Keep pounds down as the years add up

(taken from VitaJournal October 2012 issue, written by Dr. Eric Grief M. D.)

Three simple ways to stay youthfully trim

Have your noticed your waistline expanding with age?  This expansion results from gaining fat around your mid-section.  Fat accumulation usually means your body is releasing too much insulin, a protein released from the pancreas gland.  Unfortunately, in excessive amounts, insulin promotes the storage of fat.

The solution lies in three simple things: the foods we eat, the timing of our consumption and staying relaxed.

1.  The food we eat

All sugars are not equal.  For example, drinking a glass of orange juice provides a boost of energy.   This short-lived boost of sugar energy can cause your pancreas to overreact and release too much insulin.  Unless you burn the sugar energy soon after drinking the juice, the juice can turn to fat!  Consuming sugar earlier in the day gives you the chance to use it for your activities.

Choosing foods and drink that keep sugar levels low is vital to losing fat around the mid-section.  Some examples are fish, chicken, tofu, lentils, lean beef and avocado. Most vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, onion, lettuce and mushrooms also promote fat loss by keeping sugar level low.

2.  When we eat

By eating small amounts frequently throughout the day, your body's metabolic machinery can stay active. On the other hand, if you skip breakfast, eat a small amount at noon and fill up later in the evening, this is a good way to gain fat around your mid-section.  Skipping breakfast leaves your body's metabolic machinery in "sleep mode."  Try to eat at least three hours before bed.  If you do snack late, then choose a protein like a few almonds or some avocado and cucumber.

3.  Stay relaxed

A restful sleep and a low-stress approach to life help to lose fat.  Sleep helps the gut release a chemical messenger called leptin, a hormone that turns off your appetite for food.  Inadequate leptin levels can cause you to be too hungry and make it more difficult to choose food and drink wisely.

Relaxing exercise that stretches and opens up your body's muscles and tissues helps you release fat better.  Deep breathing, gentle stretching movements and walking are all good.

(Note from this blog's author: "Dr. Eric Michael Grief M.D. is a 20-year family physician based in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.  His book, "Get Diagnosed Fast!", is available at publishamerica.com.  He writes for TriVita's VitaJournal magazine and endorses their wellness product line.  To find more, visit my TriVita site.")