Obesity is a growing problem all over the United States, but we have noticed it happening at alarming rates here in Michigan. We here at Facey Stacey wanted to do something about it. We know there are countless weight loss options and a different diet craze or miracle food seemingly every other day, and we know how confusing that can all be. Fad or complicated diets that are impossible to stick to will fail. This weeks super-food may be next weeks “never eat this ever” food. Surgeries can be rough on the body and too intense for some patients. Proper diet and exercise are the right way to achieve and maintain your optimal weight, but sometimes you just need help.

That’s where the MIC injection comes into play. MIC injections are a combination of Vitamin B-12 and three individual compounds, each designed to help accelerate your weight loss. There are a lot of misconceptions about MIC and other lipotropic injections, allow us to clear up a few of them:

Lipotropic injections melt the fat away:
FALSE. The injections certainly help, but they are not “magic” and do not instantly dissolve fat. Instead, the “I” and “C” portions of the MIC injection provide a powerful fat-filtering combination. Inositol, the “I”, helps to regulate your hormone and insulin levels. This means your mood will be more stable and your hunger levels should decrease. Choline, the “C”, helps by metabolizing the fats and sending them into your blood stream to be used. That means that fat deposits in your body will decrease as your metabolism speeds up.

MIC injections will keep your metabolism up so much that you can just lay around and do nothing:
FALSE. Methionine, the “M”, helps with more effective mobilization and elimination of abnormal fat deposits. The vitamins in a MIC injection often give the patient a feeling of increased energy, but that does not necessarily mean that their metabolism is running so high that exercise is not necessary.

MIC injections are full of unnatural chemicals:

FALSE. The break down of a MIC injection is simple. Methionine is an amino acid found in eggs, fish, spinach, sesame seeds, potatoes, etc. Inositol is naturally found in nuts, beans, cantaloupes, oranges and some grains. Choline is most commonly found in peanuts, chicken, cauliflower and more. B12 is a vitamin found in shellfish, liver, crustaceans, soy, eggs, cheese and more. There isn’t anything in a MIC injection that you couldn’t get in a healthy and balanced diet – the point of the MIC injection is to give your body a purified and concentrated boost of these things without the calorie and fat that often comes with them. Your body can then make the most efficient use of these compounds possible.

Whatever your weight loss goals, it’s important to remember that there is no magic pill to make you instantly the perfect weight. You will have to eat proper balanced meals in correct portion sizes. You will have to exercise. You will have to be mindful of the signals your body is trying to give you. To learn more about what your options for weight loss are and what we can do to help, please contact the office to make an appointment.

Understanding Lipotropics:

Lipotropic, the term literally means “fat loving”! Lipotropic agents are a class of  substances that play an important role in the body’s use of fat. Many substances have lipotropic properties of which choline, inositol and methionine are among the most note-worthy. Through their involvement in lipid (fat) metabolism, lipotropics help maintain a healthy liver.

1. They increase the production of lecithin by the liver and the term is used to refer to substances that are able to help the liver metabolize fats and carbohydrates. This helps to solubilize cholesterol, thus lessening cholesterol deposits in blood vessels and decreasing the choice of gallstone formation (gallstones are made of cholesterol).

2. They prevent the accumulation of fats in the liver. A fatty liver can cause sluggish liver function.

3. They detoxify amine (by-products of protein metabolism). This is important for people on a high protein diet.

4.They increase resistance to disease. They bolster the thymus gland to carry out its anti-disease function by stimulating the production of antibodies. Stimulating the growth of phagocytes, which surround and absorb invading viruses and microbes. They also recognize and destroy foreign and abnormal tissue.

What are some of the important functions of the individual Lipotropics?

Choline & Inositol are co-enzymes that are required for the proper metabolism of fats, and have the ability to remove fat from the liver. Choline works well with inositol to utilize fats and cholesterol. The body can produce choline, with the help of vitamin B12, folic acid and methionine.

Choline: Metabolizes fat. Deficiency of choline can lead to cirrhosis and fatty degeneration of the liver and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). It is being used today for ailments such as gall bladder trouble, diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy, glaucome, senility and memory problems (forgetfulness). Choline detoxifies amines that are the by-products of protein metabolism.

Inositol: Deficiency of inositol can lead to hair loss. It works with Vitamin E to facilitate its actions in the treatment of Muscular Dystrophy. It is used in nerve and muscle disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy. Caffeine may cause depletion of inositol.

Methionine: It works with choline to detoxify amines which are the by-products of protein metabolism. It acts as a catalyst for choline and inositol, opening up their function. Along with choline it aids in reducing liver fat and protects the kidney.