Busting Belly Fat

Abdominal obesity in kids has risen over 65 per cent since 1988 and adults have seen significant increases as well. We all know abdominal fat can be unsightly but more importantly, it is associated with a hardening of the arteries, insulin resistance and a host of other ailments.  Waist to hip ratio has increased dramatically to the point that an inverted ratio (a waist larger than hip) is becoming common.

Anyway, avoiding belly fat can be tricky.  Genetics play a role but are not the cause of our current obesity epidemic.  A growing body of research demonstrates the role of toxic chemicals, especially plastics, in fostering obesity.  And, obviously, food plays a huge role.

To address toxic chemical exposures, keep your house free of pesticides, use all natural soaps, detergents, use natural sunscreens only (especially avoid fragrance which can contain phthalates).

My model Luke, fit as a fiddle.

Watch out for plastic toys that a child might suck on, do not microwave in plastic or freeze food in plastic when it can be avoided and do not use plastic water bottles on hot summer days.  The more non toxic your household, the better off you are.

And, of course, as for food, the more real the food, the less belly fat.  It is much simpler than people think.  Abdominal fat tends to come from sugar and processed flour, and processed fat.  There are so many reasons for this; both the fact of the "empty" calories that stay in your system much longer than vegetables (increasing food transit time significantly) and the particular foods (allergenic wheat; genetically modified high fructose corn syrup) interfering with natural digestion.  But, the most important thing is that the matter of calories in versus calories expended which was seen as a simple way to maintain a healthy weight is flawed and more of the right calories can lead to weight loss while for many people the wrong calories (even in moderation) lead to significant belly fat.  For me a 100 calorie pack of a dry processed carb like pretzels is much worse than a bunch of raw nuts with more fat and more calories.

These are foods that wipe out healthy intestinal flora, allow colon walls to become perforated and set the stage for the absorption of undigested proteins.  At any rate, to get on track a healthy diet and a bunch of probiotics certainly helps.  The diets tending toward less belly fat are not necessarily low carb but they are high in healthy fats, high in fibrous vegetables, and very low in processed foods. Brown rice, occasional potatoes or sweet potatoes, butternut squash and fruit can be acceptable starchy carbs.  But, white bread, packaged snacks like chips, sugary desserts, pasta, soda, commercial chain pizza, and anything with chemicals will undermine the healthy diet and should be used as special occasion foods (I hate special occasions but cheeseless vegetable pizza on a birthday makes me pretty happy)...

So, c'mon, which belly do you want?