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Overtaxing Your Metabolism:
How Overeating Affects
Hormone Activity
Hormones are chemical
messengers which move through the bloodstream and permit communication
between the various parts of the body. They are responsible for regulating
virtually all of our bodily functions, from growth to the reproductive
process to metabolism; they are even partially responsible for controlling
mood and behavior.
It only takes a small amount of a particular hormone to produce a response
in target cells. When too much of a hormone is present, an imbalance is
created that has a tremendous impact on the way our system is able to
function.
Overeating places a huge amount of stress on the hormones involved in
metabolism – the process of converting the nutrients in our food into
fuel
for the cells of the body. When you regularly
eat too much, the excess food
creates a hormone imbalance which affects your
energy levels and your
ability to use calories efficiently.
Eventually, this imbalance can lead to
obesity,
diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and other serious health conditions. Learning how
overeating
affects our hormones can improve your understanding of why it is important
to eat a healthy and reasonable diet and avoid eating too much on a regular
basis.
Insulin
The hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas, is released into the
blood stream in response to an increase in blood sugar (glucose). Insulin’s
job is to facilitate the transport of glucose into the various cells of the
body so that it can be used for fuel. Insulin also
triggers a decrease in
appetite, so that the brain knows it is time to stop eating.
When you constantly gorge yourself, especially on foods that are high in
processed carbohydrates such as
refined sugars and flour, insulin is
continuously released into the blood stream. When this occurs, the cells
become resistant to insulin, and their ability to utilize blood sugar is
impaired; this causes the glucose to remain in the blood stream for extended
periods of time.
When glucose is present in the blood stream at excessive levels for too
long, it begins to damage the blood vessels. Over time, this can lead to
cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver disease, and vision problems.
Leptin and Ghrelin
Leptin is an important hormone which is produced in the
adipose tissue
(another name for belly fat). Among a variety of other functions, it is
responsible for triggering another hormone, called ghrelin, which is
produced in the gastric walls. High levels of ghrelin in the stomach tell
the brain that it is time to eat, and low levels let your body know that you
have had enough.
Constant overeating leads to increased belly fat, which in turn produces
greater levels of leptin. When there is too much of this hormone in the
system, the leptin receptors in the brain (the cells that receive the “full”
signals from the stomach) become resistant – they cannot get the message
that the stomach is full. Leptin resistance causes
feelings of hunger, even
when there is enough food in the system; this can lead to
chronic
overeating.
Overeating occurs for many reasons. If you indulge only on
occasion – at a
party or during an evening out at a restaurant, for example – you can
overcome the effects by eating sensibly in the following days and getting
regular exercise.
Following a nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy
body weight are
essential to your long-term physical and emotional health. If you feel
compelled to overeat, or you constantly feel hungry even after you have just
eaten, it may be time to get help. Your doctor or an experienced
nutritionist can help you determine the
reasons for your overeating and work
with you to change your eating habits.
Problems from Overeating & Their
Effects on Body Systems
Number of Triggers To Affect Overeating Problems
Help in Cutting the Cravings to overeat
You must seek approval from your doctor
before starting any new diet.
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