When is the best time to eat?

However, the best time to consume energy is when the body is at its most active, a time when the metabolism is elevated or when there is a need for extra nutrition. Perhaps the first instance should be in the morning, starting with a good breakfast. Remember while asleep the body has had no nutritional supply for up to ten hours so cells are ready to effectively use up the energy from food. Also, the body needs it’s supply of essential nutrients in the morning, especially protein, because excess or circulating proteins have been used up to help recover muscles, hair, skin, nails or to create millions of antibodies to defend against bacteria which may have entered the body during sleep. This means extra energy will be used to help replace the protein lost. Reduce your calorie intake as the day passes by. Better still divide your daily calorie intake into 5 meals a day- breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner (after every 3 hrs). Try avoid eating big meal after 9 pm.

Another good time to eat is after exercise. Have a big meal about 30-45 minutes after a weight training session. During this time enzymes responsible for energy production are most active and energy-storing hormones within the blood are suppressed. This means there will be less chance energy will be stored as fat. Carbohydrates will be immediately taken up to replenish the low glycogen stores caused through exercising, the protein will be needed to aid recovery and growth of new calorie-burning muscle tissue and most of the fat from the meal will be needed to fuel many of these reactions. After a good workout most meals are likely to be utilized completely for recovery.

Thyroid Problems in Women

Symptoms of Thyroid Problems in Women
Thyroid symptoms in women will differ according to thyroid levels. Whether it is low production of hormones or elevated thyroid levels, symptoms usually affect the menstrual cycle. These are explained below.

Abrupt changes in menstrual pattern is one of the common symptoms associated with thyroid disorders. During menstruation, women lose some amount of blood, which is quite normal. However, in hypothyroidism, heavy bleeding during menstruation is observed. This excessive blood loss during menstrual periods causes fatigue and overall weakness. Dry skin and irregular bowel movement are some of the other underactive thyroid symptoms in women.

Hyperthyroidism also interferes with normal menstrual cycle. In few cases, menstrual cycle temporarily stops, and the woman is likely to suffer from menopausal symptoms. However, usually women with hyperthyroidism suffer from light menstruation. Frequent bowel movement (diarrhea), sweating, weight loss and sleeping problems are some of the hyperactive thyroid symptoms.

What Causes Thyroid Problems in Women
What are the conditions that cause malfunctioning of the thyroid gland? Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are the conditions that produce damaging effects on the thyroid gland. These thyroid conditions as well as other causes of thyroid problems in women over 40 are given below:

Autoimmune Disorders
Thyroid problems in women are linked to autoimmune disorders known as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In both these conditions, the thyroid gland has to face the brunt of immune system's invasion. Now, the thyroid gland is not strong enough to evade the immune system attack. The thyroid gland appears inflamed and it also loses its capability work properly. Swollen thyroid may either cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, depending upon the amount of damaged caused by the immune system.

Medicines
Inappropriate use of medicines to treat hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid levels) is many a times the reason behind insufficient production of hormones. Although, anti-thyroid medicines does help to stabilize excess thyroid levels, when taken in large doses, it can permanently disable the thyroid gland, which may lead to hypothyroidism.

Surgery
Surgical procedures involving removal of major part of the thyroid gland, can also cause thyroid problem in women that usually manifest in the form of inactive thyroid.

Thyroid Problems in Women and Weight Gain
Unexplained weight gain occurs in women who suffer from hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism, reduction in creation of thyroid hormones is observed. As a result, the body is no longer able to regulate metabolic rate. To be more specific, in hypothyroidism metabolic rate slows down considerably. As we all know, metabolism is a process in which foods gets converted into energy. As the speed of metabolic rate reduces in hypothyroidism, energy production decreases and most of the food consumed is stored as fat deposits. This additional accumulated fat eventually leads to weight gain.

Thyroid Problems in Women After Pregnancy
Either of the thyroid disorders discussed below can occur after pregnancy. Around 5% of women suffer from thyroid problems after pregnancy. After giving birth to a baby, the new mother may show presence of swollen thyroid. The abnormal inflammation interferes with the normal functioning of the thyroid and eventually causes too much or too little production of thyroid gland.

Treatment for thyroid problems in women aims at stabilizing thyroid levels. After diagnosing the type of thyroid disorder, doctors will prescribe appropriate medications to restore thyroid levels. For hyperthyroidism, anti-thyroid medications are recommended that helps to slow down thyroid activity. On the other hand, women diagnosed with hypothyroidism are asked to take thyroid pills to enhance thyroid function.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus also known as “diabetes”, is a serious metabolic disease that effects the body’s ability to derive energy from blood sugar, or glucose, characterized by increasing glucose level (blood sugar) in patient’s body, and this increased blood sugar level is result from defects in insulin secretion, which leads to hyperglycemia.
Insulin is hormone necessary for glucose metabolism. The major factor that causes Diabetes are usually Environmental & hereditary. More than 18 Million of North Americans have Diabetes mellitus. It is a well known fact that Diabetes is a type of disease that effects every organ of human body.
The main observed side effects of Diabetes are blindness, glaucoma, kidney failure, nerve problems and heart disease.
Diabetes is categorized in Two type: IDDM:Insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus and NIDDM:Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. IDDM is aka Type 1 diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes, since it often develops in early stage of life. While NIDDM Is called as Type 2 diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, as it occurs on older adults.
Some acute signs of diabetes which are easily noticeable in diabetes patients are: excessive urine production, resulting thirst and increased fluid intake to compensate the fluid demand, unexplained and sudden weight loss, blurred eye vision, and changes in energy metabolism.
The Cure of Diabetes is possible as insulin is widely and easily available in the market. Though there is no permanent solution for this disease, but regular intake of prescribed insulin dosage can help person living healthy normal life.
Regular exercise with daily morning walk is proved to be very helpful in controlling higher glucose level. For diabetes patients it is advisable to eat plenty of regular meals & snacks to avoid fluctuation in glucose level of body. Low fat, high fiber foods to achieve and maintain normal weight. Try to avoid: Saturated fat foods, : “Pure Calorie” driven foods like sweets, chocolates which can contribute to obesity.
At last do keep in mind the fact that “Prevention is better than cure”, a scientific research proved that weight loss is powerful preventive medicine for overweight people at high risk of diabetes.