Belly Fat – The Metabolic Meltdown
Although there have been numerous studies about midsection fat, experts are not sure why people with large abdomens and waist lines are such frequent targets for disease.
They do know that fat cells actually regulate metabolic functions. Many experts believe fat cells in the belly release especially large amounts of fatty acids, which have a negative impact on a person's blood sugar and insulin metabolism. The Dangers of Belly FatThere is one thing that’s certain. People with potbellies tend to lose sensitivity to insulin, a crucial hormone that helps the body burn energy. When insulin loses its power, the body responds by making more of the hormone, which only throws the system further off balance. As a result, people with extra belly fat are vulnerable to a whole cascade of problems known as Insulin Resistance Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome. The syndrome, which affects an estimated 70 million to 80 million Americans, comes with an array of potential complications. People living with insulin resistance tend to develop type 2 diabetes. This is often accompanied by high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol, which is a recipe for heart disease!! ‘Love handles’ are composed of fat near the surface of the skin and not considered to be dangerous. It's the visceral fat that wraps around organs deeper in the abdomen that appear to be the most metabolically active and dangerous to your health. Take MeasureFinding out if you have a potentially unhealthy amount of belly fat isn’t hard to do. All you’ll need is a tape measure. To measure your midsection, exhale, relax, and wrap the measure around your waist. The bottom of the tape should be even with the top of your hip bones bilaterally. Keep the tape straight and snug, but not so it cuts into the skin. A man's waist circumference should be less than 39" and a woman's waist measurements should be less than 34.5". Anything above these figures, puts you at a higher risk and means you're likely to have trouble with insulin resistance.
What Encourages It?Whatever your age or gender, sitting in front of TV’s or computers and consuming preservative laden fast foods can go right to your belly. A 2005 study by researchers at Duke University suggested that lack of exercise is an especially large contributor to having belly fat. They found that just eight months of inactivity increased visceral belly fat, (the potentially dangerous layer of belly fat) by about 9%. However, people who exercised regularly over the same eight month period, reduced their visceral fat by about 8%. A sedentary lifestyle is not the only cause of midsection fat. Studies report that high levels of stress encourage the accumulation of belly fat too. When the body is under stress, it produces high levels of the hormone Cortisol, which causes your body to be on high alert. Heart rates increase, blood sugar levels increase, and lowered immunity are the result of high cortisol levels. Fat cells help to break down heavy amounts of Cortisol in the body as a defense mechanism against stress. (High levels of Cortisol hype up the body, and fat cells help to slow it down, which helps to relieve stress). Just a Little BitA bulge in the belly should be a red flag for you. If you can trim down your midsection, you'll help prevent health problems associated with a potbelly. A healthier lifestyle can stave off fat from forming midsection. When you lose weight, your body will make getting rid of belly fat a top priority. If you can manage to lose just 5 to 10 percent of your overall body weight, you’ll reduce the dangerous layer of belly fat by as much as 30 percent. If high stress is causing your buildup of belly fat, incorporating some relaxation techniques in your daily routine, may be a good idea. Cosmetic Surgery?Unfortunately, if you're concerned about the amount of fat you have, liposuction does not seem to help. In a 2004 study, a group of women who had about 30 percent of their body fat suctioned off, didn't avoid diabetes or heart disease. Specifically, the procedure didn't lower blood pressure or improve insulin response either. Although billions of of fat cells were removed from the women, it didn’t change the size of the fat cells that remained. It's possible that it's the size of fat cells, not their sheer number, that really has an impact on health. Best ApproachIf you're ready to banish your excess belly fat, do something about it. The most successful approach is to combine a healthy, low-calorie diet that's low in saturated fat and sugar with regular exercise. Exercise alone can be enough to trim stomach fat. If you can’t seem to get exercise into your schedule, at least eat healthier foods. You’ll still lose some of the dangerous belly fat you have. A six pack stomach may not be within your reach, but living a healthier lifestyle certainly can be. You may also consider cleansing your body of toxins that contribute to abdominal fat. Related Pages Acai Berry Fruit – Lose Weight and Be Healthy Weight Loss Cleanse - Before Your Life is in Crisis High Protein Diet Foods – A Key Ingredient for Weight Loss Related Products Subscribe to my free newsletter. Get interesting facts and money saving tips to help conserve and improve your beauty and your health. Didn't find what you were looking for? Use your keywords and this handy tool to find it fast! To go to the next Healthy Ways to Lose Weight page, here's the link:
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