Metabolism Enemy #1 - Excess Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates

The epidemics of weight and obesity problems are caused by various factors that lower the metabolism. Perhaps the most evident of these factors is the excessive use of sugars and refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, flour, rice, sweets, chocolates, candies, etc.) Nothing has contributed more to the rampant obesity epidemic than the excessive consumptions of refined carbohydrates.

I should clarify that carbohydrates are necessary foods. However, there are different qualities of carbohydrates: Natural carbohydrates and refined carbohydrates. Natural carbohydrates are those that are in their natural state without having been industrially manipulated by humans. Examples are vegetables and fruits. Refined carbohydrates are modern products created by the food industry that have gone through a variety of polishing, bleaching, grinding and refining.

Within the natural carbohydrates there are some carbohydrates that have a very sweet flavor. The sweet carbohydrates can come from "natural" sources but the fact that they are sweet indicates they are very high in sugars like fruits that can turn into fat. Examples of very sweet carbohydrates can be fruits like bananas, mangoes, and raisins. There are fruits that aren't excessively sweet like strawberries, apples, and pears, which are acceptable as "natural" carbohydrates.

When carbohydrates are industrially processed they lose a good part of their nutritional value (vitamins and minerals) and they turn into foods that can easily make us fat. The industry processes to refine carbohydrates are rather harsh. These foods are so refined that the human body can quickly turn them into glucose without much effort. Bear in mind that anything that causes and increase of the bodies glucose will create excess body fat.

For Example:

When we eat a doughnut (wheat flour with sugar) the body quickly turns that into a large amount of glucose in our blood which sets the scene to gain weight. Those are the mechanics involved in the process of becoming overweight: lots of refined carbohydrates that turn into excess glucose that later become accumulated body fat with the help of the insulin hormone.

carbohydrates are addictive

Perhaps the most harmful aspect of refined carbohydrates is their strong addictive power. Yes, refined carbohydrates are addictive. When your body has a craving for something, what does it crave? Does it crave meat or cheese? Or does it crave chocolate, candy, ice cream, bread or cookies? Notice that the body only craves refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are like a drug for an addict. People that are addicted to carbohydrates can't control themselves.

The consumption of their refined carbohydrates in excess doesn't only cause an addiction; it also causes a state of acidity in the body that decreases the metabolism. the excess of refined carbohydrates converts into excess glucose in the blood once it has been digested. Part of the excess glucose ferments within the body and turns into lactic acid, which created an acidic state that reduces oxygen and decreases metabolism.

A recent scientific discovery showed that the excess of refined carbohydrates turns into excess glucose (sugar in the bloodstream) which then forces the body to produce an excess of the hormone insulin and this hormone at the same time interferes with the hormones of the thyroid glands and brings with it all of the signs of hypothyroidism, including depression. People that are addicted to refined carbohydrates then start to have problems with their thyroid because their bodies produce an excess of insulin that interferes with the hormones produced by the thyroid.

More Water = 1st Step In Weight Loss

There is a direct correlation between how much water your body has and how much percentage of fat you have. Generally, we are made up of at least 65% water. The higher the number the less fat stores we have.

Here is the reason:

If we break down water it is H20 – 2 parts hydrogen 1 part oxygen. The molecular mass of an oxygen atom is 8 times higher than hydrogen making water 11% hydrogen and 89% oxygen. When we drink water we are mainly adding oxygen to our bodies. Oxygen is the element that allows the combustion of fat and is what drives our metabolism (how fast and efficient our cells perform their functions).

Now it must be clarified that drinking water and drinking juices are not the same thing. When the body detects taste the body will assume it is food and it will send the liquid through gastrointestinal tract which does little for hydration. While water is directly absorbed into the bloodstream and increases the hydration level and oxygen availability at the cellular level.

Why soft drinks slow metabolism:

Soft drinks with carbonation are one of the best ways to cause dehydration because they contain phosphoric acid. Acids by definition repel oxygen causing the body's metabolism to work slowly. Even though many of us consider coca cola, carbonated beverages, juices, coffee, etc. to be used for hydration they actually do the opposite. In order to rehydrate the body after any of these drinks we must consume 32 ounces of water per 8 ounces of these mentioned drinks (4:1 ratio). The body becomes dehydrated from these drinks because while getting rid of the excess acidity we will use our water stores to urinate which brings the blood back to an alkaline environment so that the body can perform its daily functions.

The reality is that if someone wants to lose weight their first step is to increase their intake of water. Water significantly increases the metabolism.

How much water do I need to drink?

We calculate the daily water consumption recommended for each person by dividing the weight of the person by the number 16. The result is calculated in 8 ounce glasses of water. For example: if a person weighs 160 pounds and we divide this weight by the number 16 then their daily consumption of water should be 10 – 8 ounce glasses (160lbs. / 16 = 10 glasses). If a person weights 240 pounds their recommended water consumption would be 15 glasses a day (240lbs. / 16 = 15 glasses). As you lose weight, you should also reduce your daily intake of water.

For more information on our weight loss program call our office at 561.313.9117

Hip Flexor Anatomy and Symptoms of Overuse

The psoas and iliacus commonly known as the hip flexors are often not considered in cases of back pain or chronic quadriceps strain but is almost always involved. In fact it is difficult to have a low back pain condition where the psoas does not become involved. When the psoas is shortened, fibrotic and weakened it will cause the lumbar spine to become hyperlordotic (having an excess lower back curvature) and limit hip extension. This can cause a facet syndrome. A weak psoas will also cause the rectus femoris to work harder at flexing the hip.

In sprinters a weak and tight psoas will cause the rectus femoris to be prone to injury as it attempts to accomplish the majority of hip flexion, a task normally accomplished by the psoas. When people have psoas problems they will usually exhibit poor posture while standing. The hip will not extend completely so the pelvis tilts forward and the lumbar spine is hyperlordotic especially when rising to a standing position after being seated for any length of time.

Common situation that involve psoas injury are triathlons (where the psoas is short during the bike then must lengthen to run), any sport involving sprints, cyclists and figure skaters, jumpers and post lumbar spine surgery and people that have difficulty rising from the seated position.