Many people think reducing the amount of calories you consume
is the only way to lose weight. After all, a pound of stored
body fat is the equivalent of approximately 3,500 calories
- reduce your
caloric intake by that much, and you'll lose the fat, pound
by pound.
Unfortunately, eating less can be extremely difficult, especially
if you're accustomed to enjoying meals that aren't always
low in calories or fat. So, what to do? If you aren't inclined
to reduce the amount of calories you consume, you can always
burn them with exercise - and as a recent study asserts, this
strategy may be even healthier for you in the long run than
starving yourself.
The study, published in the November issue of the Journal
of Preventive Medicine, investigated whether caloric intake
was linked to the risk of death from heart conditions over
a 17-year period. Surprisingly, individuals who ate more,
but were also more active physically, had a lower risk of
dying from cardiovascular disease than people who ate less,
but also exercised less.
Consistent exercise (at least 30 minutes of moderate activity,
at least three times per week) and a diet high in whole grains,
fruits and vegetables, and low in refined sugars and saturated
fats, are established methods of losing weight and limiting
your chances of developing heart disease or a number of other
troublesome conditions. But don't starve yourself! You'll
be more likely to stick to your exercise and diet, and what's
more, you'll improve your chances of staying healthy for years
to come.
For more information on proper diet and nutrition, visit
www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition/index.html
Reference:
Fang J, Wylie-Rosett J, Cohen HW, et al. Exercise, body mass
index, caloric intake, and cardiovascular mortality. Journal
of Preventive Medicine November 2003:25(4), pp283-9.
|