Diabetes Symptom

There are three basic units the body uses for energy:

1. Fats

2. Proteins

3. Carbohydrates

All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats
and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted
quickly causing quick spikes in the body’s blood sugar levels.
These spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create
and release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to
normal.

Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that
lowers our blood’s glucose levels is released into the blood as
soon as the body detects that blood sugar levels have risen
above its optimal level.

Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs the body’s fuel
storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood
insulin will signal the body to store it in the body’s fat
cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their
stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by the body as
energy.

Since this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy,
insulin very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher the
body’s insulin levels, the more effectively it prevents fat
cells from releasing their stores, and the harder it becomes to
lose weight. According to many authorities, over the long term,
high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause
serious health problems like the ones listed below:

1. Raised insulin levels and insulin resistance

2. Lower metabolism leading to weight gain

3. An increase in fatty tissue and reduction in muscle tissue

4. Accelerated aging

5. Increased food allergies and intolerances

6. Overworked immune system

7. Increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer

Carbohydrates, especially simple carbs like sugar and starch,
are quickly turned into sucrose by the body entering the blood
stream quicker thereby causing the release of large amounts of
insulin. The fewer carbs are eaten, the less insulin is produced
by the body, and the fewer calories are stored as fat. Less fat
storage equals less weight gain and fewer carbs eaten equals
less insulin in the blood and the body using its fat stores for
fuel.

The premise behind every low-carb diet plan is that a body that
produces less insulin burns more fat than a body that produces
lots of insulin. Some plans encourage a period of extremely low
carbohydrate intake so that the body will enter a state of
ketosis and more quickly burn fat stores – These are usually
called induction periods.

About the author:
Beverley Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse – Free health, diet
and fitness articles and weekly newsletter
http://www.healthandfinesse.com

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Along with the increase of obesity in adult, childhood obesity
is on the rise. Around 15.5 percent of adolescents in the United
States, aged 12 to 19 are obese. Even more alarming, about 15.3
percent of children ages 6 to 11 are obese. These children are
developing Type II Diabetes and high blood pressure at an early
age. They are placing themselves at increased risk for heart
disease and other obesity-related diseases. Their weight also
makes them the target of bullies and children who insult and
taunt them about their weight. This can ruin their self-esteem
and put them at risk for depression.

Today’s children make up the digital generation. They’ve been
surrounded by computers their entire life and are not as
physically active as children of past generations were. Instead
of going outside and playing, they tend to hang out indoors,
watching TV and playing computer and video games. Along with
lack of physical activity comes the convenience of fast food.
There are fast food restaurants virtually around every corner,
and they have easy access to snack foods full of saturated fats
and sugars. In addition, obese parents are more likely to have
obese children. The reason for this is two-fold. First, obese
parents probably pass down their poor habits to their children.
Second, genetics plays a role in obesity.

It’s important for parents to be role models to their children
and emphasize the importance of physical activity and healthy
eating. Parents can create healthy environments for their
children by doing regular physical activities, such as biking,
swimming, or walking together. They should encourage their
children to participate in sports, dance, martial arts, and
etcetera. This allows children to develop an appreciation of
physical activity and enjoy exercising.

When it comes to eating, parents need to implement diets rich in
fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. They can make eating
enjoyable and healthy by preparing food together and eating
together as a family. Fast-food should be limited and reserved
for special occasions. Way too often, we reward ourselves for a
job well done with food. Look for other ways to reward your
children for doing a great job, such as a special shopping trip
or a day with just mom or dad.

About the author:
Article by Beverley Brooke Visit http://www.healthandfinesse.com
for on chi
ldhood obesity

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With so many diets and fads being offered on the market today,
it is no wonder why people are not just confused about weight
loss and health, but in many cases, actually doing their body
more harm than good. Unfortunately, one of the aspects of
dieting that you see most often is the reduction or elimination
of fat. The problem is that the body needs a certain amount of
fat to function but without going over a healthy level. As you
will see in this article, knowing what the right level is and
how to monitor it are crucial to overall health and wellness.

Studies have been able to link certain conditions such as heart
disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure with high levels of
body fat. The key is to ensure your body has enough fat to
function properly but not too much, whereby disease could become
a problem. The best way for a person to determine the level of
body fat is by measuring it on a consistent basis with a simple
tool called a caliper. In a matter of minutes, you will know
exactly how much body fat you are carrying around with you. With
this information, you will then be able to adjust your diet,
cardio exercises, and weight training to bring the fat-to-muscle
ratio in line.

Keep in mind that there are several options, one being a body
fat analyzer. Additionally, there is the skin fold test whereby
waist to hip ratio measurements will be taken, circumference
measurements, hydrostatic weight, near infrared analysis,
bioelectrical impedance, total body potassium determination, and
a test recently offered called the plethysmographic measurement,
which is based on the principle of air displacement. All of
these tests are good indicators of your current fat-to-muscle
ratio.

Now, if you want to go through a professional to determine your
true body fat level, you have two excellent options, both being
accurate. The first is the Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
(DEXA) and the second, Hydrostatic Weighing. With DEXA, a full
body scanner is used that reads and differentiates between bone
mass and soft tissue mass. This type of scan can be completed in
about 20 minutes and is painless, providing accuracy within a 2%
error margin. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of
DEXA but if not, you can have the scan performed for around $100.

With Hydrostatic Weighing, the body is weighed underwater. The
test consists of sitting on a scale underneath water while
blowing out as much air from your lungs as possible. Then when
dunked below the water’s surface, you would blow out even more
air. Because fat does not weigh as much as water, the more fat a
person’s body has, the more they will float. Therefore,
Hydrostatic Weighing works by measuring underwater weight so
that body density can be determined.

On the other hand, if you want to have the option of determining
your fat-to-muscle ratio on your own and every day if you like,
you can simply purchase a caliper from drug stores, health
equipment stores, and even on the internet. Just remember that
if you are interested in losing weight, instead of depending on
the bathroom scale, it is important that you worry more about
the excess fat being carried. While a standard scale will tell
you if you are losing weight from diet and exercise, a scale
will not tell if you are losing the body’s muscle or fat.

Understanding how to measure and monitor your body fat gives you
a level of control to your future. The problem is that the
majority of people know very little about their bodies. To
become and stay healthy, you need to understand your body – how
it works and what your body composition is so you can make
choices that will be best for your overall health and wellness.
Again, the best way to achieve this is to incorporate good diet,
cardio exercise, and moderate weight training into your daily
routine, along with measuring your fat-to-muscle ratio with a
caliper.

While there are many different websites that provide you with
valuable information and guidance, one of the best is
Composition Tracker. With more than 25 different body fat
formulas from which to choose, you will feel confident knowing
you can and will succeed with losing unwanted fat. Composition
Tracker offers tremendous benefit to all types of people,
whether you are a man, woman, teenager, or elderly person. To
gain more information and to get started today, simply visit
http://www.comptracker.com

About the author:
Fitness Consultant Anthony Ellis has helped thousands of
individuals lose fat and build more muscle. To read more about
his fat loss recommendations please check out his site at
http://www.fatlosstips.com

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