Nobody wrote:
A big increase in waist, but I usually measure immediately after I get up. This was 2 hours after wake up, so could be a factor.
definitely.
interstitial fluid and blood volume distribution varies significantly over this time.
during sleep, ISF redistributes from the abdomen, pelvis, and lower limbs, to a more even spread into upper trunk and limbs.
after standing for some time and being generally sedentary, ISF and blood will begin to pool in the abdomen, pelvic region, and lower limbs, thereby increasing waist circumference. This will be facilitated by relaxed tone in abdominal muscles.
If interested, measure your waist circumference every morning for a week
- on arising
- then again 1-2 hours later after no exercise OR after vigorous exercise.
The exercise should reduce your waist circumference noticeably vs no exercise. why? fluid has been shunted away from viscera out to skeletal muscle.
I am very interested in visceral circulation regulation. For digestion and absorption to work optimally, visceral circulation must increase.
Visceral circulation is a very close measure of gut metabolic rate (of which digestion and absorption are the main contributors).
The superior mesenteric artery supplies most of the small intestine, and non invasive color doppler ultrasound is an accepted technique for measuring changes in SMA flow rate.
I had discussed with TNH getting adept with the method, then doing a lot of studies into the influence of behavioral/lifestyle choices on SMA flow rate. The literature supports that compromised visceral flow rates (ischemia) is a prerequisite for much gut pathology i.e. ischemic colitis. SMA flow rate is an important area of study, as it comes under the control of psycho-emotional state.
My guess is a higher fiber diet with less processed food, signals for more blood flow than a high fat and processed carb diet.
The higher blood flow would be necessary for higher intensity bolus churning, peristalsis, and absorption.
None of this is going to win a Nobel prize, but it has excellent potential for therapeutic biofeedback.
I envision within 10-20 years, a simple inexpensive doppler USS gadget could be sold to the public, and attached to the abdomen. One could experiment with various diets, states of mind and emotion, or post various exercises, to understand the effect on small intestine circulation.
My old mentor always reminded me to consider blood flow when considering causes of pathology. In this day and age of endocrinology and genetics, fundamental physiological factors like this are often discounted.