Have you ever pondered the question of why you continue to feel hungry even after consuming the appropriate amount of food? The Western world is now experiencing a genuine pandemic of obesity, and unfortunately, the problem is becoming much worse. There are a number of factors that may contribute to the development of this condition; however, the focus of our discussion today will be on the role that dysregulation between the brain and the gut microbiota plays.
Stress is One of The Main Causes of Obesity
Yes, the society we live in is quite stressed out. Everyone is in a rush, there is no time for anything, and stress has integrated itself into our lives to the point that it is now considered a chronic condition.
When people are under pressure, their hormones become unbalanced, and their reactions to glucose and cortisol are altered. That instance, having alterations made to the insulin hormone may cause us to have increased desires, which in turn leads to an increase in body mass.
What We Should Eat vs What We Eat
We can eat for two reasons:
- Because we really must consume food to keep our energy levels stable (homeostasis). That is, we should eat to maintain our system function and our body weight.
- Simply because we want to, for our own amusement (hedonism). We are reacting to this pattern of behavior every time we eat “with our eyes” or because we have “cravings.”
Food that is not only delicious but also inexpensive is readily accessible to us in practically any part of the world nowadays. When you view any ultra-processed meal, your brain will immediately have the feeling that it has to consume that item right at that specific time. This is the goal of the designers of these foods.
Processed foods cause intestinal modifications, and these abnormalities have an effect on the microbiota. We have a problem when, in addition to suffering from stress, we consume processed meals at various times of the day.
Obese or Overweight
It is common knowledge that metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and chronic inflammation are all ailments that may be traced back to obesity and excess body fat. Without taking into account that the microbiota plays an important part in the gut-brain axis, the majority of diets aim to cut down on the total or relative quantity of lipids, carbs, and proteins in the diet.
The quality of the microbiota may now be improved using various methods that have been discovered recently. For instance, it has been shown that performing intermittent fasting consisting of 16-18 hours of fasting followed by 6-8 hours of ingesting may lead to improved metabolic performance. Nevertheless, there are currently no trials that demonstrate its advantages over the longer term.
What Can We Do To Improve Our Microbiota?
Consuming meals that are both natural and prepared at home is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most effective ways to take care of the microbiota. However, just maintaining a healthy diet is not enough. Other variables may also affect the microbiota, such as:
- Stress: Reducing one’s overall level of stress is crucial, as was said earlier on in this discussion. Therefore, it is essential to meditate on a regular basis and engage in a variety of other relaxation methods.
- Sleep: Very few individuals get the recommended amount of eight hours of sleep each night. Going to bed at a reasonable hour and establishing a regular schedule for going to sleep and waking up are behaviors that lead to an improvement in the quality of life.
Also see: Tips For Sleeping Well in Summer
