Are you fighting a battle with stubborn belly fat? Unlike its superficial cousin, subcutaneous fat, which hides just under your skin, deep belly fat, also known as visceral fat, sets up camp deep within your belly, cozying up to your vital organs. This fatty villain isn’t just there for looks; it’s a dangerous player in the health game.
Excess visceral fat is like an unwelcome guest that refuses to leave. Even worse, it increases the odds of serious health troubles. Think heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain cancers – all on its watch. But that’s not all – this isn’t just any fat; it’s “active fat.”. This troublesome type of fat produces hormones and other substances that wreak havoc on our well-being.
Now, let’s talk about body shape. If you’re in the “apple” camp, where weight loves to hug your waistline, chances are you’ve got a VIP pass to the visceral fat party. Meanwhile, the “pear” folks, with weight depositing around the hips and thighs, have a better deal – their fat is less harmful from a health standpoint. Excess visceral fat has been linked to an increased risk of several serious health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Visceral fat is also “active fat” because it produces hormones and cytokines, a type of signaling molecule, that causes inflammation. The low-grade inflammation that visceral fat is associated with contributes to health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How do you know if you have too much visceral fat? There are several ways to determine if you have an excessive amount of visceral fat:
- Measure your waist: Use a tape measure to measure your waist circumference. Men with a waist circumference of 40 inches or more, and women with a waist circumference of 35 inches or more, are at increased risk of health problems based on visceral fat. To monitor where you stand, measure your waistline at least once per month.
- Body Mass Index (BMI): Some healthcare providers use BMI as a marker of visceral fat. However, it’s not a reliable measure, as BMI doesn’t tell you how much of your weight is fat and how much is muscle. Plus, it doesn’t distinguish between subcutaneous and visceral fat.
- CT or MRI scans: Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans produce images of your internal organs and can accurately measure the amount of visceral fat. On the downside, these tests are expensive and CT scans expose you to radiation. So, this isn’t a practical approach for monitoring visceral fat.
- Blood tests: If you have elevated levels of certain biomarkers, such as insulin, triglycerides, and high fasting blood sugar, it suggests that you have metabolic issues that are also associated with higher levels of visceral fat.
The simplest way to know whether you carry too much visceral fat is to measure your waistline. It’s one of the best ways to determine whether you’re carrying too much visceral fat and you can do it at home. All you need is a tape measure.
Now let’s look at some ways to reduce visceral fat through lifestyle.
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Manage stress to tame visceral fat
Stress plays a major role in visceral fat too. When you’re stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This hormone makes you hungrier and encourages your body to store fat in your belly. This can make losing weight tough, especially if you’re already carrying extra pounds.
To reduce the effect of cortisol on your waistline, try these strategies:
Get moving every day (aim for 30 minutes). Exercise is a stress-buster – it releases feel-good endorphins, amps up your energy, and has a calming effect.
Make sure you catch enough Zzzs (7-9 hours a night). Skimping on sleep can crank up your cortisol level and increase your appetite. Try mindfulness activities like meditation or yoga to help lower cortisol.
Tap into strategies that help you better manage stress, such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or spending time in nature.
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Replace ultra-processed carbohydrates with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
Swap out those processed carbs for fiber-packed fruits and veggies – a solid move to kick visceral fat to the curb. But why the fuss about junk and processed stuff? When you chow down on ultra-processed carbs like sugary treats and fizzy drinks, the carbohydrates enter your bloodstream in a flash, due to a lack of fiber. This creates an insulin surge and a cozy home for extra fat right in your belly zone.
On the flip side, fiber-loaded fruits and veggies take their sweet time to digest and leisurely enter your bloodstream, keeping your blood sugar levels steady, so you’re less likely to store energy as visceral fat.
But that’s not all – fiber makes you feel full and content, which means you’re less likely to overeat and more likely to shed some pounds. Plus, fruits and veggies don’t just taste good; they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and stress that can lead to that pesky belly fat.
Think colorful salads, hearty veggie soups, and refreshing fruit smoothies – all simple tricks to show that visceral fat to the exit door. So go ahead, load up on these fiber wonders, wave goodbye to unwanted flab, and say hello to a healthier you.
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Exercise
Consider exercise to be your visceral fat fighter. Not only does it kick that sneaky visceral fat to the curb, but it also gifts you with an energy boost, stress relief, and a mood lift – a win-win. Regular cardio workouts and strength training help your body fight visceral fat. Strength training builds metabolically active muscle that helps your body fight tummy fat.
What does science say? A meta-analysis found that exercise can reduce visceral adipose tissue in overweight adults, even in those who don’t restrict calories. The review also found that aerobic training of moderate or high intensity has the highest potential to reduce visceral adipose tissue in overweight people of both genders.
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Choose Healthy Fats
Give your diet a healthy fat boost – think olive oil, avocados, and nuts – a simple move that tames inflammation and paves the way for weight loss. These are the “good fats,” aka monounsaturated fats. Swapping these fats for less friendly fats, like trans and saturated fat, can help you shrink visceral fat.
How can you get the benefits? Toss avocado into your morning smoothie, let olive oil take the lead in your cooking, or sprinkle nutty goodness onto your salad. And here’s the bonus: these fats aren’t just tasty, they’re your fullness friends, cholesterol chasers, and packed with nutrients.
So, here’s the game plan – eat smart, welcome those healthy fats to your table, and let them be your partners on the road to a healthier, happier you.
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Track Your Waist Size
Time to break out the tape measure and start tracking your waistline. Why? Because it’s a game-changer for your overall health. Think of it as your trusty compass guiding you toward smarter food choices and a better lifestyle.
Here’s the deal: your waist size gives you an idea of how much sneaky visceral fat you have. Knowing your numbers is also a motivator. Watching that waistline shrink becomes your cheerleader, reminding you to watch your processed carbs and eat more fiber-rich ones combined with lean sources of protein. So, start tracking that waist size today and recording them.
Conclusion
Visceral fat is a tough opponent, but guess what? You’ve got the power to show it the exit door. Tackling this challenge is doable if you’re ready to make some changes.
References:
- Visceral Fat: What It is & How to Get Rid of It. Cleveland Clinic. Published 2022. Accessed February 10, 2023. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24147-visceral-fat
- de Mello AH, Schraiber RB, Goldim MPS, Mathias K, Mendes C, Corrêa MEAB, Gomes ML, Silveira PCL, Schuck PF, Petronilho F, Rezin GT. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have beneficial effects on visceral fat in diet-induced obesity model. Biochem Cell Biol. 2019 Dec;97(6):693-701. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2018-0361. Epub 2019 Nov 27. PMID: 31774300.
- Parker HM, Cohn JS, O’Connor HT, Garg ML, Caterson ID, George J, Johnson NA. Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Hepatic and Visceral Fat in Overweight Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019 Feb 23;11(2):475. doi: 10.3390/nu11020475. PMID: 30813440; PMCID: PMC6413081.
- Haldar S, Ponnalagu S, Osman F, et al. Increased Consumption of Unsaturated Fatty Acids Improves Body Composition in a Hypercholesterolemic Chinese Population. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022;9. doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.869351.
- The Effect of Exercise on Visceral Adipose Tissue in Overweight Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | PLOS ONE. (2023). Retrieved 12 August 2023, from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0056415
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