Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard, an indicator and contributor to “Syndrome X,” or metabolic syndrome. The risks of metabolic syndrome go far beyond a bulge at your waistline, and include heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

If you’re over 40, it’s time to get serious about reducing your abdominal fat. Not just for your waistline, but to dramatically reduce your risk of chronic disease.

How to Lose Belly Fat: Secret #2 - DHEA

DHEA is a human hormone that has also been found in certain types of yams. While some of the research on DHEA and fat loss is inconclusive, a new study published in the prestigious JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) in 2004 is turning heads.

In the JAMA study, 28 men and 28 women, ranging from 65 to 78 years of age, took 50 mg. of non-prescription DHEA for 6 months. The DHEA treatment produced “significant decreases” in both abdominal fat and ordinary fat. In addition, insulin sensitivity was also substantially improved.

The researchers concluded that “DHEA replacement could play a role in prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome associated with abdominal obesity.” Primarily, I would add, in elderly people- or people with low levels of DHEA.

DHEA levels are known to decline with age. The older you are, the more likely that DHEA will help you reduce belly fat. Your doctor can also do a blood test for DHEA levels.

The theory of hormone replacement therapy, which links your body’s gradual loss of certain hormones to aging and age-related disease, has a lot of established medical proof. In its narrowest sense, HRT is means replacing estrogen in menopausal women. But the broader picture of HRT includes human growth hormone, melatonin, sex hormones, and DHEA.

If you are still young, you probably have adequate levels of most or all of these hormones. There would be no sense in giving you more, because you are not yet “deficient.”

The key to HRT, especially as it relates to aging, is to return your hormone levels to a more “youthful profile.” Levels similar to what you had when you were, say, 25 years old. Before most of us were worried about diabetes, heart disease, or our bulging bellies.

Just as low levels of this hormone can be a problem, too much DHEA can also cause problems. Ask your doctor about the blood test before you supplement.

David L. Kern is a health researcher and publisher of New Health & Longevity, a newsletter devoted to the latest advances in nutritional science. Find out how to lose belly fat today at http://www.applepoly.com/bellyfat. This entire series of articles, How to Lose Belly Fat: Secrets from the Research Labs will be available for download at http://www.applepoly.com/howtolosebellyfat.

Tags: apple, atkins, belly fat, bellyfat, DHEA, diet, fat, fat loss, health, phytochemical, polyphenols, weightapple, atkins, belly fat, bellyfat, DHEA, diet, fat, fat loss, health, phytochemical, polyphenols, weight

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Fat does Not Make You Fat. One of the other huge myths is that fat makes you fat. It doesn’t. When you eat fat, your body has to break it down into its little building blocks and then absorb the pieces. The fat you have in your body is not the same as the fat you eat. In fact, the fat naturally found in whole foods is fat you actually need for your body to function properly.

Essential Fatty Acids are the name given to the types of fat that you need to eat. This is why they are called essential. Your body cannot make them, you must eat them. And these essential fatty acids are only found with fat that naturally occurs in whole food. What are these essential fatty acids used for in your body? Well, literally everything. Every cell in your body is partly made up of these essential fatty acids. To breathe, to have your heart beat, to run, walk, think, to make hormones, to remember anything, you need essential fatty acids for all of these and basically, to live. And if you don’t eat them in the food you eat, your body will not function properly. And the only place you can find essential fatty acids is in food that has naturally occurring fat in them. So if you try and cut fat out of your body, you will actually be causing harm and not really be doing anything to get rid of the fat already in your body.

So what is one of the main causes of being fat. Sugar and refined carbohydrates. NO, not again with the sugar, you might be saying. Yes, Sugar and refined carbohydrates are really one of the main causes in many problems we as humans face today. You can pretend it is not true, you can believe it is not true, but no matter how you try and avoid it, sugar and refined carbohydrates will still negatively impact you whether you want them to or not. And whether or not you believe they will or not.

How does sugar and refined carbohydrates make you fat? It is really simple. You have a relatively set amount of fat cells in your body. It is just a matter of how big your fat cells are. So what affects the size of your fat cells? Sugar. Because glucose is what is stored in your fat cells. And there is a little “gate” that controls the movement of sugar in and out of your fat cells. And the key to this little gate is insulin. Insulin is the key that opens the gates to the fat cells and allows excess glucose in the blood to go into the fat cells. So if you never eat anything that raises your blood sugar levels beyond normal, your body will not release insulin, and you will not get bigger fat cells.

The body releases insulin to lower blood sugar levels that are too high. So Sugar and refined carbohydrates are actually what is one of the biggest contributing factors to why people are overweight.

The ironic part of all of this, is that when you get food that has “artificially” been made to be low fat, you know what they usually put in when they take out the fat? Sugar. They usually add the very thing that contributes to people being fat when they are trying to make something that many people think is helping them not be fat. Fat does not make you fat. In fact, you need the essential fatty acids found in fat to live. Sugar is one of the biggest contributing factors to what makes you fat.

The real truth about sugar and refined carbohydrates. I share this and more with you in my free e-course that this article is a part of. Go to http://www.HealthyEatingDiet.com to get the full e-course. Dr. Jamie wants to help give you Permanent Results with his “non-diet.” He is also giving you dozens of valuable free gifts to “ethically bribe” you into helping him make his new book, “The Ultimate Non-Diet” a #1 best seller. For details on the book go to: http://www.TheUltimateNonDiet.com/free

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Like any other aerobic exercise, walking builds physical endurance caused by the increase of oxygen supply to the skin and muscles. Aerobic exercise may be a primary factor in the deterrence of heart and circulatory disease. Walking improves the cardio-respiratory system efficiency by stimulating the lungs and heart. It is probably the least strenuous and safest aerobic exercise and doesn’t require much but a pair of good walking shoes. Walking when done regularly can actually reduce tiredness and tension, promotes better health, a slimmer body and a longer life.

Walking promotes better circulation and respiration. It may actually lessen the chances of heart attack by opening up the narrowed areas in the coronary blood vessels as shown by some evidence in clinical studies. Walking may increase the elasticity of blood vessels decreasing the likelihood of stroke, which is sometimes caused by the rupture of blood vessels under pressure. Living a sedentary life, coupled with diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking, necessitates weight reduction especially for overweight and obese individuals.

Obesity is usually associated with premature death, disability and many other diseases notably hypertension, heart disease and respiratory disorders. For these reasons, exercise and good eating habits are important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There is a wrong perception that exercise increases the appetite. On the contrary, there are studies that suggest that exercise decrease appetite by regulating the brain center that controls it. It redirects the blood flow away from the digestive tract; and stimulates the utilization of blood fats, instead of blood sugar, by the muscles. An estimated 120-150 calories are burned every hour by just strolling at 1 mph while 240-300 calories per hour are burned by walking at 3 mph. It takes 3,500 calories to be burned in order to lose one pound just by walking at a moderate pace. An hour a day walk can burn up to three pounds in one month.

Walking can actually flatten and make firm your abdomen and at the same time eliminate that doughy look in your thighs. A less active lifestyle, sometimes brought about by retirement hastens the aging process. Once the aging process accelerates then you become more and more vulnerable to physical and psychological problems. Retirement from work should not mean retirement from everything else, including exercise. You should always continue being active and physical even during your retirement years. Retirement should not mean endless hours in front of the television with a continuous supply of food. Rather you should try to continue an active lifestyle by incorporating exercise in your retirement routine.

Walking daily with your loved one or a friend will not only improve your physical health but will also create a stronger bond between the two of you. An effective walking routine consists of a 45-60 minutes walk at least three times a week. At the beginning, however, a six-week conditioning period is recommended, especially for older people or those unaccustomed to exercise. Start with a 15-minute walk every other day for two weeks then gradually increase it to 30 minutes the next two weeks, then working up to four 45-60 minute sessions a week. Comfort and time spend are the two primary concerns when walking. Be regular and consistent. Try to walk at least three times a week and no less than. A walking routine broken into several minutes a day is as effective as an hour of continuous walk. Although walking is the safest form of exercise, try to consult your doctor before starting your regimen. Avoid walking immediately after meals. If you become tired, stop and rest. Don’t push your body until you’re gasping for breath. Wear comfortable shoes and walk smoothly, putting energy into each step.

Finally, if you want to live a healthy, happy and longer life, exercise regularly and eat a proper diet. When all other exercise seems daunting, walking might just be the answer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Exercise

Tag: exerciseexercise

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