Understand Fats Better
By Tom Herrin
Everyone deals with fat of some kind. For some, it is body fat that makes them look or feel overweight. For others, it is a matter of watching their diet. There are different kinds of fats, they come from different places, and they do different things. The more we know about them, the better chance we have of dealing with them. If we divide this information about fat into groups, we can break down the details about how it affects us.
The Fat We Eat
Some people have a mistaken idea that eating fats is what makes us have more body fat. This is not the case at all. Most of the fat that we store on our bodies is the result of excess carbs. When we don't burn those calories up, we store them on our bodies for later use. Exercise may be a way to burn them. Sometimes we spend much more time storing them than burning them. We notice it once this storage is built up. When it is stored as excess subcutaneous fat, it lies under the skin. As it increases, it begins to bulge. When it is slight, it may help to create curves, but when it is pretty good sized, we see it as obesity.
The Fat That Is Really Bad
All fat may not be the same. Once we get past the basic stored fat that has a purpose, we may begin to see belly fat. This has been identified as a particularly big problem. It is now believed that belly fat is somewhat unique, and it can endanger our health. It is thought to be associated with strokes, heart disease, arterial disease, and some cancers. In some cases, it may damage organs. Once we recognize that we have too much of it, we need to address it. This is one of the primary reasons why we may want to have a good diet and exercise plan.
There Are Some Necessary Fats
Several parts of our bodies require fat to be healthy. One of these is the brain. We also need it for our nerves and bone marrow. Some of our organs need fat around them to act as a cushion to protect them. Some fat acts to regulate our body temperature, and some helps to regulate blood sugar and hormones. The bottom line is, we need some fat to keep us as healthy as possible, and we need to avoid some as much as possible.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sugar Land, Tex.