Obesity

Far more important than the way you look, diet and fitness should be about reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and many other serious illnesses to which obesity contributes.  Obesity is a physical condition that results from excessive storage of fat in the body.  It has been defined as a weight more than 20% above what is considered normal according to the body mass index, which is calculated by age, height, and weight.   Everyone must have some fat in their body.  It is the essential element in our natural energy reserves, but excess body fat contributes to severe health problems.  A combination of factors usually contributes to the development of obesity.  One cause is overeating.

Genetic or hereditary traits (including social, behavioral, cultural, and physiological factors) metabolic (the body's process of using energy) factors, and certain medications, or medical disorders, can contribute to the development of obesity.

Home Remedies For Obesity:

Cabbage:

Cabbage is considered to be an excellent home remedy for obesity. Recent research revealed that a chemical called tartaric acid is present in cabbage, and inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Substituting a meal with cabbage salad would be a simple way to stay slim. One or two ripe tomatoes for breakfast, for a couple of months, are a safe method of weight reduction, while supplying nutrients necessary for good health.

Diet:

• Increase the quantity of fruits and vegetables and low calorie foods.
• Eat tomato in the morning and in salad. Make it a regular habit.
• Mint is very beneficial in losing weight. Have some salads, vegetables with it.
• Incorporate raw or cooked cabbage into the diet, as it inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat.
• Include a source of vitamin B-12 in your diet.
• Use vegetable oil instead of butter or stick margarine.
• Eat steam, boiled, microwave vegetables
• Avoid salty foods, alcohol, sugar, margarine
• Replace whole milk with skim or low fat milk for your preparation
• Roast, bake or boil meat, fish, to avoid fat.
• Limit salt intake, as salt causes fluid retention, adding water weight.
• Avoid rice, and potatoes, which contain a lot of carbohydrates.                                              
• Avoid high calorie foods like chocolates, ice cream, sweets, fried and refined high calorie foods.
• Eat Whole grain cereal and bread.  Don’t skip meals.  Eat four or five small, well spaced meals.
• Drink eight to ten glasses of water every day                                                                           
• Exercise is essential, but if you are obese, especially if you are morbidly obese, you should consult your physician before beginning an exercise plan, and begin slowly, adding to your exercise regime as you go.  Choose exercises that are low impact, to help prevent stress on your joints.

Acupressure:

Acupressure points that help curb your appetite are the middle of the upper lip, just below the nose, and both an inch below and an inch above the naval, on the stomach.  Press these points three to four times a day for 5minutes each.