Fat May Not Be the Problem You Think
By Tom Herrin
Many of us worry about our weight. We may check our appearance every chance we get. If our clothes don't fit the way we think they should, we may blame it on fat. Of course, the fat we refer to is subcutaneous fat -- that is, the fat that lies just beneath the skin. This gives us much of our shape. For women, this may be some of the curves. For men, it may be a look that smooths out any rough look created by bones and/or muscles. The right amount is something that adds to our looks to cause us to have whatever makes us seem more appealing. A little bit of fat also provides some cushion.
We Don't Get Fat by Eating Fats
Even though it may sound like we would, we do not generally gain fat by consuming fats. Most of the time, when we put on fat, it is because we are storing carbs. Some of the more recent diets are designed to force us to burn fats we eat to yield energy. This is after we burn carbs. We don't store protein, but we may store some fat. Carbs are likely our big issue. Some of the fats we eat are actually believed to be healthy for us.
The Bad Fats Show
By now, most of us are aware of some of the problems related to belly fat. There are some really serious health problems associated with belly fat. It is a kind of white fat that can contribute to strokes, heart disease, arterial disease, and some cancers. We may still have some problems from eating fats, but they are usually due to the way our body uses them. Our bodies use some kinds of fats to make cholesterol, and some fats may tend to clog our blood vessels.
We May Measure Fat
It is possible to assess the ratio of fat to muscle to bone that each of us has. There is some pretty high-tech equipment that is used in some gyms and diet programs. A simple and inexpensive way to do this is to use a BMI scale. Most of them use age, height, weight, and frame size. We are able to determine a numbered score that can indicate what range we fall into. Once we have this, we can make a good diet and exercise program to fit our needs.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Greenville, S.C.