Dr Zoe Williams discusses visceral fat on This Morning
Visceral fat or belly fat has many names, but whatever you call it, those extra inches around your middle are a serious matter, and not just because it makes it harder for you to squeeze into your favourite jeans. Belly fat is unique in that it can have a far more negative impact on your health than other types of fat. Following any of these three diets can help you lose your visceral fat and burn away your belly fat.
Keto diet
Technically, a person can’t spot-target fat areas for reduction. Your body decides where weight loss will occur.
However, keto may be useful for eliminating stubborn belly fat.
Belly fat, or visceral fat, comes from a combination of genes and a diet high in refined carbs and sugar.
Visceral fat can easily become inflamed, making it incredibly stubborn to lose and dangerous to surrounding blood vessels.
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A well-formulated keto regimen has strong anti-inflammatory effects, making it easier to drop stubborn belly fat.
The goal of the ketogenic diet is to enter a state of ketosis through fat metabolism.
In a ketogenic state, the body uses primarily fat for energy instead of carbohydrates; with low levels of carbohydrate, fats can be converted into ketones to fuel the body.
This is ensured by drastically reducing the amount of carbohydrates consumed.
Intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting has recently become very popular as a weight loss method, said Healthline.
The health site continued: “It’s an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting.
“One popular method involves 24-hour fasts once or twice a week. Another consists of fasting every day for 16 hours and eating all your food within an 8-hour period.
“Studies suggest that it may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat.”
The evidence is clear: hands down, the best way to burn body fat (including belly fat) is to switch to a fat-burning metabolism by controlling your carb intake, which is where the Atkins diet comes in.
The main principles of the diet include:
Cut the sugar
The body is built to handle the equivalent of only one to two teaspoons at a time, and anything more than that has the potential to be converted into body fat.
Fortunately, the Atkins diet is naturally low in carbs that convert to sugar.
This helps the body to burn fat for fuel, which is what you want to burn when you have fat storage (especially around the belly).
Pump up the protein
With Atkins, a person is eating optimal amounts of protein (not too much, not too little).
When protein is included in every meal and snack, you are able to control your hunger and cravings, which is the secret to battling the bulge.
Cut the carbs
When you cut out refined carbohydrates like white bread, rice, bagels, pasta, cookies, candy and chips and focus on nutrient and fibre-rich carbs such as vegetables, and low-glycaemic fruits, a person starts to lose belly fat, because, once again, your body is burning fat for fuel.
When you lower carbs and sugar, the body is burning fat for fuel and this helps to burn belly fat and get rid of visceral fat.
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