Weight Loss for Heart Health
It may not be easy or pleasant, but weight loss has more benefits than looking good in a swimsuit. Losing even a little weight can greatly improve heart and vascular health, boost heart function, lower blood pressure, and improve your metabolism.
Overweight and obesity are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease because they directly affect the function and structure of the heart; fat cells actively release hormones and biochemicals that affect your metabolism and lead to inflammation throughout the body. As a result, you are at an increased risk of having health issues.
Losing 10%
The CDC reports that losing just 5-10% of your total body weight can significantly improve your health. For example, losing five to ten percent of your body weight can reduce your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Losing a little weight goes a long way; when you have obesity, we understand that weight loss can appear like a daunting task. However, it is important to stress that losing only 5-10% of your overall body weight can positively affect your heart health.
If you hit a bump in the road, don’t quit! You are more likely to succeed in reaching your weight loss goal and maintaining your target weight with the help of Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, who cares about your well-being.
Check Out Our Healthy Weight Loss Programs HERE
Benefits of Losing Weight for your Heart Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled obesity an epidemic and a crisis; two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, making them more vulnerable to severe and potentially deadly health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
Here are the most significant health benefits of losing weight:
Better Heart Health
The connection between obesity and your heart health is strong: carrying extra weight leads directly to cholesterol imbalances, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These conditions can be life-threatening, so you should do what you can to limit these risks. Given the link between your weight and cardiovascular health, one of the best ways to start is through weight loss.
Better Cholesterol Balance
When you are overweight or obese, your cholesterol levels can become unbalanced. What we mean by imbalance is that your bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and triglyceride levels may go up, while your good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) levels may go down. One of the best ways to attack high cholesterol numbers and achieve proper balance is to improve your diet and lose weight.
Lower Blood Pressure
When carrying extra pounds, your body requires more oxygen, which pushes your cardiovascular system to work harder. Unfortunately, this additional workload puts more pressure on artery walls, leading to hypertension.
Losing weight reduces the amount of blood your body needs to function, and it also decreases your resting heart rate, both of which can help to lower blood pressure.
Decrease Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
When you carry too much weight, you have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition in which your body becomes resistant to insulin and cannot produce enough hormones to overcome the resistance. This situation can lead to poor regulation of your blood sugar levels, which can have severe repercussions, such as heart disease, kidney, and nerve damage. Weight loss can help you avoid insulin resistance and diabetes.
Easier Exercising
Exercise is an important key to losing weight, but exercise can be challenging if you’re carrying extra pounds. Obesity creates inflammation and puts extra strain on your bones, muscles, and tissues, making your body work harder when exercising.
When engaging in a weight loss program, you will be amazed to discover that your capacity to exercise will increase with every pound you lose. This in turn, does wonders for your heart health, as exercise can go a long way toward preventing heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
There are other ways weight can affect your heart health, but the examples above paint a clear picture.Of course, losing weight has many more benefits, but what we have described here is the power of weight loss to improve your overall health.
Click HERE to Schedule a consultation with Dr. Helene Pulnik if you want to take charge of your health through a medically supervised weight loss program.
Whether this is your first diet, or you have been struggling for years to lose weight, your possibilities of success are better when you have the tools you need to be supported, stay energized and positive while losing weight. Dr. Pulnik works one-on-one with each patient, creating personalized plans and recommending programs that provide the nutritional and wellness support needed to safely lose weight and maintain your weight loss.
Are you ready to start your weight loss journey with Dr. Helene Pulnik?
Losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your health.
Read about Functional Medicine Lab Testing for Heart Health HERE
Check Out Our Healthy Weight Loss Programs HERE
Book your Weight Management Discovery Call today!
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Take care of your health!
From my heart to yours,
Dr. Helene