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A body fat measurement is recognized as the superior
method for measuring 'weight loss'. When one declares
that they want to 'lose weight', what they often mean
is that they want to lose fat.
Firstly, your body fat percentage is
simply the percentage of fat your body contains. If
you are 100 pounds and 10% fat, it means that your body
consists of 10 pounds fat and 90 pounds lean body mass
(bone, muscle, organ tissue, blood and everything else).
Fat is essential for functioning of many body parts.
Fat regulates body temperature, cushions and insulates
organs, lubricates joints, balance our hormones and
tissues and is the main form of the body's energy storage.
In fact, the fat naturally found in whole foods is the
fat you actually need for your body to function properly.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are fats that must be included
in a diet to maintain good health. They are principally
gained from vegetable oils. EFAs are necessary fats
that humans cannot produce on their own and must be
obtained through diet. EFAs are long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids derived from linolenic and oleic acids such
as sunflower oil. They are liquid at room temperature.
There are two families of EFAs: Omega-3 and Omega-6.
Omega-9 is necessary yet 'non-essential' because the
body can manufacture a modest amount on its own, provided
essential EFAs are present. The number following 'Omega'
represents the position of the first double bond, counting
from the terminal methyl group on the molecule. Omega-3
fatty acids are derived from Linolenic Acid, Omega-6
from Linoleic Acid, and Omega-9 from Oleic Acid.
The culprit of weight gain, refined carbohydrates, can
be found in processed foods high in sugar. Refined carbohydrates
add on extra pounds through their high glycemic index,
which means they cause a quick surge in blood sugar.
The sugar is then stored in muscle and if it is not
used it turns into fat.
The irony is that the food you take thinking that it
is not helping you to be fat is 'artificially' been
made to be low fat. Do you know what they usually put
in when they take out the fat? Sugar. 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 obesity.
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