Holiday Eating
Well, its that time of year again. We are all going to be gorging ourselves with turkey and other fine treats in an attempt to see just how much our body can hold,but it doesn’t end there… The Christmas cookies, candy, and holiday parties start even before December hits. It’s no wonder this time of year is the destroyer of diets and the sultan of weight gain. With all this delicious food at your fingertips, overeating can become a big problem for a lot of people.
Most people are familiar with the long term effects of overeating; obesity, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and even cancer. There are short term effects to overeating as well. The short term effects to overeating include bloating, flatulence, blood sugar fluctuations, headaches and more cravings to eat!
Eating too much food in any given period of time can overwhelm your digestive track, causing bloating and flatulence. Not only is this very discomforting but even embarrassing at times. Due to the high volume of food in your system, your insulin levels increase as well. This can cause your blood sugar levels to drop. Low blood sugar is dangerous because it can effect brain function and cause even more serious issues, such as seizures and unconsciousness. Along with the increased level of insulin comes renewed hunger, which can start the cycle all over again.
As joyous as this time of year can be, it is also stressful and emotional for a lot of people. These emotions can greatly increase your bodies need to overeat. When you eat because of the way you feel, you can further upset yourself because you have eaten too much. This can develop into a vicious cycle of overeating as well as lead to weight control problems and eating disorders.
Your Best defense this holiday season is to set limits on what you can eat, and to portion your foods correctly. Don’t be too strict on yourself and not eat any treats, as this has the potential to result in an overindulgence in food as well. Also, take time out of your day when possible to relax and even consult with your doctor on ways to help reduce stress.
-Scott