CAUSES AND HEALTH RISKS OF BELLY FAT

Learning the causes and health risks of belly fat should lead us to be proactive by taking charge of our health. Proactive is actually the right term, too. By definition, to be proactive means to create or control your situation by causing something to happen. It is not just responding to it after it has happened. So, by being proactive in taking back control of your health and maintaining a healthy weight, you can head off a world of trouble down the road.

Take charge of your health to avoid the health risks of belly fat.

You can be the one in charge who decides what your future looks like, instead of having to deal with the causes and health risks of belly fat.

Belly fat is very dangerous, primarily because being overweight, in general, is one of the leading causes of many diseases. Visceral fat is fat that lies in close proximity to the vital organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas and other digestive organs.

Visceral fat can act somewhat similar to an organ, too, in that it releases compounds into the blood that alter hormone levels. When fat is stored close to those organs, it is easier for the fat to get into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the entire body, affecting blood vessels and metabolic functions.

This dangerous fat can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart disease in general, strokes, fatty liver and gallbladder disease, pregnancy complications, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, asthma and Alzheimer’s, along with other types of dementia.

Belly fat has many causes.

The most prominent are eating processed or pre-packaged foods, avoiding fruits and vegetables, chronic stress, lack of sleep, eating trans-fats or highly-refined, inflammatory vegetable oils (which are most vegetable oils), and drinking alcohol.

Belly fat accumulates when several hormones are affected by our eating. Hormones involved in the accumulation of belly fat are insulin, ghrelin, leptin and cortisol. These are our food storage, hunger, satisfaction and stress hormones. It’s complex.

Insulin is released when we eat carbohydrates. It takes glucose out of the bloodstream to the cells to be used for energy. If there is too much glucose remaining (more than the body needs), it gets stored for later use as body fat. If insulin is continually activated, it can cause out of control fat storage, because it is a fat storage hormone.

Here is a list of several ways to burn belly fat.

• Eat more of the foods that burn fat.
  • These are the real foods found in nature. Real foods include fruits, vegetables, seeds,        nuts, clean meats and fish, and healthy fats – without the added chemicals.
• Every food you eat either increases or decreases inflammation.
  • Real foods also provide vital nutrients your body needs to function properly and rid unwanted visceral fat. They will also increase your fiber, which controls appetite, digestion and heart health, etc.
• Know what not to eat.
  • Sugar, liquid calories (like soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, etc.) and grains will add to visceral fat very quickly. Sugar is hidden in everything, it seems – dairy, juices, condiments and even “healthy” grain bars.
• Move your body.
  • Just moving by walking is great. HIIT, which is high-intensity interval training (also known as intervals, surge or burst exercises) are all a very effective way to lose unwanted belly fat.
• Discover healthy ways to deal with stress.
  • Chronic stress is dangerous and contributes to many diseases, including diabetes, mental/emotional disorders, autoimmune diseases and heart disease to name a few.
• Establish good sleepingpatterns.
  • Sleep deprivation is right up there with stress, too. Most people don’t realize how much it actually contributes to belly fat. Getting good sleep is actually a part of obesity prevention. A lot of repair goes on while sleeping.

So, here are some final thoughts on burning belly fat. Losing belly fat is not only something we want to do in order to look better. It has overwhelming health benefits. As you lose visceral fat, you also decrease inflammation, fatigue and help your hormones, (which are your bodies communication system), operate optimally. So, don’t look as your GHS plan as a diet. This is a way of living that will give you your life back. It’s not about deprivation… it’s about freedom!