While many people don’t know much about it, binge eating is the most common eating disorder in adults. And it can have serious health, psychological and social consequences. While eating all you want may seem unavoidable on special occasions like Thanksgiving or a New Year’s Eve party, it’s always best to keep track of how much you’re eating.
To dissuade you from the path of overeating, we list its not-so-good consequences. A healthy life is a happy life!
What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Too Much
Your Stomach Gets Upset
The food you eat must provide energy and then any waste must leave the body. This whole process is called digestion. So when you overeat, the body speeds up. This can lead to frequent bowel movements and even diarrhea.
Also, what you eat can have an effect. Eating slowly and chewing well is key to avoiding these types of situations, although not overeating may be the best solution.
But if you are faced with this problem, don’t forget to hydrate your body as you lose a lot of water in the process. Coconut water can be an elixir in cases like this.
Your Stomach Gets Upset
If you eat more than you usually eat, your body’s metabolism takes a spin. Your heart rate will increase and you will begin to sweat profusely as if you were in a sauna.
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to stop this acceleration of your metabolism. Once the metabolism has finished working, everything will return to normal.
However, to feel a little better during such times, you can take a cold shower.
A Lot Of Gas Gets Formed Inside Your Stomach
When you eat, you swallow some air with them. And when you swallow even more food, you swallow even more air. This air intake can be increased if you drink soda while eating. The body also produces gas when food is digested.
Therefore, until the air finds its way out, you may feel uncomfortable. To avoid this or at least reduce the amount of air that reaches the stomach, it is recommended to eat slowly and chew your food well. But if you feel bloated at times, brisk walking can help release gas that has built up inside your stomach.
You Feel Restless…
There is a common belief that overeating can make you drowsy, but the truth is that if you overeat, you can become restless and sleepless. Overeating can throw your circadian clock out the window, helping your body release hormones that regulate sleep.
Also, if the food you’ve eaten is high in carbohydrates (such as pasta or cake), even if you fall asleep early at night when your body’s sugar levels drop, you may wake up hungry again.
The best thing you can do to avoid this situation is to stop eating before going to bed. But if you’ve already made the mistake, leaving the room in the dark and turning off the air conditioning can help.
…and Dizzy.
While you may have a hard time falling asleep after eating more than you can handle in a healthy way, dizziness can also appear. This is because, to digest food, the metabolism is accelerated, as well as the heart rate. Again, there is nothing that can be done to counteract this feeling.
To feel more comfortable, drink plenty of fluids and rest until the feeling goes away.
You Feel Nervous, Irritated, And Can’t Concentrate
Feeling nervous and irritable or having trouble concentrating on a task after a sumptuous meal is a sign that your body is working hard to process all the food you have eaten. When you overeat, your body releases the hormone insulin to store excess sugar, which will be used when your blood sugar is low or when you need more energy between meals or during exercise.
This causes your body’s sugar level to drop dramatically, giving you all kinds of unpleasant sensations that you don’t want.
The funny thing is that due to this hormone, you will feel hungry even after eating too much. This is the body’s mechanism to return the necessary amount of sugar to the bloodstream.
But do not be fooled. It is better to eat green leafy vegetables or eggs that satisfy your hunger. Don’t go for those unhealthy snacks you might be craving.
How often do you overeat? Or do you have enough willpower to resist temptation? Let us know in the comments below.
Preview photo credit Evil Erin / flickr
