Ways We Gain Weight
Posted in Be Beautiful, Home Training Fitness, University of Health on August 5th, 2010
If your weight loss efforts are going nowhere, consider this: There are numerous factors that contribute to weight gain besides caloric intake. Here are five ways we gain weight, aside from the calories consumed vs. calories burned theory.
Deficient good fat in our diet. Essential fatty acids, also known as the omega-3 and omega-6 good fats, which we find in flaxseeds, fish, nuts and seeds, truly are essential. In addition to providing nourishment, fats maintain the body’s metabolic rate. The higher our metabolic rate, the more calories we expend doing general everyday activities.
Food allergies. Allergies cause internal side effects that can directly and indirectly promote the appearance of weight gain. Bloating and swelling in our intestines does not affect fat production, but it will fatten your belly.
Overproduction of insulin. A little known condition that might affect 25% of the population, insulin resistance causes the body to overproduce insulin in order for the insulin to be effective. Since insulin stimulates the body to utilize glucose instead of fat, an excessive amount of insulin will trigger the body to store fat, even when the fat might otherwise be metabolized as fuel.
Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is highly involved in regulating our metabolism, the speed at which our body uses calories. If you have a sluggish thyroid, you may suffer from low metabolism.
Bad food combining. Medical research that shows that the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat in our body affects our insulin production, which in turn, impacts how much fat our body burns or stores. This is true for every meal, even small snacks. If you consume a small snack of a rice cake with sugar free jelly, you are only eating carbs - no protein and no fat. Although your calorie intake is about 150 calories, your insulin levels will spike as if you had just eaten several donuts. The key to keeping insulin levels at ideal levels is to always have a little protein and fat with every carb we eat.