Know Your Fats
August 18, 2009
Most of us look at fat in a very negative light and it does have a very bad picture in our mind. For us fat is synonymous with dimples on thighs for women or beer belly and tiers in men.
We hate, agonize and look at fat as a villain. We exercise to keep fat away from our body. Experts on the other hand feel that fat is becoming more and more crucial for us. Fat has become one of the most captivating organs in our body, it is only know that experts are realizing how important fat is. Fat is more useful and has more functions in our body than we ever realized.
We know fat stores extra calories safely which is used when we are hungry and it controls metabolism. What we don’t know is that the various types of fat (brown fat, white fat, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and belly fat) and its functions.
Brown Fat
Recently this has come into a lot of news, as it was discovered that it isn’t as worthless as we thought. A leaner person contains more brown fat vis-a-vie overweight people and brown fat is found more predominantly in children compared to adult’s bodies; this is used to raise the number of calories burnt. It is also being researched as a potential obesity fighter. Brown fat also helps maintain warmth in your body. Brown fat becomes more active in colder months. Brown fat also burn white fat when it is active.
White Fat
It is found in greater amount as compared to brown version. Its work is storing energy and producing hormones secreted in our bloodstream. It produces a hormone which makes us less prone to diabetes and cardiac disease. If you become overweight the production of that hormone reduces.
Subcutaneous Fat
This layer is found immediately under the skin. This kind of fat in our buttocks and thighs not be bad as it doesn’t roots to many problems as other type of fats do. These can be dangerous if found in excess around the belly.
Visceral Fat
These are deep seated layers of if you have a large waist or belly you will have excess of this fat. Visceral fat raises the danger of cardiac disease, diabetes, stroke, etc. It also has a big role in resistance of insulin.
Belly Fat
Belly fat is seen as an unhealthy form of fat. Experts still need to figure out whether this is subcutaneous or visceral fat. Still is you have a big belly you would be at a risk of many diseases.
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