Common Reasons for Obesity

Why Am I Fat?

(Reasons of Obesity worth Considering)

Fat is a politically-incorrect adjective. That is what feminist groups keep on saying in lieu with fats as the subject. Yes, it is true that being sexy and beautiful is largely based on every person’s preferences. However, one cannot also ignore the statistics of fat people having health complications like diabetes and hypertension. If you feel insecure about your obesity, it is best to address it with the right ways. Before beginning an exercise or diet program, you may want to examine yourself with the reasons why you are overweight. Finding out the root causes of obesity will help you create effective plans for weight loss in a healthy way.

Bad Fat Genes

Look around you. Examine your parents’ and other family members’ bodies. Are most of them fat? Yes, some people have genes that make them fat. Your hormones or hypothalamus may not be working normally thus producing hormones that invites you to eat more than the regular person. Your family may also have other congenital disease linked to being overweight. It doesn’t mean though that genes should rule your life. See a doctor and let him examine which aspect of your body needs to be corrected.

Lack of Aerobic Activities

If you are a workaholic and are content with sitting in your office swivel chair finishing a task for several hours, then you are a candidate of obesity. Sedentary lifestyle is one of the top reasons which often lead to obesity. Though you are mentally-stressed, your body is not doing any physical exercises that burn fat. Remember, oxygen burn body fats. Your regular breathing is not enough, you need to stretch, take a walk, dance or swim to burn accumulated calories. These days, some offices have mini gyms and workers are allowed to take a break in between shifts to exercise. Take advantage of these periods to sweat it all out. Instead of drinking coffee or eating your favorite snacks, try simple stretching routines with your colleagues.

Depression, Stress and Sleep Deprivation

These are activities that bring negative energy to our system. It is a misconception that stressed and tired people automatically will grow thin. Some reacted to stress and depression negatively. Some love to eat comfort foods like chocolates and sweets when depressed. You should be aware of this behavior. Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation contributes to being overweight. It is in sleeping that our bodies perform tremendous oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange. Without sleep, our body cannot metabolize well.

Other Clinical Diseases

Yes, kidney and cardiovascular problems and thyroid disorders are health problems that should be monitored. Our kidneys help in the metabolism of fats. A dysfunctional kidney will make some people look bloated. A hormonal imbalance in the thyroid glands or a liver dysfunction may also be related to obesity.

Food Choice

Most people held this factor as a culprit of their obesity. We get tempted easily with processed and express foods. We made our busy lifestyles as an excuse not cook fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables. Examine the food you prepare in the table. Are they healthy? Do they contain the right carbohydrates and essential fats that can be metabolized easily? These questions are important to keep your health and your family’s health intact. 

Am I at Risk for Hypertension?

          It's hard to tell if you have hypertension because there aren't any symptoms to deal with in its earlier stage until it reaches complication. That's when the real problem comes in. But if you feel some severe headache and occasional nosebleed along with it chances are you might be hypertensive.

          Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common condition that may lead to complications and severe health problems. Normally, it is a symptom of many illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and heart failure. In USA alone, almost half of its population has severe hypertension according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

          Hypertension comes in three major types namely essential, secondary and systolic hypertension. Essential hypertension occurs without any known cause. On the other hand, when hypertension is triggered by other conditions such as a disease, it is called secondary hypertension. Lastly, systolic hypertension is where the systolic blood pressure number is higher than normal. This type of hypertension is common in the elderly.

          However, despite having a general lack of symptoms, one can easily detect an uncontrolled hypertension since some of the major organs, like the kidney and the heart, can actually feel some discomfort whenever such condition attacks. If you feel an excessive and ongoing pressure in your blood, it's an indication that your blood is actually fighting its way through the walls of your arteries as it is pumped from your heart to your body.

          Aneurysm or an abnormal "ballooning" of arteries is also one of the effects of hypertension which can lead to vision changes and blindness due to bursting of one's arteries. But take to heart, hypertension isn't so bad the symptoms show. Most of the time hypertension is just a minor wake-up call. It is just a signal that we have to take it easy on either our lifestyle or in the food we eat. 

          Just to make sure, you have to keep an eye on your blood pressure. It usually rises as your age progresses. But if you're the kind that keeps a detailed track of your blood pressure, you need not worry much. Obesity is also a concern as it is sometimes hereditary and very hard to fix.  

          Most of the time, if you can find the right means to take control and manage your body rhythms and your emotional responses, the blood pressure stays at a fairly normal level. Looking at a beautiful scenery or a radiant baby’s face, reading a good book you like, taking a leisurely walk in the afternoon are just some of the natural hypertension cures. To sum it all up, take it easy!

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Basically, the signs and symptoms of diabetes are the same for both its types. The two types of diabetes simply differ in the speed of the development of the signs and symptoms.

The first type of diabetes is characterized by the complete failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for the control of the sugar levels in the blood. If there is no insulin produced, the blood sugar levels will continue to rise. The symptoms of diabetes 1 are excessive thirst, excessive urination, fatigue, unexplained and sudden weight loss and the person affected may also feel generally unwell. The symptoms are going to develop in weeks. If this is left untreated, this can cause coma or death.

Diabetes type 2 has similar symptoms with that of the type 1. The only difference that can be seen is that for the second condition, the pancreas still continues to function. Despite the fact that the pancreas of the type 2 diabetes is still functional, it does work below the normal levels. Another reason would be that the person is actually resistant to insulin. This means that the body is incapable of utilizing the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. Whichever the case, the symptoms appear at a slower rate and health is going to deteriorate over a long period of time even before the doctor can diagnose the condition.

The earliest signs of diabetes are the ones which are typically ignored by many people who might be developing the condition. Increased in thirst and urination are the symptoms. If ever this happens, it is essential that sugar levels are checked immediately. The diagnostic testing is rather very simple. It makes use of urine testing to check for glucose levels. If in case the result is suggesting that the person may have diabetes, a confirmatory diagnostic exam in the form of a blood test is initiated.

When you have the general feeling of being unwell plus any other diabetes symptoms, it is a must that you have to get yourself checked. The signs and symptoms of diabetes should not be ignored because this can possibly cause health problems that can occur rapidly.

It will also make management of the medical condition easier if the problem is spotted at its early stage. This way, complications will be significantly minimized.

Obesity Triggers Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition that is described as the condition wherein there is an abnormally maintained level of blood glucose in the blood. Many people have diabetes while some has pre-diabetic symptoms which can definitely develop to the disease if proper management is not sought.

Obesity is considered one of the factors that contribute to the occurrence of this type of disease. It has been established that overweight people are more prone to developing the disease compared to people with normal weights.

In the disease process, glucose is not considered as the culprit because of the fact that we actually need glucose to fuel our bodies to do our daily activities. The disease is caused by the improper production of insulin or merely its absence. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas and this hormone is responsible for the breakdown of glucose which makes it easier for cells to use.

Basically, people with diabetes do not have the capacity to utilize insulin effectively or they cannot produce the necessary amounts of insulin. If any of the following possibilities occur then glucose in the blood will not be able to transfer to the cells and they will remain stagnant and useless. Cells of the different systems of the body will not function well because they are deprived with glucose. High levels of glucose in the blood will also lead to sticky consistency of the blood that runs in the veins of diabetic people which will make difficult for proper blood flow.

There are many complications of diabetes. Its complications are rather severe conditions like blindness, kidney ailments and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetic symptoms include weight loss or gain, increased hunger and thirst as well as frequency in urination.

Basically, there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is characterized by inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of insulin which is needed for maintaining normal glucose levels in the blood. This is probably caused by damage to the pancreas, removal of the pancreas or perhaps excessive alcohol consumption. People who have this type of diabetes will need a daily dose of insulin so that they can function and live normally. The other type of diabetes is called Type 2 Diabetes. The second type of diabetes can be described as the inability of the body to utilize the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. This type of diabetes affects people more compared to that of the first type.

Diabetes is a tricky disease and it also needs a lot of sacrifices to properly manage it. It usually takes lifestyle modifications and a dose of self monitoring to be able to properly manage the condition. The first step towards preventing it is to take care of your health and your weight because obesity is one factor that can definitely trigger diabetes.

The Importance of Breakfast

As we always hear it, breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day.  But, many people overlook the importance of breakfast to our system. Some people opt to go to work with empty stomach.  Some take breakfast by drinking a cup of hot coffee only.  Others just buy some burgers or hash browns in fast food chains.    With our busy lifestyle, breakfast can only interlude in our scheduled activities for the day.

          Aside from hectic schedule that even eating breakfast can’t fit into, there are also other reasons why most people don’t appreciate the importance of taking breakfast every day.  Admit it or not, we prefer to sleep a little later than preparing breakfast.  With this, we believe that taking brunch, which is a combination breakfast and lunch is a better option.  Sometimes, we need to rush, get the kids off to school or simply forget to take breakfast.  Another reason which is common to dieters is the belief that skipping breakfast can lose weight quickly.

          For all you know, when morning comes our digestive system has already finished digesting whatever we ate last night.   If at 7 a.m. we haven’t taken our breakfast yet, then our stomach has been empty for the last 11 hours after the last meal.  Even when it’s empty, the stomach muscles still continues to work as it is involuntary.  Then, try to imagine, what would it digest? Well, it’s nothing else but your stomach lining.  Worst, with an empty stomach till afternoon, it will surely backfire on us. 

          As we sleep, the body passes through a period of starvation for almost 12 hours.  After this period, the body needs to refuel in order to compensate this.  Therefore, taking breakfast halts the starvation period.  It’s a vital activity before starting your hectic day.  Breakfast fuels up the energy and sustains us for the activities of the day.  Full breakfast is even recommended for those who are engaged in more physical activity. 

          If you are on a weight loss program, skipping breakfast is definitely a no-no.  In fact, it is required to eat breakfast so as to avoid overeating at lunch.  Lack of breakfast will only inhibit hunger pains which may lead to uncontrolled cravings that might lead to weight gain.  It kicks up metabolism process to a higher level, too.  Breakfast every morning will help avoid fatigue, headache, sluggishness and nausea.  It also boosts mental alertness and increases the energy needed for the day. 

          Similarly, we can also take breakfast as a great chance for losing more weight.  Aside from all the mentioned above, breakfast can also lose more weight when foods are healthy and organic.  It’s necessary that during breakfast foods are balanced which simply means that there should be carbohydrate, protein, fiber and no fat. 

Some foods to enjoy every morning include whole wheat bread, organic eggs, tea, cereals and fruit slices or juices which are simple yet sumptuous for a great start.  It is necessary to keep track with the foods you eat.  It helps you evaluate the foods you have taken and later on make some adjustment by adding variations.  It’s also important to prefer less refined foods because it contains more nutrients.  Furthermore, avoid taking those pre-processed food and instant food because they have higher sodium content. 

When losing weight, breakfast is considered as one of the secret methods to continue weight loss.  Skipping your breakfast may only lead to becoming overweight.  

Fat Burning Food Groups to Help with Weight Loss

Fat burning foods are used for weight loss because they have the capacity to induce more burning of fat than those of the other foods which facilitate storage of fat. For an obese or overweight person, it is a must to include fat burning foods in their diet. But as used alone for weight loss, results may not be effective. Why? Fat burning foods should be accompanied by other food groups in order for the body to have all the nutrients and minerals needed to generate energy. It is also important that the body will not lose muscle mass because muscles are responsible for fat burning. Foods grouped as thermogenics (fat burners) are just stimulants for the muscles to burn fats.

The following short paragraphs will detail you about the different fat burning food groups which you can choose to include in your weight loss diet. Let us study the different kinds of fat burning foods.

The first group is the citrus family. Vitamin C or most commonly referred to as the ascorbic acid has fat burning capabilities. Among the citrus fruits which are used for weight loss are grapefruit (red, white and pink), oranges, lemons and limes. The mechanism of action of ascorbic acid to help in fat burning is it actually is responsible in liquefying fat and later on move out of the body as waste. Vitamin c is used for blocking the effectiveness of fats to be deposited in the body. But wait; it is not only fats that ascorbic acids works on; cholesterol build up is also controlled by Vitamin C. It blocks the storage of cholesterol and liquefies it and then move out of the body easily. With this Vitamin C has a property to combat cardio vascular diseases not to mention that they are also good to be used as weight loss medium.

The next group of fat burners is the soybeans. As we all know, lecithin is abundant in soybeans. Lecithin is as powerful as vitamin c because it also has the capacity to protect the fat from being deposited in the body. As well as protecting the body from fat deposit, lecithin also has the ability to destroy fat build up. It is recommended for a weight watcher to consume soybeans at least three times a week to facilitate the burning of fat in the body.

Another famous and effective fat burner is fresh fruits such as the apples, berries and sometimes papaya. Pectin is what the apple have which is great for burning of fat. Berries and other fresh fruits also contain this chemical. Pectin has the ability to limit the fat to be directly absorbed by the body. With this property, the body will have a natural limitation of the fats that will be deposited in the body. Another property of the pectin is the water binding ability. With the absorption of watery substance which will destroy the fat deposits in the cells and then the destroyed fats will soon be released out of the body.  With the properties of the pectin which is a component of apple, the statement ‘an apple a day keeps the fat away’ is indeed true in all aspects.

Always remember that with using different kinds of fat burners, you need to partner it with a work out. Try simple yet effective physical activities like walking, slow jogging or swimming for at least 30 minutes daily. Healthy living also advocates a balanced diet (but with a fat burning diet) to enable the body to burn the fats that the body absorbs when eating. 

The Importance of Drinking Tips to your Weight Loss Program

Similar to food tips towards natural weight loss there are also drinking tips that must be followed to achieve a healthy body and a good lifestyle. These tips are focused on the drinks to take and the beverages to avoid when you are undergoing weight loss and getting your body in shape.

Unfortunately, plenty of people are only concentrating on what foods to eat in order to burn fats effectively and lose weight quickly. They are also focused on the best weight loss exercises to be included in their tasks. But no one is aware that 20% of our calorie needs come from different beverages. Our body actually consumes the 20% of our total calorie needs from drinking beverages such as juices, sweet drinks and water. If you are weight conscious, you must consider drinking beverages as a part of your diet plan.

There are drinks that act as appetite suppressants and boost our metabolism, but there are others that must be avoided, too.

Here are some good drinks:

(1) Water – It is the best, safest, most effective and most powerful drink to have for it has plenty of benefits that are essential to weight loss. But, water does not contain calories, so how can it help us lose weight? Water helps burn more fats that are accumulated from eating a variety of food. If you drink plenty of water you secrete more sweat than the usual thus helping you lose your weight faster.

 (2) Natural Juices – It is highly recommended to drink juices that are more natural and lesser in sugar content.  Natural Juices contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants that are essential in boosting up metabolism.

(3) Calcium Rich Beverages – Although Calcium does not contribute to weight loss routines, lack of Calcium increases the amount of fat cells that will be stored as fat deposits. So drinking Calcium rich beverages is an important drinking tip to consider. Skimmed milk and yogurt are one of the best beverages to take. On the other hand bad beverages include carbonated beverages, sodas, energy drinks, coffee and alcohol. They don’t have nutritional contents and they are not applicable for people who aim to lose weight.

In general, having these drinking tips as part of your weight loss diet plan will surely help your body eat the right food and perform the right exercises to lose weight effectively and quickly.