Fat May or May Not Be About What We Eat
By Tom Herrin
A lot of the time, some of us may think that our body fat is from consuming too much fat. It is true that body fat may be harmful, but it doesn't necessarily come from eating fat. Some of the fat we eat may be stored, but most of the body fat we have comes from consuming, and storing, too many carbs. This is why most good diets strive to reduce the amount of carbs taken in. The goal is to achieve balance. Balancing our exercise with our carb intake may help us to be able to do a better job of maintaining the type of body we want. Fat is much more diverse than we may think.
Colors of Fat
We may not be aware of the fact that fat comes in a variety of different colors. White fat is probably the one we are most familiar with. This includes much of the body fat that we notice. The belly fat that is so unhealthy is generally this kind. It may contribute to heart disease, stroke, arterial disease, and some cancers. This is the kind of fat that we should make every effort to get rid of through diet, exercise, and generally good management. Brown fat is pretty much what we see as baby fat. One of its primary functions is to keep us warm. Beige fat is more of a cross. It may burn off more easily than some other kinds.
Necessary Fats
Even though we may not realize it, we all need some fat. The brain is one organ that must have it. We also need it around our nerves and bone marrow. Some other internal organs need it to form a cushion to protect them. There are not really any special ways to make sure we have these fats, but maintaining a good diet may help. For sure, if we are lacking in these, we could suffer some fairly seriously issues.
Measuring Fats
We now have pretty good ways to measure body fat. Some are very high tech, and some are simply done by using a BMI scale. This considers age, height, weight, and frame size to determine what the likely proportions of fat to muscle and bone the body has. They are petty useful and easy to use and may help us to do a better job of monitoring our health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Holly Springs, N.C.