Becoming Ageless QuickZine #2
#1 KeyMuscle Burns FatFood gives us energy and energy supports our body at work and play. Fat is the most concentrated source of energy, providing over twice as much energy as a comparable amount of carbohydrates or protein. Energy is measured by the amount of calories a food item contains. So when you eat a food item than contains more energy or calories than you need, the body stores the excess as fat. When you need the energy, your body produces it by tapping into the fat stored in fat cells. Every cell and tissue uses fat for energy, but muscle is by far the biggest 'user' of energy. They are constantly in need of energy due to the work they perform at any given time. They are like 'furnaces' burning fat up to eighteen times faster than fat cells. Build muscle tissue and you create a home made fat-burning system. Unfortunately, many people think building muscle hurts. You know the saying "no pain, no gain"? Most exercise programs fail because people don't want to experience the pain. But there is a way around this! Slow, gradual, exercise progression using resistance bands. These stretchy bands of rubber can be used while watching TV or for a quick twenty minute muscle building session. Click here for more information. #2 KeyBalance Your Blood SugarExercise to your heart's content and starve yourself till the cow's come home but if you don't maintain a balanced blood sugar you will either gain weight or stall your weight loss. Letting your blood sugar drop, by either missing a meal or letting too much time pass between refueling will cause your body to move into an alarm reaction. When blood sugar is low the adrenal glands produce stress hormones to bring up your blood sugar. Stress hormones, especially cortisol actually causes fat to be deposited around the belly. The whole metabolic system gets out of whack. Menopausal women have a harder time as their body is automatically trying to store fat to provide enough extra estrogen. So it is even more important for women in transition to balance their blood sugar. The easiest and most effective way to maintain balance is to eat every two to three hours. Of course, you're not eating three course meals each time but you are providing some fuel for your body at regular intervals. The key is ensure you always eat a combination of protein and carbohydrate. Protein stimulates the mobilization of fat from storage to be converted to energy. If you eat only carbohydrates, you stimulate the release of insulin and fat storage. Protein not only provides adequate energy but it also maintains that all important balance of insulin and blood sugar. Click here for some great snack ideas. #3 KeyUnderstand the Facts about FatsFats aren't necessarily the enemy! As a matter of fact, your body needs fat to manufacture hormones, perform normal cellular oxidation and produce energy. If you don't get enough your body will slow its metabolism and the formation of lean body mass will be inhibited. Great thing about fat is that it doesn't trigger insulin production and it helps slow down the conversion of carbohydrates into blood sugar. However, it has to be the right kind of fat! Here are some other things that can happen if you don't get enough of the right kinds of fats:
The list could be longer but I'll stop there. Did you notice something about this list? Does it sound familiar? Many women in menopause are experiencing one or all of these symptoms! And as we age each one of them becomes a challenge. Why? Because many of us are not getting enough of the right kind of fat. Click here for more information. QuickZine is a free weekly newsletter designed to bring you quick, up-to-date information on pertinent health issues. If you would like to subscribe please enter your information in the top left hand corner of this page. Thanks!
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