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Thirty years ago it was the good old days when people ate, exercised and lost weight. Why?
In other words, an adult in their thirties who today consumes 2000 calories a day and exercises 2 hours a week will be 10% heavier than an adult of the same age in 1980.
2 reasons why we gain more weight today than before:
1. Change in gut microflora
The gut microflora today is not what it was 30 years ago. Since it is known that some bacteria living in the intestines influence body weight, their change may be a determining factor.
The research team assumes that three changes in eating habits have contributed to this change in gut microflora.
The first change is that today people consume more meat than 30 years ago and, moreover, this meat contains antibiotics, hormones and steroids.
The second change is the increased use of artificial sweeteners, which, as has been shown, lead to obesity in people because they disrupt metabolism, reduce the body’s insulin resistance and cause other disorders in the organism.
The third change is our preference for consuming refined, processed foods, which have been shown to be able to change the composition of our gut microflora.
2. Exposure of the body to chemicals
Pesticides and some other chemicals in plastics, foods, cosmetics, furniture and other everyday items (BPA, phthalates) contribute to weight gain. This is mainly due to their ability to disrupt hormonal balance and metabolism.
Other causes of excessive weight gain:
- stress
- lack of sleep
- electromagnetic fields
What can you do about this?
The researchers’ conclusion is therefore not very positive: To maintain the same weight as years ago, you must eat less and exercise more.
In addition, it is necessary to focus on the above-mentioned causes of increased weight gain.
Specifically, the research team recommends the following:
- Avoid harmful chemicals whenever possible and especially those that disrupt hormonal balance, such as BPA, phthalates, lead, mercury and organophosphate pesticides.
- Support a healthy gut microflora by consuming foods rich in probiotics (yogurts, kombucha, sauerkraut) and favor a diet that includes whole (not ready-made) and raw foods.
- If you take medications such as antidepressants, corticosteroids, diabetes medications, beta-blockers, then try to ask your doctor whether there are natural alternatives to them (herbs, special foods and similar). Even if that’s not possible, it’s still good to be aware of these factors that cause weight gain so you can take other countermeasures.
