What Exactly Is Fat?
To understand how fat is expelled from the body, we must first understand how it is stored. And to understand how it is stored, we must understand what it is. Wikipedia defines fat as "a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water." Wikipedia goes on to say, "Chemically, fats are generally triesters of glycerol and fatty acids." In short, fats are a chemical compound that comes from foods we eat.
Components of Food
Most of what we eat can be broken down into three compounds: proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Proteins are what build muscle and tissue. Carbohydrates give us energy. Fat can supply the body with energy, but it can also be stored by the body for future use.
Types of Fat
In his 2004 book "The Abs Diet," David Zinczenko, editor in chief of Men's Health, says fats can be broken further into different groups. There are saturated fats, unsaturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are largely animal fats. These fats can be stored in the body and burned for later use when the body expends its energy stores. The stored fat can also serve as an insulator to keep us warm.
Unsaturated fats fall into two categories, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. These fats are essential and are broken down to form hormones that the body uses, such as testosterone.
Trans fats are artificial fats that were invented by the food industry as a cheap form of sweetener. The body has a hard time burning these fats. You should generally avoid trans fats, which cause blood sugar to spike.
How and Why Fats Are Stored
According to a Johns Hopkins University website, while we are infants, our bodies develop fat cells, which store fat. Now, we have a finite number of fat cells. We won't get any more, but we won't ever get rid of the ones we have either. Fat cells store the fat that we don't burn right away. Also, even if we eat foods other than fats, they can be converted to fat if we eat too much. So, if you're eating an all-protein meal, your body will store it as fat if you eat more than can be used.
Get Rid of Stored Fat
Ultimately, to expel fat, it has to be used. But, you can't burn fat if you keep storing it. So, the answer lies with both diet and exercise.
Eating right means eating fruits and veggies along with lean meats and avoiding sweets, junk food and too much alcohol. You also need to pay attention to how many calories you are consuming per day.
You must exercise. Even if you're a busy person who walks or is constantly moving, you have to challenge your body by increasing your workload to see fitness gains. You should get into your target heart rate for 30 minutes at least three times per week.
If you follow these recommendations, you will start to see and feel a difference, as you will be burning fat and building muscle. But be sure to consult your doctor before trying any diet or exercise program, and talk to a fitness professional to help set your goals.
Tags: broken down, diet exercise, stored body, These fats, trans fats