The Dangers of Gluttony

Gluttony comes form the Latin word Gluttire; to gulp down, swallow and the over-consumption of food or drink.  For us it is a good topic as we enter the so called holiday season in North America, but really a subject for all times as remember how hard you worked to get in shape or to stay fit.  I know, I know.....I have been good all year with my nutrition and exercise so I deserve to binge. Well besides the obvious facts, it can have a permanent effect on your body's composition as tests reveal that it raises your LDL cholesterol levels ( up to a year, just by overeating a few times) and of course with it comes the weight gain. Overeating also can make you stressed and depressed as it elevates the levels of your stress hormone ( corticosterone) and of course it goes without saying how you feel when you look in the mirror at your expanded waistline. Also consuming all those fatty, salty and sugary foods alter your brain's chemistry ( much the same way as some drugs like cocaine or heroin would) so it triggers the production of dopamine the so called "feel good" drug and with that the food keeps coming! Want some more good news; desserts rich in fructose ( remember my last blog people) such as apple pie and donuts keep the binge going as the F-Word ( fructose) increases the blood flow to the brains hypothalamus which signals to you that your still hungry. Finally over-indulgence changes your body clock which will create those late night cravings and again more trips to the fridge. There you have all the above reasons not to binge, as it will sabotage those goals of losing pounds but more importantly for you to keep a healthier lifestyle. So not a lot of love in the air right now (lol), but stick to the 4-6 small meals per day plan and enjoy life to the (excuse the pun) fullest!