Do Fats Make Us Fat?
By Tom Herrin
When we think about fats, do we really know that much about them? Some people see themselves as fat when they really aren't while others think everything is fine when they need to have some concern. The body fat we see in the mirror is one thing while the fats we consume from animals is entirely different. Each has something that affects our bodies. Some have things that are very good for us. Some can have a terrible effect. Understanding them a little better may help us to be more aware of their role in our own personal health.
Fats From Food
The fats we eat may be good or bad, depending upon how much we eat and how active we are. Some of the diets in recent years have focused on eating high fat foods and as few carbs as possible. They are designed to force our bodies to use all of the carbs then burn fats for energy. Most of our body fat is stored energy from carbs. The fats we eat are not generally the source of this body fat. We all process fats differently, so it is important to know how we use them. Those who tend to have problem with cholesterol may need to avoid saturated fats as well because our bodies use these to produce cholesterol.
Where We Need Fats
Some parts of our bodies require fat in order to function well. One part in particular that needs fat is the brain. Other parts that should have fat are the nerves and bone marrow. We also need some around some of our organs to act as a cushion to protect them from injury. Some fat plays a role in regulating body temperature and balancing hormones and blood sugar. Fats also help to store vitamins. For all the bad there is about fat, it does quite a few good things as well.
It Is Possible to Measure Body Fat
We have much higher technology today. Many centers and diet and exercise facilities have good ways to measure the amount of fat we have. For those of us who want something simpler, there several BMI scales available that are easy to use. They all work using some basic information such as age, height, weight, and frame size. While they may not be as detailed as we would like, they can provide enough general information to give us a good idea.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Irving, Tex.