Be Sure to Identify the Right Fat
By Tom Herrin
Worrying about fat is pretty common for many of us. Some of us have probably grown up having to be concerned about this. If we have family members with weight issues, we may be even more conscious of it. For the most part, we tend to be concerned about the obvious. That is, having our clothes fitting a little tighter than we remember or just not looking as toned as we believe we should be. Most of the time, this is our perception of fat. It is not all wrong, but it is not all right either. There are many different kinds of fat, and they have some very different effects on the body.
The Fat We See May Be Bad
When we look at ourselves and see what we believe is fat, it could be bad. One of the more serious types of fat is the white fat that is called visceral fat. When it shows up as belly fat, we have learned that it may represent potential damage to our health. This may be a major contributor to strokes. It may also be a factor in heart disease, arterial disease, some cancers, and some kinds of diabetes. In some instances, it may interfere with normal pregnancies.
We Need Some Kinds of Fat
Most of us have heard the term "brain food". This is the case with some kinds of fats. In order to have proper development of the brain, we need some of this fat. Fat may also serve to store vitamins, maintain blood sugar, and keep our metabolism in check. It is pretty widely known that fat helps to regulate body temperature.
Fat May Shape Us
What we see when we look at ourselves is likely the result of subcutaneous fat. This is the fat that lies just under the skin. When someone has too little, they may appear unhealthy. When they have too much, they may look overweight. The look that most of us desire requires some fat in order to provide a smooth appearance. Those who want to bulk up will likely rely on fat to give the muscles a look of fullness. When this is not there, they will look much poorer. It is now possible to have a rough measure of the amount of body fat we have using any of several kinds of scales.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Valley City, Utah.