Fat America

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• published: 08 Aug 2011
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Fat America: obesity rates continue to climb every year. Approximately 123 million are either overweight or obese and estimates say those numbers will rise. Thirty-one states have increased in obesity rates. No states have shown any improvement. Definitely not time to eat. How Dangerous Is Fat? Can fat do irreversible damage or is it just an annoyance with minor consequences? After all, giving this enemy a free ride won't help. Can fat kill? Our private hope is that it does not have this capability. We blush as we realize that almost all of us would benefit by losing a few pounds. The bottom line reveals that a definite health risk exists due to a correlation of belly fat and diabetes. The guilty culprit is, well you know, the dreaded type which hangs over the belt. Beneath the muscle surrounding your organs, the fat obtrusively squats, posing danger to your body by increasing resistance to insulin. Sly as a fox, this mass of excess baggage hitches a ride, and lays you wide open to health threats as well as a viable vulnerability to diabetes. The twin threats of heart disease and stroke are present also. There is no good news for those having belly fat, also known as visceral fat. Types of Fat Central obesity, caused by visceral fat, is characterized by the 'apple shape' in the abdominal area. It is linked to metabolic disturbances, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes for women, breast cancer and the need for gallbladder surgery. This type of fat pushes into the internal organs, and just sits there. Dangers include the nearness of the portal vein transporting blood from the intestinal area to the liver. Here it influences blood lipid production. If this process works as it should, it involves setting the cholesterol at proper levels which maintain insulin resistance. Generally, a larger waist measurement predicts the development of high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Causes of obesity include being a tobacco user, heavy drinking 3+ daily for men, 2+ daily for women, high stress, and poor diet. Subcutaneous fat, mainly in the thighs and buttocks, is right under the skin. This type is not as dangerous to one's health as visceral fat in the region of the abdominal organs.. Do You Measure Up As Healthy? Circumference measurements of the waist and hip determine visceral fat with a tape measure and calculator. Visceral levels are considered excessive if they are 1.0 or higher in men and 0.85 or higher in women. Waist circumference is measured over the belly button and the hip circumference is measured across the largest protrusion of the buttocks. Then the waist measurement is divided by the hip measurement. Lose Weight by Making Wise Food Choices Correcting Common Misconceptions About Female Strength Training Obama Hopes to Increase Students Attending College If a man measures his waist at 36 inches and his hips at 40 inches, his waist-to-hip ratio is 36/40, or .09, a healthy level of visceral fat. Replace foods like white bread, refined grain pasta, sugary drinks and snacks containing no nutritional value with these beneficial foods full of healthful benefits: Beans-beneficial to muscular system Yogurt-excellent source of calcium Spinach-at 28 calories a cup, nothing is added to the waist Skim milk-calcium and protein without the extra fat Mushrooms-Vitamin B, resistance to disease Blueberries-beneficial to urinary tract Brown rice-Vitamin E Cabbage-fights stomach and colon cancer Eggs-excellent source of protein Fish-believed to lower risk of heart and artery disease Garlic-may help lower blood pressure Molasses-contains as many nutrients as calories Food and Exercise Don't drastically cut calories all at once. This can force the body into starvation mode disrupting metabolism. Remember that sensible exercise with moderation and healthy eating is the elixir to health. Spot reducing does not work due to the fact that there's no way to force the body to use fat from the area you need to improve. The key is to improve the problem area by burning fat all around by combining a close restricted diet with exercise that burns a lot of energy. Take the necessary step by determining to eat along the lines of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and those foods included on the list within this article.