Obesity in America
Obesity and Vegetables – Nutrition is the Answer to the Question of Health
Sep 8th
As a result of our fast-paced modern life, the core elements of healthy living have been forgotten. The most important element is keeping a natural balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Nutrition is the heart of health, and the food we eat is the anchor that holds our health in place.
As the “fat-and-fit” movement grows, we are witnessing an ever-growing crowd of overweight people that has the discipline it takes to exercise on a regular basis. They become fit, and carry themselves better. Some of them have a deeper sleep and a happier, clearer mind. These are the common effects regular exercise will give us.
For some reason, even though they exercise regularly, their weight remains the same, and with time, weight-related problems arrive. These problems could be avoided with a few minor adjustments to their diet.
What is keeping us from losing the weight that is weighing us down?
The answer to that question is usually the right diet. Some of you may ask – “But what is the ideal diet?”. The answer is the right mixture of seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Nutrition is an extremely major factor in our health, and it is our responsibility to explore it a bit deeper, for our own sake.
It is important to understand that by many standards, being overweight is considered a very serious problem. Obesity is basically being extremely heavier then the maximum recommendations for our height and age. Being obese will severely amplify the risk for having a wide variety of illnesses. Some illnesses are relatively minor, such as breathing difficulties or male impotency. Those issues could be taken care of by using common medical drugs. Midway through that spectrum we find psychological effects such as severe depression or apathy. At the far end of that spectrum we encounter deadly diseases such as cancer and different heart conditions.
Regulating our diet does not mean lowering our carbohydrates intake. At times, the direct opposite is true, as our body might experience stress from the lack of available energy. Once this happens, our body will learn to hold on to every carbohydrate that is eaten, and store it. This can lead to stress in the stomach, and at times will cause us to gain weight rather then lose it. The true meaning of a good diet is a whole one, that contains all of the nutrients needed by our body to function. Different types of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts, in the right quantities and the right combination. If we eat right, the exercise part of any “diet” has a relatively minor effect on the weight, and the nutrition alone is sufficient to achieve the result.
So let us never forget that the power of decision-making is there for us, if we decide to use it. If we do, as we should, the knowledge is available as well. Always remember that by adjusting our diet we can make a difference in our state of being. It is all about eating the right fruits and vegetables. Our nutrition will give our body the ease it needs to allow our mind to further develop. That alone will nourish the perfect machine which is our healthy body.
5 Potential But Unpopular Causes of Obesity
Sep 8th
Obesity occurs not only as a result of excessive calorie-intake. It could also happen as an aftermath of an illness. It is upon these things that some people find themselves continuing to gain weight or failing to shed the extra pounds. See, despite efforts to get rid of unwanted pounds, proper dieting and exercise alone are not enough to guarantee the achievement of a desired weight.
Here’s a fact: Weight gain may be a result of various factors such as endocrine disorders, depression, lack of sleep, medications, and stress.
The endocrine system produces hormones and is responsible for various body processes and procedures – like metabolism. The amount of hormone this system produces affects the entire body. Endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism are among the most common causes of weight gain. This disease, which may be diagnosed with simple blood test, is characterized by fatigue, weakness, dry skin, cold intolerance and depression.
Depression has also been scientifically proven to cause weight gain. This disorder may result from an imbalance of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate mood and appetite. Serotonin imbalance leads to changes in appetite. This is the reason why people who are depressed either tend to eat a lot or none at all. Depression also manifests as isolation, the lack of motivation, feeling of hopelessness, loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, as well as unexplained aches and pains. These symptoms affect the frequency and intensity of physical activity that may cause wight loss.
Being overweight may also be due to lack of sleep which occurs as a result of hormonal imbalances. When a person lacks sleep, he develops insulin resistance and eventually develops intense sugar cravings.
Medications such those for the treatment of diabetes as well as oral contraceptives contribute to weight gain. This is largely because these medications contain chemicals that trigger food cravings or promote fat build up.
Stress is another factor that contributes to weight gain. Stress increases the body’s cortisol, a hormone that is responsible for weight gain. The cortisol, also called the “stress hormone”, is also responsible for a person’s level of immunity, sensitivity to pain and homeostasis. As an added input, cortisol imbalances results in impaired cognitive performance, decreased bone density, and higher blood pressure among others.
