Today is Thanksgiving. I am filled with gratitude for all the many people and things in my life and wish the same for you. The turkey is stuffed. The families are gathering. It is a wonderful day of quiet family celebration.
So why am I bringing up the uncomfortable subject of belly fat on a day of sanctioned gluttony? Ah, you chastise, leave us alone today of all days. I'm not suggesting to anyone that we begin the changes we need to make to rid ourselves of belly fat. But I'm sure you have noticed that some quite slim people do have this belly. The adolescent ratio of hip to waist has reversed itself and then some.
Who cares, you ask. I'm going to let the good Dr. Chaney help us understand why belly fat is bad.
First of all it is dangerous because of the inflammation that results. This fat is not inactive like the fat on our rear ends or upper arms. This fat is a busy mass of free radicals behaving like bowling balls rampaging through a china shop destroying every cell in its path. but that's just the beginning.
"What happens next is even worse!
"We start storing fat in our muscles, our liver and our pancreas.
"And you really don't want to store fat there.
"When we store fat in those tissues it leads directly to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
"When we think of abdominal obesity the solution is pretty simple - weight loss and exercise.
"But, what do you do when you have fat organs?
"And, recent studies suggest that fat accumulation in heart muscle may play a role in heart failure and susceptibility to the kind of arrhythmia that can lead to sudden death following a heart attack.
"A recent review (Perez-Martinez et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1801: 362-366, 2010) suggests that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help.
"Fat accumulation in the liver precedes and predicts type 2 diabetes independently of obesity and even of fat distribution - but omega-3 fatty acids appear to help.
"Animal studies show that omega-3 fatty acids prevent fat accumulation in the liver, and a human clinical study showed that 2g/day of omega-3 fatty acids gave a complete regression of fatty liver symptoms in 33% of patients.
"I could go on, but you get the point. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids help prevent fat build-up in our organs and that decreases the risk of several major diseases.
"I'm not suggesting that you eat whatever you want and rely on omega-3 fatty acids to overcome all of the health consequences of obesity.
"But this does give us one more reason to make sure that our diets contain plenty of omega-3 fatty acids."
To Your Health!
Dr. Stephen G Chaney
Dr. Stephen Chaney
Shaklee Master Coordinator
http://www.socialmarketingconnection.com
888.860.2075
P.S. The "Heart Health" CD that my son and I recently recorded is now available for order at:
www.socialmarketingconnection.com
Betsy Bell's Health4U
206 933 1889
www.HiHoHealth.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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