Monday, October 11, 2010

The Dieting Depression

Why is Dieting so Difficult?

There is an intense pressure on society these days to be thin and fit. The emotional conflicts of this pressure to lose weight can be severe.

We all have moments where we want what we cannot have. Especially when it is something that we can easily obtain and something that we previously made a habit out of. The more we are told we cannot have something, the more we begin to think about what we are missing out on, and the next thing we know, we are in emotional turmoil.
The Lowdown on Low-Fat and Low Calorie Diets


Low-Fat Dieting

Eating low-fat meals does not mean that you are necessarily going to lower your body fat content. Certain fats have certain functions. It has been found that without certain fats your sex hormones and stress-coping hormones are not properly produced. To prevent this, be sure to consume your daily amount of unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are great not only for your mood, but for your heart.

Low-fat diets are known to alter serotonin function. They might decrease the fats in nerve-cell membranes, impairing serotonin receptors. This causes Low-fat diets to be assiciated with depression, irritability, and sexual dysfunction.


Low-Calorie Dieting

Limiting calories can be a way to lose weight, as long as you keep your calorie intake in a reasonable range. Never limit yourself to a low calorie diet of or less than 1000 calories as this can cause serious health issues. There is also no reason to torture yourself in order to lose a few pounds. Dieting is hard enough without having to starve.

Low calorie diets inhibit the production of seretonin and thyroid hormones. Lacking seretonin can lead to clinical depression. Don't be fooled into believing that this is the fastest way to losing way. Once you stop limiting your calorie intake you are sure to quickly gain weight back, so be sure to go about this diet in a safe and healthy way.