Why 4000 kcal a day is sometimes not enough
I recently started a training to become an orthomolecular therapist, and I'm also following a course with Rineke Dijkinga. This has really deepened my understanding of how the body works and motivates me to keep learning more.
In the previous blog post I shared my fascination with the "construction site" of your body. But there's one statistic that truly shocked me: as much as 95% of people have an imbalance at the cellular level.
This means that 19 out of 20 people, even if they eat a lot or eat very healthy, have a body that is, on a cellular level, "locked".
Haro's story
Haro is a clear example of this. After his surgeries in 2022, he lost 25 kg. At the beginning of 2023, he weighed only 59 kg, at a height of 1.92 m. That's extremely low.
He did everything he could to gain weight: he ate more than 4000 kcal per day. That meant 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners. But despite those huge amounts of food, the weight just wouldn't stick. The trucks full of building materials were arriving… but the gates of the construction site were locked.
Today, we approach it differently. We no longer focus only on how much we eat, but on what the body can actually absorb.
We both take a daily protein shake (in addition to eggs and other high-quality proteins). But most importantly: we consciously focus on making our cell membranes more fluid.
By improving the Omega-6:3 balance, nutrients can finally enter the cells again. And the result? It works. Haro is gaining weight again and now weighs 73 kg. A world of difference.
The real issue: the "rigid" cell
In orthomolecular science, we know that an excess of omega-6 (common in modern diets) can make cell membranes stiff and less permeable. You can eat whatever you want, but nutrients will essentially "bounce off" your cells.
In the next blog post I'll share what actually happens inside the cell once those doors finally open. Because when the foundation (the cell) is in place, your body can truly start building again.
And thanks to that, Haro is now able to ride horses again, chop wood, break concrete and do physical work, of course, with enough rest in between.