How Is Your Body Fat?
By Tom Herrin
Do you catch yourself looking into the mirror to see if you can catch a glimpse of just how good, or bad, you look? Could it be that you look different to others than you do to yourself? Do you feel, at times, that you are simply too fat? Most of us do quite a bit of comparing. Even if we don't care to admit it, we have some general concern about how others see us. Much of this may be determined by just how much body fat we have or how it seems to be distributed throughout our bodies. This fat is probably the greatest common indicator that many of us use to evaluate just what kind of shape we are in, literally.
Some Fat Really Does Make Our Shape
The amount of muscle we have may mean a lot to us, but the amount and distribution of fat is the real deal. Subcutaneous fat, or the fat that lies just under our skin, is what truly gives us much of the shape we see. Managing this fat is what many people seek to do as they become involved in various exercise routines. Viewing the mirrored image we see daily is what may drive us to try to be better.
Fat Is Important to Good Health
Even as we become discouraged with what we may see, or fear others may see, we may forget that some fat is critical to good health. Our brains require some fat in order to operate as they should. Even though we hear terms such as "fathead' used, it is obviously not referring to the way our brains work. When the brain is deprived of the fat it needs, the neurons will not develop and a person may be mentally deficient. Fat is also necessary for our organs, nerves, bone marrow, and a few other parts.
The Bad Fats Can Be Bad News
Most of us are aware of the serious effects of bad fats. These are generally the visceral fats the who up as belly fat. They may increase our risk of some diabetes as well as stroke, heart disease, and some cancers. Understanding and managing our fats can be an important step in maintaining good health. The more we know, the better off we may be, and we may all benefit from staying better informed.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Carmel, Ind.