Embrace Healthy Weight Gain Through These Easy Steps

Author: Jomathews Verosilove on May 06,2022
Weight Gain Through These Easy Steps

 

Each person has their own body structure and weight. Many people usually come to a judgment that their weight is not adequate and think about whether they should increase body weight. An individual can gain a healthy weight, but trying to gain more will not solve the problem. The health hazards of obesity are well known, but being underweight can also affect your health. Although less than 3% of American adults over the age of 18 are underweight, having a body mass index of less than 19 can lead to weakened immunity, fertility, and hormonal problems, as well as nutritional deficiencies that can lead to anemia and osteoporosis. In addition, research shows that being underweight is associated with an increased risk of death.

Are you trying to gain weight? And in that pursuit, do you follow a healthy diet, exercise, and active lifestyle? If your answer is Yes and your weight is still not increasing, it is a sign that you are probably on the wrong path. While losing weight is a daunting task for most people, gaining weight is not necessarily a straight and smooth ride.

The path towards healthy weight gain

Eating nutrient-rich foods is important for anyone, whether you are underweight, overweight, or considered normal weight. In order to ensure optimum nutrition, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises including vegetables, pulses, grains, milk products, and fruits in your diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a 2,200 calorie intake plan as a benchmark for prospective health aspirants. The number of calories your body needs can vary depending on factors such as age, gender, and activity level. If you're underweight, you'll usually want to eat an extra 600 calories per day. You can do this by eating extra meals or increasing the number of meals you normally eat. You can also increase your calories and healthy fats by adding fat to your toasted butter, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.

If you don't have an appetite, you may benefit from snacking on high-calorie snacks throughout the day. If you don't have time to prepare extra snacks, you can simply increase the portion sizes of your meals. While this may seem like an easy solution to a bag of salty chips or sweet ice cream, since these foods contain a significant amount of calories, they have no nutritional value. Foods high in sugar and salt can make you feel sluggish and bloated. In addition, consuming these foods regularly and in excess can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Although processed foods are often associated with excess weight and obesity, They can also lead to chronic health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune diseases, colorectal cancer, and mood disorders, including anxiety and depression. 

Protein

Protein-rich foods can be very helpful when you want to improve your body's strength and immune system and stabilize your energy levels and mood. Usually, when you're fighting diseases like cancer, your body tends to break down muscles and make you feel weak and vulnerable, so increasing your intake of protein-rich foods is a good idea. 

Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and whole grains, provide valuable energy and nutrients. They are also processed more slowly by the body than refined varieties like white bread and pasta, and the effect is enhanced if you eat them with protein like fish, eggs, or nuts.

Fat

Fat is a great source of calories but can also improve food taste, which may be just what you need when you have a craving. Add butter, cream, full-fat Greek yogurt, or olive oil to your food.

cured healthy weight gain

Focus on quality rather than quantity

The key to healthy weight gain is choosing nutrient-rich foods as often as possible. Consuming a lot of empty-calorie foods like pops, candy, and chips is not an effective way to build muscle, build strong bones, or repair tissue after surgery. To gain weight smartly, you need the nutritional power of all the food groups.

  • If you have cravings, eat 4-5 times a day. Drink liquids before and after meals, but do not drink with them. This allows more room for food.
  • Add some concentrated calories to your usual foods, such as shredded cheese per cup of chili. Spread peanut butter or almond butter over whole-grain muffins.
  • Avoid low-fat or low-carbohydrate foods and choose traditional or high-fat options.
  • Make hot rolled oats or other cereals with milk, without water. Add milk powder, honey, dried fruit, or nuts once cooked.
  • Top salads with healthy oils like olive oil, whole olives, avocado, nuts, and sunflower seeds.
  • Make an appointment with a dietitian to create an eating plan that will help you gain weight in a healthy way with the foods you love.

Best Habits for Healthy Weight Gain

Workouts: Another way to keep your body healthy is to incorporate exercise into your routine. This could include walking to school, playing Frisbee with your friends, or helping out with some household chores. Or you can choose to work out at the gym or with a sports team. Try to get at least 45 minutes of moderate to extensive physical activity each day. Make sure to include cardio (like jogging, biking, and swimming), flexibility (like stretching or yoga), and strength training. To build strength, you can try bodyweight exercises (such as pushups and sit-ups), resistance bands, or weights. Endurance training will make your muscles stronger, but not necessarily bigger. As a man embraces maturity, weight training can help him get bigger if that's his goal. Women also benefit from strength training. Be sure to work with a certified trainer or another qualified adult who can show you how to train without getting hurt.

Get your supplements right: Are you thinking of drinking something out of a can or taking a pill to help you get better overnight? Such a wonder pill is just a misuse of money and, at the same time, harmful to your health. The best way to get the fuel you need to build muscle is to eat right. Before taking any supplement, even if it's just a vitamin, talk to your doctor.

Adequate Sleep: Sleep is an important part of normal growth and development. When you have enough, you will accelerate your growth. Your body works during sleep, oxygen travels to your brain, growth hormones are released, and your bones get stronger even when you're resting.

Prevent Unhealthy Weight Gain

When it comes to increasing body weight healthily, fasting is the worst thing people can think of. This can affect your overall metabolism, and you won't be able to increase the weight you want. Furthermore, skipping meals and eating multiple meals at once can have disastrous effects on your health. A certified trainer can provide you with the best advice. Please do not rely on the information you get elsewhere. Many people who want to gain weight make the mistake of randomly trying to be on par with professional bodybuilders. They are influenced by their habits and consider them their idols. But did you know that (most) of these bodybuilders also take bulking supplements? So, be wise and don't blindly follow anyone or any trend in the weight gain process.

Doctors may prescribe medications to help improve appetite for those who need to gain weight, especially those with a health condition that affects their hunger. These may include certain antidepressants, steroid medications, and marijuana. Another commonly prescribed appetite suppressant is oxandrolone, which is often given to cancer patients to stimulate feelings of hunger. There are also natural products that are said to be appetite stimulants. A 2013 study published in the journal Appetite found that fish oil supplements successfully increased appetite in healthy adults. In addition, some research suggests that zinc supplements may help regulate appetite in people with zinc deficiency. Similarly, if you have a thiamine deficiency, you can take vitamin B12 supplements to help increase your appetite.

cured unhealthy weight gain

Conclusion

The best way for weight gain in a healthy way is to consume more calories than you burn by eating a variety of healthy, nutrient-rich foods. Although processed foods are high in calories, they lack the health and nutritional value of whole foods. Whether you're on a diet or a regular basis, keep your diet healthy by increasing your nutrient intake. Remember that there is no single definition of a healthy lifestyle, and it all depends on what works best for you. If you are concerned that you are underweight, consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet.

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Silent Signs and Symptoms of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

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Understanding Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

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On a brown surface lie pills, a stethoscope and a notebook with the inscription - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Understanding Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Key Insights

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, is a serious chronic lung disease of scarring, or fibrosis, of the lung tissue. Because no cause is known, it is labelled as idiopathic, meaning idiopathic or of unknown cause. There is no known cause or risk factor, and it is mostly symptomatic in adults of age 50 to 70 years of age, gradually leading to a decline in lung function and extreme difficulty of breathing. Because of its heterogeneity, symptoms, cause, diagnosis, as well as treatment for a patient suffering from IPF are very important to know and comprehend both for the patient as well as for his caregiver.What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?More specifically, IPF falls under a general category of ILDs, any of which is classified as one of the several disorders causing inflammation and scarring in lung tissues. Therefore, for an IPF patient, scar tissue typically forms directly within the alveoli or air sacs of the lungs, directly impairing oxygen diffusion into the blood. 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They often continue despite treatment with cough suppressants or other drugs.Fatigue: People with IPF always complain of a feeling of tiredness or weakness brought about by the fact that their body is working hard because the oxygen levels in the blood are inadequate.Unintentional Weight Loss: Other common instances associated with people with IPF are weight loss without any deliberate plans. Increased laboured breathing leads to unintentional weight loss. The energy spent while trying to breathe and perform other activities ends up causing this kind of weight loss.Clubbing: This is a condition whereby the tips of fingers or toes may become enlarged and more rounded than usual. It is caused by chronic hypoxia or a lack of oxygen in the blood.Chest discomfort or tightness: Some patients with IPF will complain of a feeling of tightness in the chest, particularly on exertion or deep breathing.However, symptoms often mimic those seen in other lung diseases, and it makes it difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose IPF in the early stages. That is why individuals who are experiencing such signs should seek immediate medical evaluation.Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisThe word "idiopathic" in IPF indicates that no specific cause can be assigned to it. Researchers, however, have pinpointed several risk factors and possible causes that might contribute to the development of fibrosis in the lungs, as follows:Genetic Predisposition: Some families have familial antecedents of pulmonary fibrosis, indicating a genetic condition. Certain genetic mutations, particularly those affecting the health of lung tissue, can make people prone to IPF.Environmental Exposure: Continuous exposure to some toxicants and pollutants in the environment may lead to a risk of acquiring lung fibrosis. Examples of these include exposure to asbestos, silica, metal dust, and organic dust usually acquired through farming by people or through droppings from birds.Smoking: As seen, cigarette smoking is a risk factor for IPF. Smokers and ex-smokers have a higher risk chance than non-smokers.Age: IPF primarily affects elderly patients above the age of 60. Risk increases with age.Infectious Viruses: Inadequate evidence exists for this; however, in some reports, the development of such viral infections as EBV or hepatitis C was proposed to be the triggering infection for lung fibrosis in susceptible individuals.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Patients with GERD, in which stomach acid often ascends into the oesophagus, have high rates of micro-aspiration of contents from their stomachs into their lungs, leading to inflammation and, likely, IPF.Most cases of IPF remain idiopathic, even with known risk factors, and much more research is required to understand fully the mechanisms responsible for causing the disease.Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisWhile IPF presentation is nonspecific, it may be mimicked by diseases like COPD or asthma; diagnosis is, therefore, usually not direct. The doctor will use a combination of the following diagnostic tools:Medical History and Physical Examination: The doctor takes a history of symptoms, family history, smoking habits, and any possible environmental exposure. The doctor listens to the lungs with a stethoscope, looking out for abnormal crackling sounds, often described as "velcro-like".Pulmonary Function Tests: These tests on the working of the lungs measure the volume of air that can be exhaled from a patient following a deep inspiration with the efficiency of oxygen transfer into the blood. Patients with IPF will have reduced lung volumes and decreased oxygen exchange.HRCT: Characteristic features are formed by the hallmark of the diagnosis on the HRCT scans. These give a high-resolution image of the lung, which might contain characteristic patterns like "honeycombing," which is the hallmark of IPF.Lung Biopsy: Doctors have to do a biopsy very frequently where, in a minor sample of lung tissue, they take and confirm the diagnosis by looking at it under the microscope.Blood Tests: There is no specific blood test for IPF; however, several tests are used in an attempt to rule out other diseases that cause lung fibrosis and might include autoimmune diseases.Exercise Testing: There may be several different types of exercise testing that can be performed on a patient to evaluate oxygen levels in the blood, indicating just how much the lungs might provide to the body under stress.Once diagnosed, the severity of IPF is usually classified through the GAP index; this index assesses gender, age, and pulmonary function to estimate the rate of disease progression.IPF Treatment-Alternative OptionsEven though there isn't any treatment for IPF, lots of treatments can help keep up the control of symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and uplift the quality of life. The available treatment options for IPF are as follows:Antifibrotic Therapy: The FDA has approved Pirfenidone and nintedanib. These medications decrease the rate of progression of lung fibrosis and decrease areas of fibrosis and inflammation.Corticosteroids and Immunosuppressants: Based on the cause of lung inflammation, doctors use corticosteroids and several immunomodulatory drugs.Oxygen Therapy: A vital component in IPF management, patients may require supplemental oxygen as the disease progresses. This therapy, particularly during exercise, is instrumental in preventing blood deoxygenation, reducing dyspnea, and enhancing patient comfort.Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A comprehensive program that includes exercise training, education, and support, pulmonary rehabilitation is a key player in improving lung function, reducing symptoms, and significantly enhancing the quality of life for IPF patients.Lung Transplantation: This is a last resort for patients whose IPF is quite advanced, and the transplant could be an option. It is a very high-risk procedure but can certainly dramatically extend survival and improve quality of life enormously.Lifestyle Changes: Treatment of the patient with IPF can be well supported by lifestyle changes that may help the patient cope better with the disease. Smoking cessation, exposure to environmental pollutants, and a balanced diet together slow down the progression of the disease.Comorbidity management: Most patients have other diseases along with it, such as pulmonary hypertension or GERD, which have to be followed to ensure optimum treatment of IPF.Research and Future TherapiesFurther research on the causes of IPF and new treatments gives hope for better management and, eventually, a cure for the disease. Current studies being done include:Stem Cell Therapy: Preliminary studies indicate that stem cells may heal the scarred lung tissue areas in patients with IPF, but they remain in an experimental stage.Gene Therapy: Gene therapy is one of the research-intensive fields relating to the area of IPF and can be curable in the future by correcting the wrong genes that cause this disease.Targeted Therapies: Most of the new drugs that are being designed are targeting the molecular pathways specifically involved in the development of lung fibrosis.The field advances IPF treatment with clinical trials, and patients are encouraged to discuss with their healthcare providers the possibility of trying such a clinical trial.Living with Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisLiving with IPF comes with challenges that are both physical and emotional, but if appropriately treated and given the right support, many patients manage to lead a reasonable quality life.Support Groups: Support obtained from others with IPF can be extremely helpful. Most communities provide an in-person and, in some cases, online support group setting where patients and caregivers may discuss their experiences and coping strategies.Mental Health: Depression and anxiety are common in patients suffering from IPF. It can therefore be considered part of the treatment. Professional counselling or therapy may help a patient cope with the emotional burden of such a disease.Palliative Care: For the sick patient whose disease is advanced, palliative care provides relief from symptoms and further improves the patient's quality of life. This often involves management of pain, nutritional support, and help with problems related to breathing.ConclusionIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disease that steadily worsens over time, causing extremely significant health challenges. However, with the cause of IPF still not having been fully identified, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment remain the need of the hour to significantly slow disease progression as well as to improve the quality of life for a patient. Researchers are holding their fingers crossed that further research and new therapies will soon lead to better therapeutic options. Life with IPF is nothing if not complex for a patient; working closely with a healthcare team, one can look forward to understanding and navigating through this complex condition with the support of medical professionals and emotional and practical support.