You hear so many tips and trick about weight loss that it may
leave you wondering which tips are the best and which tricks are
really tricks? Let's look at how food and exercise affect metabolism
and weight loss to help us understand why some of these tips and
tricks work or don't work...
Lately you may have heard a lot about low carbohydrate diets
and claims that they are working and that people are getting healthier
without paying attention to the amount of fat they are eating.
You may have even heard that the USDA is looking at changing the
food pyramid.
There is a major flaw in the low fat diet plan and scientist are
finally having to admit to it. Very little of your bodies Cholesterol
comes from diet. Your body manufactures most of your Cholesterol
from Carbohydrates. The culprit of turning these carbohydrates
into fat is Insulin.
Insulin is vital to life because it regulates blood sugar, controls
the storage of fat, regulates the liver’s production of
cholesterol, functions as a growth hormone, is important in appetite
control, drives the kidneys to retain fluid and much more. It
is absolutely essential to life, but too much of a good thing
can sometimes cause problems. Too much insulin can cause fat storage,
cholesterol production and is caustic to the blood vessels. Insulin,
by activating or inhibiting various metabolic pathways, can make
us sleepy, hungry, satisfied, dizzy, lightheaded or bloated.
As you age your insulin receptors become less sensitive to insulin
so your body overproduces insulin to meet what it thinks is it’s
need. By carefully monitoring the types and amount of carbohydrates
we eat we can clean up our insulin receptors. Decreased insulin
receptor site sensitivity is frequently the problem that Type
II Diabetics (Adult Onset Diabetics) have.
Not mixing certain food types is a dietary concept out there
now that actually makes some sense. For example it is a fact that
if you eat only a fat and a protein together the fat goes right
through you. Dietary fat by itself is not the culprit but when
you add a carbohydrate to the mix the body will turn the dietary
fat into body fat. If you eat a little protein and carbohydrate
(Low Fat Diet) together your body will make fat to either store
or use for energy depending on your activity level at the time.
But why? You didn't eat any fat?!
As an example: After that fat free ice cream cone, your body
produced more insulin than it needed because of your plugged insulin
receptors. The insulin does what it is supposed to; it lowers
your blood sugar level but then there is extra insulin circulating
around so it goes to work and turns some fat into cholesterol
and stores some fat somewhere else incase you decide to skip supper
tonight.
By decreasing your intake of concentrated sweets, like sugar
sweetened food and not overeating starches like breads, pasta
and potatoes you may keep your body from the overproduction of
insulin. Carbohydrates actually have a metabolic affect that make
any fat you eat worse for you. Carbohydrates affect the hormone
balance in your body to add to depression, lack of energy and
mood swings.
Exercise really is the key for healthy weight loss. By increasing
the strength and mass of your muscles you are better able to burn
calories. Exercise makes the rest of your everyday activities
easier therefore burning up more calories not only from the exercise
but from having more energy to complete your daily activities.
Having that energy is more likely to keep you busy so you think
about eating less often.
