Are You At Risk for Diabetes?
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I have the following risk factors for Diabetes:
___ Diabetes runs in my family.
___ I have pre-diabetes.
___ I am overweight.
___ My waist size is over 35" (women only)
___ I am African American, Hispanic, Asian, or
Native American.
___ I don't exercise and eat junk foods.
___ I am over 45 years of age.
___ I am an apple shaped torso.
___ I crave sweets and carbohydrates.
___ I am unaware of my blood glucose numbers.
If you have identified even one risk factor, you may
be at risk of developing diabetes. The first step
would be having your physician check your glucose
numbers. Weight loss is also a great way to prevent
this disease!
Have You Noticed?
Ever notice that when you're stressed, you tend to
crave comfort foods that are high in fat or sugar?
Scientific research has now found evidence to
support the connection between stress and obesity.
This is because these foods raise your serotonin
levels, which is the body's feel good hormone.
Chronic stress also causes the body to release
excess cortisol, a hormone which increases appetite.
When you're stressed, you may tend to experience
more insomnia and get less sleep. When you sleep
less than seven hours a night, your body doesn't
produce enough leptin, the hormone which controls
your appetite for the next 24 hours.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Controlling your stress is a crucial factor in
controlling your hunger cravings. Since stress is a
normal part of life, learning techniques to turn down
the stress response can have the added benefit of
helping you keep off those unwanted pounds.