In response to a stressful situation, our body secretes the stress hormone cortisol, which alters our physiological response.
Cortisol helps us cope with acute stressful situation by increasing blood levels for energy mobilization, increasing appetite, converting fat to energy, suppressing reproductive system, and stimulating immune organs to cope with bodily injury.
However, if the level of cortisol is chronically elevated, it results in a number of negative and destructive effects, including:
- visceral fat deposits
- memory impairment
- insulin resistance
- osteoporosis
- mood swings
- changes in Sleeping habits
- various digestive issues
- neuromuscular complaints
Besides making us much less able to enjoy life and much more unpleasant to deal with, chronic stress can cause a cascading series of physiological responses in our systems that can lead to serious health issues in long run:
Here are a few!
Nutrient deficiencies due to decrease in nutrient absorption and increase in excretion of certain minerals
Increased chances of cardiovascular disease by increasing LDL, triglycerides and increasing blood pressure (high blood pressure)
Reduced good gut flora, which can lower immunity and cause digestive issues
Reduced metabolism and increased fat storage, leading to weight gain
Decreased healing ability
Increased oxidative stress which increases premature aging
In the next post we will look at what can be done to reduce and manage stress so that some or all of these negative health consequences can be avoided and managed.
P.S Feel free to leave me a comment on this post!
Sugar Anyone?
Refined table sugar, also called sucrose, is extracted from either sugar cane or beets and then refined. During the process, it is striped of its vitamins, minerals and fiber. It actually requires extra effort from the body to digest and assimilate.
The body must deplete its own store of minerals and enzymes to absorb sucrose properly. Therefore, instead of providing the body with nutrition, refined sugar creates deficiencies.
Sugar has a lot of negative health impacts:
- it can suppress the immune system
- weaken eyesight
- cause hypoglycemia
- cause weight gain
- exacerbate arthritis
- contribute to the development of osteoporosis
- increase cholesterol
- contribute to development of diabetes
- speed up skin aging
- increase fluid retention
- cause poor concentration
- lead to mood swings and depression
Sugar is also related to ADD and ADHD, in both adults and children.
If sugar causes us so much trouble, why are we still hooked?
The reason is, sugar is an addictive substance, because:
1. Eating even a small amount creates a desire for more; and
2. Sudden quitting causes withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, cravings and fatigue.
It is important to realize that sugar is an addictive substance – just like caffeine and even alcohol – because then psychologically you won’t blame yourself for being "weak" and give up when you try to "quit" and fall off the wagon.
It’s not just about willpower – your cravings have a physical cause and in my next blog post (Thursday) I am going to give you the tools so that you can get to the root cause of your cravings, and wean off your intake gradually and painlessly.
Get your Free Report Here:
Secrets Of Fat Loss
P.S Leave me a comment about this article below I value your feedback!
Weight Loss – Why Should We Care?
Gaining a little extra weight is not a big problem however gaining extra weight on a constant basis week after week and month after month can lead to being overweight and being overweight if not put in check can lead to excessive weight gain leading to obesity.
Obesity has become an epidemic in our society, it’s not uncommon to see people going on various diets, counting calories to the single digit, and still constantly battling extra pounds.
Overweight and obesity can cause a lot of health issues some of which include:
- insulin resistance
- type 2 diabetes
- fatty liver disease
- myocardial infarctions (heart attack)
- hypertension
- stroke
- cancer
- asthma
- sleep apnea
- osteoarthritis, neurodegeneration and gall bladder disease to name a few!
The medical community even predicted that this generation of children would be the first generation to live a shorter lifespan than their parents since the industrial revolution because of the obesity epidemic.
Obesity not only affects an individual’s quality of life, but also put a huge burden on the society’s healthcare system.
Besides people who are obese or overweight, there are also people who are considered to be “skinny fat” – they look and weigh within the normal range, but their body composition has a high proportion of fat. These people are also at higher risk of the diseases and conditions associated with obesity, as mentioned above.
Aside from someone who suffers from a medical condition or metabolic disease there are many options to help individuals lose weight, reduce health risks, feel better and live a longer quality of life.
What are some of the options to lose weight and fight obesity?
Going to a fitness facility, hiring or consulting with a fitness and wellness professional, joining a specific weight loss program, being more active and eating healthier are all good options but what about the foods we consume on a regular basis?
Does it all not begin with the food that we consume on a daily basis?
One Key ingredient to health that we are all aware of but not doing as much as we should is consuming the right type of foods and knowing what, when and how to eat!
In this Free Weight/Fat Loss Report http://eepurl.com/J3T8P you can learn the #1 secret to losing fat effectively and effortlessly!
Instead of fighting with your body, you will learn why the body accumulates fat and how you can work with your body chemistry to burn off excess fat plus more!
Check it out below!
