Body Fat Types And How They Differ
Just as with anything in health and fitness, we can make an observation or arrive at what seems to be a forgone conclusion about most whatever it is that you want to talk about. Upon scratching the surface, however, there are more often than not several layers, classes, subsets, etc. Nothing is quite as simple as it seems. Even fast and slow twitch muscle fibers have their various subsets. Body fat types are no different, but in their case, neither one is very healthy or desirable.
Body fat types can be broken into 2 types. Subcutaneous and visceral fats. What is the difference between the 2? Subcutaneous fats are fat cells under the skin, such as what can be found jiggling on virtually any part of the human body where we carry extra weight. The buttocks area is a common place for women to carry some subcutaneous fat, and the belly area is a very common place for men to carry it. Visceral fats, however, are a wholly different thing. Visceral fat is the deeply laying fat that encompasses one’s organs and is found in the abdominal region. Everybody has some, to some degree, but it’s when there is too much, that serious health problems are posed. Even slender people with low body fat percentages can have too much visceral fat and therefore, be at risk of the dangers associated with it’s overabundance. These dangers include heart disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammations in the body, etc.
How does one accumulate too much visceral fat? Usually by ingesting too much sugar. Alcohol is basically liquid sugar, and has been positively linked repeatedly to the accumulation of visceral fat. Breads and carbohydrates are sugars too, but if taken in the right form and the correct volume, don’t lead to visceral fat issues. If carbs such as cakes, candy, etc, are ingested, this can lead to problems as well. In essence, an over abundance of bad carbs and sugars are to be avoided, while good carbohydrates, such as the complex variety, can and should be taken in moderation and in consideration of one’s needs. Another lesser known way people can accumulate excess visceral fat, is to be stressed out too often and too much. When we stress, we produce the hormone cortisol, which when combined with the neurotransmitter known as NPY, produces what is classically known as the fight or flight response. This happens when our adrenaline levels surge, we are scared, or simply overly stressed out. This combination of the cortisol and the NPY neurotransmitter being activated contribute to the body’s storage of visceral fat.
Body Fat Types And How To Reduce Them
Both body fat types, visceral fats as well as subcutaneous fats, can be reduced to a safe level through the implementation of a good nutrition plan. This means, as stated above, to limit sugars, especially the processed and high glycemic index varieties, and manage the portion size, frequency, and timing of the good carbohydrates which are collectively known as complex carbohydrates. If you go another step with your health and fitness, and engage in cardiovascular exercise, at the proper time, of course, you will further decrease your body’s fat stores. Nothing good physically happens overnight, just as you didn’t add a lot of fat in that minute time frame either. Be patient and consistent in your good dietary choices, the timing of your meals, and the execution of your exercising, and you’ll bring your body back to a healthy composition.
Andy is a top notch trainer for fitness novices to seasoned body builders. He has a breadth of knowledge matched only by very few in the fitness industry today.
Andy
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