Visceral Fat: The Best Solution to Losing That Bad Fat From Your Belly Band
Visceral fat, also called abdominal fat, is located between the muscles and the abdominal organs. It can be harmful to health. How do we avoid it and get rid of it?
What is belly fat?
Visceral fat, also called abdominal fat, does not accumulate under the skin but in the visceral system, under organs, and between muscles and abdominal organs. It appears a lot in men in their fifties, especially because of hormonal changes but also because they are prone to storing fat in the upper body, unlike women.
Where does visceral fat come from?
Belly fat is linked to an overconsumption of sugars and "chronic stress," explains Malala Lou Burgin, MD, a registered dietitian and nutritionist. "The stress hormone cortisol rises. This increases insulin, which regulates blood glucose levels. When insulin levels are high, sugars are processed and stored as belly fat," she breaks down. Additionally, some individuals tend to eat sugar when stressed, which promotes weight gain and visceral fat.
Is visceral fat dangerous to health?
Visceral fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, the second leading cause of death in France, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and poor cholesterol levels. Note that a waist circumference greater than 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men is considered a significant health risk.
How do you get rid of visceral fat?
“You should reduce pasta, white rice, sugary products, sugary and/or alcoholic beverages, increase consumption of whole starches, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, and reduce stress by adding magnesium,” recommends Maëla Le Borgne. We also avoid eating a sugary breakfast. And the specialist specifies: "The level of insulin and cortisol is already high when you wake up. In order not to store fat, it is better to eat a boiled egg with a piece of cheese. And take the time to eat without a screen!".
To eliminate fat, we do regular physical activity. "The ideal thing is to do high-intensity exercise over short sessions. You can also walk at least 30 minutes a day," explains the dietitian, who also advises intermittent fasting from 4pm until the next morning, in order to rejuvenate the liver and digestive system.