The Truth About Belly Fat

They say the things you know nothing about can not hurt you. I really don’t know who said that; don’t know if it’s an adage or some parable. I do know it is a dumb whatever-it-is saying or parable. The same can not be said about the dangers of belly fat, if you know nothing about it, it could be the start of some potentially life threatening ailment. The discomfort and health hazards of belly fat are not to be taken for granted. We might be ignorant of some of the facts about belly fat. So let me just point out a few of the diseases associated with belly fat:

• Heart disease.
• Obesity.
• Hypertension.
• Insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.

The major thing that makes belly fat dangerous is its role in the development of obesity. Belly fat makes you store fat in your liver. This can interfere with the normal function of the liver in removing insulin from your bloodstream, making your body resistant to insulin. This excess insulin sends a signal to your brain that makes you prone to overeating. This sets up a vicious cycle of eating more and gaining weight.

People with excess belly fat (central obesity) are predisposed to insulin resistance as explained earlier. Insulin resistance is a major contributor of developing of diabetes mellitus type 2 (Type 2 diabetes). Additionally, abdominal fat secrets a group of hormones called adipokines that could further reduce glucose tolerance. Major research studies have confirmed this direct relationship between belly fat and the higher risk of diabetes.

The Waist-Hip Ratio

There is a measurement called the waist-hip ratio (WHR), WHR is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. It is calculated by measuring the smaller circumference of the natural waist, usually just above the belly button, and dividing it by the hip circumference at its widest part of the buttocks or hip. The absolute waist circumference greater than 40 in (102 cm) in men and greater than 35 in (88 cm) in women) and the waist-hip ratio, more than 0.9 for men and more than 0.85 for women are used as measures of central obesity. In a study done by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), WHR has been found to be a more efficient predictor of mortality in older people than waist circumference or body mass index (BMI). If obesity is redefined using WHR instead of BMI, the proportion of people categorized as at risk of heart attack worldwide increases threefold.

How To Get Rid Of Belly Fat

There are a number of exercises that can reduce belly fat; the quick way to lose belly fat is probably through jogging. Belly fat is directly related to our body weight, because as our belly fat increases so does our body weight. So, an exercise that reduces belly fat needs to simultaneously lead to weight loss. Crunches and abdominal exercises are effective for those that are not overly obese. So doing the right exercise for the wrong purposes won’t produce any results, believe me, nothing can be more frustrating. Here are a few tips to help reduce belly fat:

• Jog or walk at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
• Try as much as you can to eat less, you don’t have to eat until you are full or filled up. You don’t have to skip mills, just reduce the size of each mill.
• Stay away from drinks that have high calorie content, take water instead, but if you must, do not take too much of it.
• Instead of taking raw sugar, use artificial sweeteners or honey.
• Avoid fast food (junk food); always try to eat a healthy balanced diet.
• Throw in a few crunches and abdominal workouts every now and then.

Now that you know the risks, its time to strip belly fat off. As they say, its time to get it cracking. Put some effort into taking you life in a healthy direction. You might want to try out a fun way to loose that belly fat.

Why Stay Healthy

Did we ever learn anything from the past? Are we making progress with all the advancements in technology we are witnessing today? Has there been some kind of improvement in life expectancy with all the breakthroughs in medicine? Do you think the average man or woman like you and me, who lived in the 1980s, had a better and more fulfilling life? Are we growing wiser or are we just growing fatter? We are definitely growing fatter. According recent studies, more than 60% of American adults could be classified as either overweight or obese. Heart disease, kidney failure, circulatory problems and cancer are all attributed to obesity.

            It doesn’t take a genius to know these things; we read about these things every other day but still lack the dedication to change our lifestyle. How many times do we have to read about the relationship between obesity and aging? We get on the internet and Google “weight loss tips”, “how to loose weight”, “tips to stay healthy”, “tips to live longer” etc. But we never adhere to the rules of whatever we read, and that’s resulted in more than 300,000 deaths a year being attributed to obesity, almost the same number caused by smoking. Staying healthy is no rocket science. In fact, it involves the most basic of natural laws; whatever you sow, that you will also reap. If you decide to eat 5 donuts and 3 cups of ice cream everyday, you know you are at risk of getting diabetes, or at least you are old enough to know that you might get stomach upsets.

            Considering the excess baggage we would have to carry around, being overweight has to be annoyingly uncomfortable. Obesity is just a huge burden; you’d have to look for the right size of every item of clothing, health issues, you start aging at an alarming rate, sex becomes a not-so fun exercise, it could just be the beginning of the end of your life as you know it, and it is. Our body has a mass limit that it can support (check your Body Mass Index (BMI) here), when your body mass exceeds that limit, it becomes an extra burden. More stress on your vital organs (that is, the heart, lungs, kidney etc.), these organs begin to experience some wear and tear from the extra load, and consequently you start aging rapidly. Of course, it also affects your skeleton and therefore your form and posture. So, as you age you can’t stand for as long as you used to, you start stooping which might result in falls (falls cause untold damage to our body and its fragile organs. So it’s not hard to guess why Doctors advice patients to engage in exercises to stay fit and maintain balance.

            Loosing weight in a healthy way is not easy, we all know that. One of the myths of weight loss is that most people think it’s all about exercise. Not true. About 80% of the body weight gained is as a result of what we take in, yes, food. There is a saying, “Eat less, live long.” In order to lose weight, self control is very important, very much so. Not that you can never have a burger again, you can, just don’t eat a burger every time you are hungry. You can mix it up, some natural food whenever it’s available. Natural foods have some essential elements and micronutrients that support natural rejuvenation of your organs. Take some supplements too, you might be lacking some essential nutrients and vitamins, but check with your Doctor first.

            Exercise is vital in staying healthy. Rigorous exercises that will help you break a sweat at least twice a week. Try out exercises that will help you stretch your muscles. Always maintain a good posture and make sure your form and balance doesn’t suffer.  You can look up some workout tips on your own.

            It’s also critical that we all live like we have some purpose in life. Without a purpose, what are we all living for? Life seems to work out for those that have a dream they want to see come through, something that keeps us motivated, driven. Find something that drives you, maybe it’s your wife, your job. Exercise your will power too. Live a purpose driven life.