Flour and refined carbohydrates cause obesity
Refined carbohydrates such as flour and sugar tend to have a high glycemic index, making them easy to cause obesity. The glycemic index indicates how much carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar levels. Eating foods with a high glycemic index causes a sudden increase in blood sugar, which in turn triggers a rapid release of insulin to regulate it. As a result, blood sugar levels drop quickly, leading the body to feel hungry again and increasing appetite, which can lead to overeating. The insulin secreted in the body stores the elevated blood sugar as fat in fat cells, thereby contributing to obesity.
Drinking alcohol increases belly fat
Drinking alcohol is the main cause of belly fat. The caloric content of alcohol is about 7 kcal per gram, which is more than the 4 kcal per gram found in carbohydrates. Alcohol is an unnecessary nutrient in the body, so it is used as an energy source before other nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. As a result, it does not increase satiety and fails to activate the signaling system that indicates the body does not need more nutrients. Ultimately, we tend to consume more nutrients, such as snacks, leading to excess intake. Since the body already has sufficient energy from alcohol, any additional nutrients consumed are converted into surplus calories and stored in fat cells. Additionally, alcohol promotes the secretion of a hormone called cortisol, which acts on specific enzymes inside fat cells to inhibit fat breakdown. In particular, abdominal fat cells respond well to cortisol, so drinking alcohol easily leads to an increase in belly fat.
Drinking water helps with weight loss
Water accounts for 45% to 74% of body weight. Adequate body water prevents glucose from converting into fat in the liver, enabling the liver to use body fat as energy and making effective dieting possible. Water is absorbed into the body through the mouth→throat→esophagus→stomach→small intestine→large intestine, and this process facilitates the proper functioning of each organ. It circulates throughout the body, supporting smooth metabolism. Drinking water frequently helps eliminate waste products from the body efficiently, and the process of digesting water itself consumes calories, which is effective for weight loss. Additionally, the feeling of fullness after drinking water suppresses appetite.
