Results from a study presented at The Endocrine Society’s 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco recently revealed that overweight and obese men secrete greater amounts of stress hormones after eating – which likely makes them more susceptible to illness.
With skyrocketing obesity becoming a serious health problem across the globe, medical researchers are looking at various approaches to reduce the instance of disease, including identifying the differences in hormonal regulation between the lean and overweight in response to various situations such as food intake.
Earlier studies have already found that people who are overweight have increased levels of cortisol when faced with stressful situations; this study finds that the overweight and obese men who were tested experienced a significant increase in salivary cortisol levels after eating as compared to men who were considered to be of an ideal weight. Cortisol levels increased by 51 percent in the overweight while those who were of normal weight experienced only a 5 percent increase.
This means that for these individuals, every time they consume food, they may be a greater risk of developing stress-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety.
For those that haven’t felt motivated enough to make the changes necessary to lose weight and achieve better health, this certainly provides one more reason to consider doing so today
Reasons to get motivated today
Being overweight or obese doesn’t just mean a shorter life span, it often equates to unhappiness – a life of pain and the inability to take part in many things that make life more enjoyable!
It’s not just a matter of appearance either. Yes, what’s on the inside counts, but when you can’t move without a struggle or have a difficult time catching your breath just walking across a parking lot or down the street, it can significantly decrease your happiness level and make your remaining years filled with more drudgery than joy.
Tips for getting started now
Consider these steps for achieving a healthy weight as well as optimal overall health.
Don’t attempt a starvation or near-starvation diet. Any diet that is very low in calories lacks the nutrition your body needs to function and will also cause you to lose muscle mass which will slow your metabolism, causing you to regain any weight that is lost (and possibly more). Without sufficient nutrients you won’t have the energy needed to be physically active or to focus on other responsibilities
Focus your diet on as many whole, fresh foods as possible, including lots of foods that are rich in antioxidants like deeply pigmented vegetables and fruits such as dark leafy greens, kale, spinach and arugula as well as richly colored purples, reds, bright oranges and yellows.
Avoid processed foods, fast foods and anything that contains a long list of difficult to pronounce ingredients.
Eat healthy fats. You should include plenty from foods like organic, virgin coconut oil, organic cold-pressed olive oil, wild-caught salmon, nuts and seeds.
Drink lots of water. You may think you’re hungry when you’re really thirsty and reach for a snack when you don’t need to. Water is essential for keeping all body functions running efficiently as well as for fat burning.
Incorporate physical activity into your day every day. If you’re very overweight or haven’t been active for a long time, you may need to start small. All movement counts. Take every opportunity you can. Begin by walking around the block; small steps eventually lead to bigger steps and before you know it you’ll be walking a mile and perhaps even running a 5K.
Get plenty of rest, generally 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Without enough sleep, the levels of the hormone leptin in your body are lowered which can cause an increase in appetite.
If necessary, make gradual changes. You don’t have to do everything all at once – whatever it takes for you to achieve better health is the best option.
What one thing will you do to change your life today?
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/262072.php
