completely heal itself.

According to him, curing fatty liver disease is actually very simple . Some of his patients even succeed within a few weeks.

Surprisingly, just changing your diet is not the most efficient method.

Moreover, a diet that is too radical is even harmful to the liver.

That is why you should stay away from diets and the currently so popular liver fasting .

Liver fasting means that you eat mainly vegetables and protein powder for 2 weeks.

This is very stressful and counterproductive for the liver.

This often even worsens certain nutritional deficiencies .

Cholesterol-lowering medications (so-called statins) are also not a good solution here.

They only mask the symptoms, but do not degrease the liver.

You are, as it were, only manipulating your cholesterol levels.

Statins should only be used if you have a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Instead, Oliver uses a specially developed fatty liver treatment for his patients.

The method to combat fatty liver disease

The fatty liver detox method was specially developed by Oliver for people who can no longer lose weight due to their liver.

This not only reduces fatty liver disease, but also strengthens other organs that are conducive to effective weight loss .

This includes, for example, the often underestimated bile.

The special thing about it: you don't have to go on a diet and the method is 100% based on natural ingredients.

You rely on a normal, balanced diet and also use the power of nature by specifically focusing on plant substances that have been used by humans for centuries to detox the liver.

The basis of the fatty liver detox method is therefore the product Liver Detox Blend from the Dutch family business Greenleaf Blends, which combines all ingredients that are essential for a healthy liver.

The family business has joined forces with experts to create a unique composition . This consists of the newest and purest scientifically proven ingredients.

One jar of Liver Detox Blend (€39.99 each) contains 60 capsules that will last you a month.

This is only €1.33 per day. To be honest, I even have more to spare for my health, as long as I get rid of the fatty liver disease, I thought.

There is currently also a discount on six months' stock of up to 40%! This works out at €0.70 per day.

Just under $0.70 a day for the chance to finally reach my desired weight and detox my liver at the same time?

With ingredients based on scientific studies?

It was clear to me that it was worth a try.

What's in it? And why?

It will take a very long time for the liver to form new, healthy cells and break down the fat if you just change your diet.

Although a change in diet is advisable, this alone will not cure fatty liver disease.

It is always said: "if you lose 4-5 kg, you will also get rid of your fatty liver disease".

You can also get this advice from your doctor.

But here the cat bites the tail.

The problem is that you cannot lose weight permanently because of your fatty liver disease.

That is why it is all the more important to actively contribute to the regeneration of the liver and the formation of new liver cells.

So you must first repair the liver and only then lose weight. And not the other way around.

Instead, the body and liver must be actively supplied with nutrients that support the liver in detoxification and regeneration.

And that is exactly what Liver Detox Blend was made for.

Liver Detox Blend consists of high doses of milk thistle , artichoke and dandelion root .

These natural substances have been used for centuries for liver health.

Meanwhile, the active ingredients it contains have already been investigated in scientific studies in connection with fatty liver disease.

Warning: what follows will definitely knock your socks off.

The above-mentioned plants have already been investigated in scientific studies in connection with fatty liver disease.

And the results are absolutely stunning.

Milk thistle

Milk thistle is a real miracle plant when it comes to liver health.

It is a medicinal plant with antioxidant properties. This means that it neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress .

Milk thistle has been very well researched in the field of liver health.

The following research from Italy should be highlighted here:

The following conclusions can be drawn from the analyzes:

  • Milk thistle promotes the removal of old red blood cells from the liver.
  • It neutralizes toxins and waste products in the veins of the liver.
  • It prevents toxins from entering the liver cells.
  • It promotes liver regeneration and the formation of new healthy liver cells.
  • In animals, the liver can even protect against the ingestion of some medications (e.g. paracetamol) and alcohol.
  • It improves bile production in the liver and cleanses the bile ducts in the liver.
  • It supports the liver in its detoxification function , especially when milk thistle is combined with dandelion and artichoke.

But there is a second, much more impressive study:

In this study, 72 fatty liver patients took the active ingredient silymarin (which is also found in milk thistle) twice a day.

The study lasted 3 months and the subjects were regularly examined for the most important liver values.

The amazing result: taking silymarin led to significant improvements in ALT , AST and gamma-GT values!

Remember: it is precisely these values ​​that indicate fatty liver disease.

Even according to ultrasound, fatty liver disease improved in the test subjects.

Artichoke

Although milk thistle is very suitable for improving AST, ALT and gamma-GT levels, no effect on cholesterol levels has yet been demonstrated.

That's why Oliver recommends another medicinal plant: the artichoke.

The artichoke can be used as a natural cholesterol-lowering agent, as this study shows:

This study involved 143 adults who took artichoke leaf extract daily for 6 weeks .

The result: the control group managed to reduce their cholesterol levels by 18.5% on average.

The artichoke also has positive effects on digestion and bile. It improves bile flow and promotes the function of the pancreas.

Most impressive, however, was this study, which attributes a hepatoprotective effect to artichoke leaf extract.

This means that the artichoke protects the liver cells and stimulates regeneration:

This study involved 100 people who had been diagnosed with fatty liver disease .

The subjects consumed artichoke leaf extract every day for 2 months.

The result: compared to the placebo group, which had not taken anything, the liver of the artichoke group had better blood flow and was smaller after 2 months.

This is exactly why Oliver's method works so well.

You actively regenerate and protect your liver instead of just eating low-fat.

The result: a healthy liver and better cholesterol, AST, ALT and gamma-GT levels.

“No diet in the world can match the power of artichokes and milk thistle,” Oliver said.

Dandelion root

Dandelion root with the active ingredient taraxacin is an absolute powerhouse in Liver Detox Blend.

Dandelion root extract is also present in the capsules in a high ratio of 4:1.

Taraxacin activates the production of bile, which leads to better metabolism.

Bile plays an important role in the body's fat burning process .

The liver is connected to the gallbladder via the bile duct.

Bile is already produced in the liver.

This fluid is then transported to the gallbladder via the bile duct.

The liquid is stored there.

The fluid then passes from the gallbladder to the intestines, where it aids in digestion.

High-quality bile is important for optimal digestion, but also for proper fat processing.

If this is not present (for example due to a fatty liver), this can lead to digestion and processing problems with fats.

In short: the better the bile, the easier it is to "burn" excess fat.

Thanks to the other substances it contains, it can also help with flatulence, bloating and heartburn.

Oliver advised me to eat less sugar.

By adjusting your diet to reduce your sugar intake, you can prevent your fatty liver disease from getting worse.

You don't have to give up sugar and carbs completely.

However, Oliver recommends eating no more than 50 grams of sugar per day.

Important: you should not view a liver detox as a diet. It's not about torturing and starving yourself.

Instead, we aim for a balanced, normal diet.

The method to combat fatty liver disease

To implement Oliver's method, you need to follow these steps:

Prevent the progression of fatty liver disease: You can do this by reducing your sugar consumption.

Regenerate the liver: For this you need milk thistle seed and artichoke leaf extract.

Improve bile: The best way to do this is with dandelion root.

The 3 steps of the fatty liver detox method

The company behind Liver Detox Blend

What gave me some confidence: The Liver Detox Blend is not only the product of a Dutch family business, but has also been tested by an independent laboratory.

This is a very important factor, especially for liver preparations.

The Rotterdam-based company has made it its mission to set new quality and sustainability standards for natural products.

Each product is designed based on the latest findings and research results and is made from the best available raw materials.

My experiment with Liver Detox Blend begins

The Liver Detox Blend contains the ingredients mentioned above.

And in extract form with a high dose.

Milk thistle extract is available in a 25:1 ratio. This means that the extract is 25 times more concentrated than the starting material.

80% of this is the active ingredient silymarin , which has also been the subject of numerous studies.

This is important to emphasize. You need the right kind of milk thistle seed extract.

By the way: many other liver preparations cost more money and have too low a silymarin dosage.

Artichoke leaf extract is available in a 5:1 ratio.

Dandelion root extract is available in a 4:1 ratio.

Before ordering the product as a test, I browsed customer reviews.

I wanted to know if there are already people with fatty liver who use the product.

This is what I found:

Wow.

I especially loved the last review.

I decided to give the product a try for 3 months .

To make the experiment even more exciting, I had a complete blood test done after 3 months.

The result was stunning!

My cholesterol has dropped slightly to 190mg/DL. Still high, but now at least within the reference range.

The surprising thing, however, was the gamma-GT value , which indicated a fatty liver disease 3 months ago.

My gamma GT value dropped from 49 U/l to only 22 U/l.

In women the value must certainly be lower than 40 U/l.

AST and ALT also improved slightly.

But the biggest difference was noticeable on the scale .

I have n't changed my diet. So I was still in a calorie deficit.

But now I finally felt the deficit on the scale.

In the first month I "only" lost 2 kg.

But I didn't expect more.

According to Oliver, the liver had to heal first so that metabolism could get going.

But what I noticed early on was that I felt less tired , that I could exercise more easily and that my sleep also improved.

From the second month onwards the kilos really started to disappear.

What used to be a downward spiral has now become an upward spiral :

Healthy liver -> more energy -> higher calorie consumption -> less body fat -> less fat on the liver

After 3 months I had lost 10 kg and since then I have been able to maintain my weight.

The handbrake was finally released.

My liver was better than ever before.

As you can see, I am completely convinced of Blütenrein.

I can only recommend that you give it a try.

You have nothing to lose. You can only gain quality of life - and that is guaranteed.

Greenleaf Blends offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

That's why I'm linking you here to the Greenleaf Blends online shop, where you can also order exactly the same product.

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What I like about the Liver Detox Blend

  1. It is developed by a renowned company in the Netherlands.
  2. The composition has been put together by experts. You can see that current leading research has been taken into account when developing the product.
  3. Greenleaf Blends offers the product at an absolutely fair price. Other liver complexes, which are of lesser quality, sometimes cost €60-80 per month. Liver Detox Blend is already available for €23 per month.
  4. The ingredients are natural and of the highest purity and quality.
  5. I think the packaging is beautiful.
  6. I only need to take 2 capsules a day to combat my fatty liver disease.

The editor

Barbara Lang struggled with being overweight for more than 10 years. Despite various diets, she simply could not lose weight anymore. It wasn't until she healed her fatty liver disease that she was finally able to reach her goal weight and has remained at her goal weight ever since.

Appendix

Due to the many positive reactions, I have again answered a number of frequently asked questions:

What distinguishes the Liver Detox Blend from other liver products?

Milk thistle extract is more concentrated in Liver Detox Blend than in most other liver products. Choline has also been added, which is lacking in many other liver complexes. Independent laboratory testing is particularly important for liver products. There is no doubt that quality and safety are guaranteed here. The Greenleaf Blends company has a very good reputation in this regard. Unlike other companies of its type, Greenleaf is not owned by a giant supplement conglomerate that only cares about maximizing profit. On the contrary: it is still a family business owned by the original founders. This is also reflected in the price. Liver Detox Blend is significantly cheaper than comparable liver products.

What distinguishes the Liver Detox Blend from other liver products?

The Liver Detox Blend was developed in the Netherlands and is produced in Germany. The product has also been tested by an independent laboratory:

How long does it take before you see the first changes?

Herbal nutritional supplements have a different effect on everyone, because each body determines how it handles the ingredients they contain. Therefore it is not possible to give a general answer. However, there is feedback from many customers where the first effects are reported after just under 3 weeks of regular use.

Can I also take the Liver Detox Blend without fatty liver disease?

Yes, Liver Detox Blend can also be taken preventively or if fatty liver disease is suspected. All ingredients are of natural origin. People who burden their liver through diet, alcohol consumption or medication can especially benefit from the product.

Is there a guarantee?

Yes, Greenleaf Blends has a satisfaction guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the results within 30 days, you will receive a full refund.

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Sources (studies in English original):

Fructose and sugar: An important mediator of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29408694/ ) Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm .nih.gov/20564545/)Efficacy of artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18424099/ )