Research Confirms Sugar and Carbs Are Responsible for
Obesity Surge, Not Physical Inactivity
More than one-third of Americans are obese, putting 78.6
million adults at risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes
and certain cancers according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, but according to new research findings published
in the Journal of Sports Medicine, sugar and carbohydrates are
behind the obesity surge, not physical inactivity.
Regular exercise is important for disease prevention but
what researchers discovered were calories from sugar and
carbs generate more health problems than physical inactivity,
alcohol and smoking combined. In fact, researchers have now
found that cutting down on dietary carbohydrates is the single
most effective approach for reducing all of the characteristics
of metabolic syndrome and should be the primary strategy for
treating diabetes.
Researchers also noted that cutting out carbs had other
health benefits beyond weight loss and more research is showing that even athletes should avoid the common practice
of carbohydrate loading prior to intense exercise, especially for
those athletes who are already insulin resistant.
AGAINST THE GRAINS
Never before in the course of history have
Americans eaten as many refined carbohydrates
as they eat today. Research shows
consuming excess grain and sugar carbohydrates
is a primary reason why so many
people suffer from:
- Excess Weight
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Brain fogginess
- Bloating
The body needs carbohydrates but prefers
the form of carbs found in vegetables rather
than grains because their composition
slows its conversion to simple sugars like
glucose and decreases your insulin level.
If you notice an increase in your appetite, it may not
be because your body is really hungry but could be a sign
of a physical or mental health issue. If you are feeling like a
bottomless pit then something is definitely up. Hunger is driven
by the physiological need for calories, water, and salt but may
be driven by a variety of factors including what you are eating,
hormones, sleep and stress. Below
are five of the top reasons why
you’re always hungry and how to
slow it down:
YOU’RE CARB LOADING: This is
your brain on drugs. This is your
brain on starchy carbs. It may as
well be the best analogy for how
loading up on carbs can mess with
your mind. Simple carbs such as
those found in sugary, white flour
foods like pastries, crackers and
cookies will spike your blood sugar levels quickly then leave
them plunging soon after. This causes intense hunger for more
sugary carbs, and the cycle continues. The carb rollercoaster
ride is behind the surge in obesity more so than physical
inactivity according to new research findings in the Journal
of Sports Medicine. Go for complex carbs to get your carb fix
like almonds, apples, chia seeds and pistachios, or use carb
blocking supplements like the clinically studied white kidney
bean extract, Phase 2, to reduce the sugar spikes.
YOU’RE DEHYDRATED: The confusion starts in your
hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates both appetite
and thirst. Wires can get crossed leading you to grab a bag of
chips when you really need a bottle of water. When you feel the
hunger urge, reach for water first and then wait 15 to 20 minutes
and see if your hunger pains subside.
YOU’RE BOMBARDED BY FOOD PORN: Social media is not
helping the urge to splurge with food photo bombs coming at
you from Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. The connection
between what we see and our desire for it has been documented
by science. A 2012 study in the journal Obesity found that just
looking at food cranked up the hunger hormone, ghrelin. Limit
your exposure by skipping TV commercials and maybe block or
un-follow those food-obsessed friends.
YOU’RE TOSSING AND TURNING: If you are getting too little
sleep, your ghrelin hormone will surge and stimulate your
appetite, while simultaneously decreasing the levels of the
hormone leptin, responsible for making you feel full. After a
night of poor sleep you are also likely to have serious fatigue
and brain fog causing your system to be desperate for a shot of
energy, which can trigger cravings for sugar carbs, even if you’re
not hungry. A new study in the journal Sleep shows obesity
can cause routine drowsiness during the day (so it can be an
endless cycle of sleep deprivation). A full eight hours of sleep
will get your energy levels and hunger hormones back on track.
YOU’RE TAKING CERTAIN MEDS: Antidepressants and
corticosteroids that you may take on a regular basis could be
the reason for recent refrigerator raids. If it becomes a problem,
talk with your doctor about switching to another drug.