Eat for Energy – Avoid Weight Gain

You eat for energy. You expend energy through work, exercise, and daily chores, burning off the calories you took in as you ate. Sometimes, you don’t use enough energy to burn off all the food eaten in a day. What is left behind stays in the body, causing you to gain weight.

Weight gain is as simple as that…or so we are led to believe. While overeating is a major contributor to one’s weight gain, other factors can play a role. With the many programs on the market for personalized weight loss, it is only a matter of determining which factors have led to your current size, and which products can help counteract the gain.

Let’s take a look at other factors known to cause unhealthy weight gains.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is defined by having an underactive thyroid. The thyroid is the gland located beneath the larynx (voice box) and secretes the hormones that regulate metabolism and growth. As an underactive thyroid produces less of this hormone as it would in a person with a normal thyroid, a person suffering hypothyroidism will also suffer from a low metabolism. This, in turn, may cause weight gain.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are defined as bodily reactions to the consumption of specific types of food. Symptoms may ranges from minor skin irritations to more serious medical emergencies.

Oftentimes, a person with a specific food allergy may crave that particular food when they stop eating it, not unlike a drug addict experiences withdrawl pains when trying to come clean. Falling off the wagon, so to speak, may strengthen the desire to eat more, thus causing weight gain.

Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder defined by the body’s overproduction of the steroid cortisol. Cortisol regulates blood pressure, cardiovascular function, and the body’s usage of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat stores. When the body experiences a great amount of physical or emotional stress, cortisol production increases. If you have ever wondered why you turn to the refrigerator in times of personal anxiety, it is because of this steroid. A condition like Cushing’s Syndrome produces cortisol constantly, thereby increasing unecessary cravings and eventual weight gain.

Blood Sugar Imbalance

A diet consisting mainly of simple carbohydrates can lead to fluctuations in your body’s blood sugar levels. As you eat things like potatoes and starches, and sweets like chocolate and pastries, your blood sugar levels rises. Your body will secrete insulin to store the sugar and stabilize these levels, but an overabundance of insulin can cause cravings for these same foods. The more bad carbs you eat, the more insulin is produced, continuing this cycle.

Hormonal and emotional imbalances in the body not only contribute to strong cravings for unhealthy foods, but may also factor into overall low metabolism. When energy is low, you are less likely to exercise and expend energy, causing a build-up of sugars and fats in your system.

Once you are able to pinpoint the reason for weight gain, you are armed with the knowledge to prevent it in the future. Whether you choose exercise, diet supplements, or another form of weight loss, consult your doctor before beginning any strenuous program.

Kathryn Lively writes about Richmond health issues.