Belly fat is stubborn. The excess weight accumulated around our waist can be difficult to lose, though visceral fat is highly dangerous and detrimental to our health.
Did you know that belly fat, otherwise known as visceral fat, is a metabolically active organ? This means that the body views an abundance of fat tissue, especially the fat that accumulates around our organs, as another body part. Fat cells play a variety of roles, white fat cells store energy and secrete hormones helping to regulate insulin after food intake. Brown fat cells are specialized to release heat and protect against hypothermia. Beige fat is specific to hormone sensitivity and the final of the three types of fat in the body. Having excess fat is dangerous due to the over secretion of hormones…estrogen is produced by fat cells, which is one reason why being overweight is a risk for breast cancer in both men and women. Learn more about the connection between adipose tissue and hormone regulation here.
Excess weight around our waist also contributes to back pain and places a strain on all joints in the body. How to best lose belly fat? By making changes to your diet! Consume extra fiber by adding plenty of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits to your meal plan…this helps your body to reduce inflammation and lose weight. Whether you follow an omnivore diet or are open to a plant-based approach, both The McDougall Foundation and Forks Over Knives offer plenty of plant strong recipes that are designed to improve health.
Dine Well. ~Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES
Source: Texas Heart Institute Journal
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