The Body Doctor

Sleep and Weight Loss

Dr Naras Lapsys — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:51:41 +0000

More and more studies are showing that poor sleep patterns and not enough sleep are associated with weight gain. Although we are not quite sure of the underlying mechanism, studies are pointing towards how appetite control signals from the brain are altered by sleep restriction. Restricted sleep may increase the release of an appetite-stimulating hormone […]

Beetroot Juice for Endurance Sports

Dr Naras Lapsys — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:48:13 +0000

Like many vegetables, beetroot contains a lot of naturally occurring nitrate. Dietary nitrates have been heavily investigated because it is these chemicals that are converted into nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator. Nitric oxide improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to working muscles. Studies have shown that exercising athletes who supplement with beetroot juice, may gain […]

Family Dining Encourages Healthy Eating

Dr Naras Lapsys — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:05:57 +0000

Our eating habits are established in childhood and remain with us for life. Dining as a family plays an important role in the development of these habits. Children model and mimic adult behaviours, ranging from how we use our cutlery, not speaking with our mouths full and observing what and how much we eat. Studies […]

Female, Tired and Lethargic?

Dr Naras Lapsys — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 21:06:05 +0000

This is a post that I have been meaning to write for quite some time. It is a little known fact that one in 3 women (worldwide) is anaemic. There are quite a few reasons why women can become anaemic but by far the leading cause is iron deficiency. Iron is used by the body […]

Cancer Prevention and Cancer Survival – What You Can Do

Dr Naras Lapsys — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:08:16 +0000

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research recently issued 8 recommendations for the prevention of cancer. In short, these recommendations are as follows: – Maintain a healthy weight – Stay physically active – Don’t smoke – Eat a lot of plant-based food – Limit your red meat consumption and avoid […]

Attitude, continuity critical to weight control

Dr Naras Lapsys — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:52:09 +0000

A recent Courier Mail headline was troubling: Two in three Aussies are fatties. The article went on to say that information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that 63.4 per cent of our adults are overweight or obese and that’s up from 56.3 per cent back in 1995. In 2007-08 the number was just […]

Food Addiction is Like Drug Addiction – New Studies

Dr Naras Lapsys — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:24:14 +0000

We all know how excessive drug use and alcohol can result in addiction. We’ve heard of people’s stories about their battle with these, the anonymous groups they joined to help them overcome it and the never ending struggle to stay away from it all. You may have also heard the term food addiction loosely used […]

Undiagnosed IBS a Major Health Issue

Dr Naras Lapsys — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:30:58 +0000

With our years of nutrition consultancy in Sydney, we’ve seen a lot of health situations, but imagine waiting as long as five years before getting help with a persistent and unpleasant medical condition. That’s what happens with an estimated 40 per cent of Australians who are suffering from some kind of food intolerance, according to […]

Controlling Your Childrens’ Eating Habits May Lead to Poor Nutrition

Dr Naras Lapsys — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:19:38 +0000

Some parents enforce strict rules when it comes to eating, such as not allowing their children to leave the dinner table unless their plate is clean or restricting certain types of foods. Parents want their children to develop good eating habits, and as a result, rules like these are implemented. Most parents don’t know they […]

Stop Scolding, Start Encouraging

Dr Naras Lapsys — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:31:28 +0000

It looks like healthcare providers around the world are catching on to something we’ve known all along through our experience in successful weight loss with Sydney area residents: It’s a far better strategy to encourage people as they work to control their weight, rather than scold them. You probably know the old adage that says, […]