Introduction
Those who want to embark on a slimming path must do it in the safest way possible and this means relying on the hands of an expert, who will be able to advise us on most suitable diet to us. Before starting the diet, you must also be sure that everything in our body works correctly and to do so we need to undergo some exams. Generally it is the doctor who prescribes the tests to be done, also based on our anamnesis, we try to understand in principle what are the tests to which it is appropriate to undergo.
Any diet, however balanced, complete and performed for a short time, presupposes some deprivation and narrowness. This is why the prerequisite for starting any type of diet, and today there are so many, is to be in good health. We must be sure that the body is able to bear a diet in which some foods do not find a place.
A new diet based on a more conscious approach to food is the Nutritional Plan method.
Two other popular diets are Paleo and Keto.
But is there a diet suitable for over 50s?
Blood test: complete blood count
I blood draws they are routine tests and must be performed regularly, not only before embarking on a weight loss course, to check the general state of health. These are complete tests that allow you to check certain parameters, on the basis of which the dietician or nutritionist biologist will formulate a more correct diet. The first test to perform is a blood exam completed. A value to keep under control is that ofhemoglobin, the protein contained in red blood cells that performs the fundamental function of carrying oxygen to all tissues of the body. Deficiency of hemoglobin is often a symptom of anemia and weakness. It is also essential to check the values ​​of red and white blood cells, platelets and hematocrit. The function of white blood cells (leukocytes) is to defend the body: if their number is normal, it means that there are no diseases or infections. The value of platelets (indicates blood clotting),hematocrit (blood density), del mean corpuscular volume (measure of the average volume of red blood cells).
Tests to be carried out before the diet
- VES
- glycemia,
- uricemia,
- urea,
- creatinine,
- transaminases,
- gammaGT,
- triglycerides,
- cholesterol
- plasma electrolytes.
Glycemia
The blood glucose value indicates the amount of glucose in the blood. When the values ​​are not normal, it means that there is an imbalance between the release of glucose into the circulation and its elimination. Sugar reaches some tissues (muscles, fat, liver) by means ofinsulin, the hormone produced by pancreas.
The blood glucose measurement checks the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin, and therefore to determine if it is in the presence of diabetes. When the blood glucose reference value is high it indicates a form of insulin resistance, that is, a dysfunction of the pancreas that is unable to properly regulate the level of sugars.
Cholesterol
Another relevant parameter that the doctor will want to check before formulating a weight loss diet will be the cholesterol level. The lipid test should be routine, as excessively accumulated fats in the body can cause blockage of the arteries, with the risk of stroke and heart attack.
The values ​​concern the total cholesterol, transported in the blood by high density lipoproteins (HDL or "good" cholesterol) and by low intensity (LDL or "bad" cholesterol). High levels of Ldl cholesterol they expose the arteries to the risk of plaque formation by preventing good blood circulation. The HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, it reduces this risk.
Triglycerides
Levels of this blood value reveal how we eat. the triglycerides, in fact, are dietary fats transported in the blood through lipoproteins (chylomicrons), and reach the muscles, heart and liver to provide energy.
The presence of triglycerides high in the blood indicates a diet that is too rich in animal fats and sugars.
Check the pressure
Another factor that the doctor will check before starting the weight loss diet is the blood pressure: according to the values ​​it will formulate a diet rather than another. There systemic blood pressure it is the force that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. It is measured in millimeters of mercury: i values ​​considered optimal are 120 (systolic) mm / Hg and 80 (diastolic). In case of low pressure it is essential to introduce essential minerals, such as magnesium, potassium and sodium. In case of hypertension, however, foods containing sodium, sugar and animal fats will be reduced more.
Hormonal check
Before starting a weight loss diet, and especially in the presence of overt metabolic syndrome or related symptoms, it is useful to carry out hormone tests on ACHT and cortisol. The levels of the ACHT show us how the aendocrine system, and, in the presence of busted value, it can be the indicator of pathologies such as the Morbo of Cushing o at the expense of adrenal. Cortisol, on the other hand, regulates the correct metabolism of sugars, fats and proteins. Cortisol, also called stress hormone, if present in high levels, it hinders the slimming process.
Values ​​of the Thyroid
Another fundamental parameter to know before embarking on a slimming process, under strict medical supervision, is that of the thyroid which regulates the energy taken with the diet and produces the molecules that manage the metabolism. Verifying that there are no dysfunctions and that you are not in the presence of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is fundamental. To control thyroid function, we resort toesame TSH. It is useful to test the values ​​of creatininemia e azotemia: if the former is high, the diet will be low in protein e low sodium. High azotemia, on the other hand, indicates dehydration.
Food intolerance
Verify that they are not there food intolerances it is essential to draw up a diet, because their presence could limit weight loss and cause symptoms to appear that could compromise the effectiveness of the weight loss regimen. Tests for food intolerances are different, such as blood sampling to detect the reaction to a particular substance, skin food intolerance, oi oral provocation test, which consists in the oral administration of a food to observe any reactions that are generated.
Urine tests
Urinalysis can be prescribed by the dietician before embarking on a weight loss diet to verify the presence of chetonic bodies, which reveal an excessive consumption of fatty meats, sausages and animal proteins.
Here are the exams to be done in menopause.
