If you are overweight or obese, you are not alone. But what you might not know is just how bad being overweight is for our entire system. The first reason is that the fat we hate on our belly, butt and thighs is not just ugly flab. Scientists believe that excess fat in the body can spur inflammation and chronic pain in the body, as well as release a range of potentially toxic substances that make you ill.
Being overweight is so dangerous is that it is often described as a persistent low level of chronic inflammation in the body. Therefore, doing all you can to get down to a normal, healthy weight and reducing the wear and tear on the body from inflammation can do a great deal to reduce chronic pain and improve your overall health.
Watching what you eat can help cut calories, but did you know it can also reduce inflammation and add disease-fighting antioxidants to your diet? Eating a rainbow everyday of fresh fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight even as you eat a more nutritious and balanced diet.
Anti-inflammatory foods include salmon, broccoli, olive oil and peppers. Antioxidants are powerful disease-fighting agents found in red kidney bean, blueberries, apples and more.
Fruits and vegetables should be the cornerstones of any attempt to lose weight healthily. The water content and fiber will help you feel full for longer. They are also so tasty that adding these foods to your eating lifestyle will usually mean you will be more likely to steer clear of foods that are bad for you, such as deli meats and highly-processed sugary sweets made with white sugar and white flour.
Exercise is key to reducing blood pressure and inflammation, decreasing stress, and elevating mood. Therefore, when used in combination with a healthy diet, you should soon see the benefits of weight loss for your appearance, mood and immune system.
