by Dr. Neil Paulvin

With summer upon us, it seems that all my patients want to know how to keep their weight down. That’s a good question—there are lots of diet plans out there. Here are some easy tips to help slim down for summer.

The first thing to understand is that not all calories are the same; broccoli is not the same as chocolate cake. The second thing is that crash diets only crash your hormones, ultimately causing weight gain. I typically recommend the Mediterranean Diet, the Paleo Diet and the Ketogenic Diet—a low-carb, high-fat diet that decreases insulin and increases fat burning.

I also recommend intermittent fasting: not eating for 16 hours, and then eating during the next eight. Doing this twice a week expedites weight loss.

While the thyroid can be a factor in weight gain, certain hormones are involved too. So if you’re having trouble losing weight, have your doctor check those levels.

Leptin, for example, triggers the brain to stop eating. But the brain can become resistant to leptin because of inflammation or exposure to toxins like mold. If your leptin levels are elevated, try decreasing them naturally by going to bed at the same time every night, fasting for several hours before sleep and decreasing protein intake.

It’s also important to check your fasting insulin level, as well as your cortisol, adiponectin, estradiol and free and total testosterone levels.

Finally, eat foods that help you detox, avoid foods to which you are sensitive or allergic, and take at least 30 billion units of probiotics daily. Addressing intestinal issues can help you lose weight.

Dr. Neil Paulvin is owner of All-In-One-Wellness, located at 1317 Third Ave. (between 74th & 75th) and 370 Lexington Ave. (between 40th & 41st). For more information, call 646-828-7844 or visit DoctorPaulvin.com.