4 Bad Habits That INCREASE Weight Gain
Hint: They have nothing to do with food
If you’re trying to win the Battle of the Bulge this holiday season, you’ll need to consider more than your diet.
Of course, WHAT you eat—and HOW MUCH you eat—are key factors in your waistline.
But there are other factors that could be sabotaging your best efforts that have nothing to do with food.
Here are four surprising habits that could be making you pack on the pounds.
The first is not getting good sleep.
One study showed that people who slept for five hours or less per night put on 2.5 times more belly fat than those who got adequate sleep.
This makes sense, since poor sleep alters two hormones that help regulate whether you feel full or hungry (leptin and ghrelin).
Lack of sleep can also increase another problematic hormone—the stress hormone, cortisol.
This is problematic for your mood AND your waistline because the hormone tells your body to hold on to fat.
The second factor is drinking diet soda.
You should be skipping ALL sodas, but especially the DIET kind.
Drinks with artificial sweeteners tell your body to expect in influx of calories. When it doesn’t get any from the drink, it prompts your body to get them in other ways.
Is it any wonder, then, that a study showed that diet soda drinkers developed a 70 percent larger waistline than non-soda drinkers?
In addition to paying attention to what you’re eating, you should also be aware of the container the food has been stored in.
You see, food that has been stored in aluminum cans can be full of a chemical called bisphenol A, or BPA.
This chemical goes from the can, to your food, to your body.
This is a problem because BPA can mess with your hormones—which explains why studies have shown that people with the highest concentrations of BPA in their urine have significantly larger waistlines and a higher risk of obesity.
Finally, not getting enough protein can be bad for your waistline.
Studies have shown that consuming plenty of high-quality protein is inversely associated with belly fat (the more protein, the less belly fat).
Taking a protein supplement along with a calorie-restricted diet could also help reduce visceral fat – fat stored deep inside the belly.
One reason could be because protein helps promote healthy gut bacteria, which has been connected to a loss of visceral fat.
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
The Secret to Heart Attack Survival REVEALED
I give a lot of advice on steps you can take to avoid a heart attack. After all THAT’S the goal. And if you follow that advice, you’ll slash your odds of ever having one. But there are no guarantees. If you do end up being one of the 800,000 Americans who will suffer from […]
“Take 6” to Live LONGER and BETTER
None of us can escape aging. But everyone wants to live LONGER, right? Well, the reality is quantity and quality of life are two entirely different things. If you’re riddled with devastating health problems that steal the joy from your days, living a long time can be torture. But when health and longevity go hand-in-hand, […]
Strange Colon Cancer Trigger Revealed
Among seniors, colon cancer rates have been decreasing. But in folks under 50, rates are increasing at an alarming rate. One likely reason for the decrease in the older population is screening procedures like colonoscopy and stool sample tests like Cologuard, which can catch pre-cancerous polyps before they cause a problem. But, regardless of your […]
“Bad” Food Reverses Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a major health threat to millions of Americans. Even though one in three Americans is estimated to have the condition, 80 percent don’t know it. Besides the obvious increased risk of type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes could cause long-term damage to your blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and heart, leading to an increased risk of […]
Heart Health Begins in Your BELLY!?
Yesterday, I revealed that eating plenty of polyphenol-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices is a surprising way to support your gut health. Of course, probiotics themselves are a critical part of the gut health puzzle. Today, I’ll focus on a few specific probiotics. But NOT because of how they impact your gut but […]
“Spice Up” Your Gut Health
By now, you know that you’re only as healthy as your gut. In fact, the majority of your immune system is located in your gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria that live there support… heart health, brain health, skin health, digestion, nutrient absorption, healthy metabolism, and lower inflammation levels. So, how can you make sure you’re supporting […]
FDA Approves Questionable Diabetes Claim
You’ve likely heard the saying that food is the best medicine. I’ve found this true for maintaining well-being and healing (or improving) various diseases and conditions. The FDA is finally starting to come around to this mindset, so they’ve allowed food manufacturers to place a health claim on a particular popular food, stating it reduces […]
Two Common Vitamin Deficiencies Drive Up Cancer Risk
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. And it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men and women combined. They’re KILLERS… and reducing our risk for them should be a TOP priority. Extreme dieting or intense exercise […]
The Bedroom Secret to Healthy Blood Pressure
Believe it or not, nearly HALF of all Americans over 20 have high blood pressure. This is a BIG problem since hypertension is one of the top risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Mainstream medicine sees this as a GREAT excuse to push their hypertension drugs—and more than 60 million adults are taking them. […]
Heart Health Begins in Your BRAIN
There are plenty of reasons to add exercise to your regular routine. It naturally… boosts energy levels, improves sleep, aids with weight loss, strengthens bones, reduces blood pressure, improves brain health, reduces stress, and much more. Now, researchers have identified a unique way exercise can reduce heart-related risks—and it begins in your brain. In a […]