Physical Therapy Colleges

There’s a saying that goes – Eat to live, don’t live to eat; unfortunately, there are people who fail to follow the first part, there are people who unfailingly follow the second, and there are people who swing between both. While starving yourself and overeating each come with their own dangers, it’s alternating between the two like a seesaw that causes the most damage to both physical and mental health. When you starve your body of food:

• Your metabolism slows down considerably
• Your body starts to look different – some parts look skinny and gaunt while others hold on to your fat deposits because your body goes into the starvation mode and tries to retain some source of energy for the days to come
• You don’t have any energy and feel fatigued all the time
• You risk fainting and dehydration
• Your mouth feels dry and you suffer from headaches
• You start to lose your muscles as your body breaks them down for sustenance

When you overeat and stuff yourself:

• Your digestive system is taxed and your enzymes are thrown into disarray
• Your body works harder at breaking down your food and this produces toxins as a side-effect
• Prolonged overeating can lead to obesity, heart disease, colon disease, digestive problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other dangerous diseases.

Some people suffer from diseases like bulimia – they restrain themselves from eating because they fear gaining weight; then they lose control and overeat; and then they force themselves to vomit, or use laxatives to get the food out before it is digested because they feel guilty that they’ve eaten so much. Such people usually suffer from low self-esteem and need medical help before the end up ruining their health for good. Some people tend to overeat because they’re starving – they have no time for food because they’ve been so busy with other things. So when they do get time to eat, they stuff themselves to compensate for not eating or to get them through the next stretch of hours without stopping for food breaks. However, this is the most dangerous thing they can do to their health because they’re putting their body through extreme conditions and confusing it. They are exposed to the risks of starvation and overeating, and if they continue to do this on a regular basis, they fall prey to disease and ill health. Some conditions become chronic and are very difficult to cure, even if they adopt healthier lifestyles later on. The damage done is permanent and leads to various problems that shorten your life and ruin its quality. To avoid this situation and prevent ruining your health:

• Eat small meals every few hours. If your work keeps you busy, stock your desk or pockets with healthy snack options like fruits, nuts and seeds.
• Drink water every now and then even if you’re not thirsty – thirst is a sign of dehydration.
• Set reminders on your phone or computer to prompt you to eat every few hours.
• Try and stick to the same meal times every day.
• Remember that your health is your most valuable asset; if you lose it in the pursuit of work and/or money, there’s no getting it back ever again, no matter how much money you have.