This “Zombie Fat” Is Wrecking Your Health
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 8, 2017
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
You don’t need a doctor like me to tell you that being overweight is bad for you.
Carrying even an extra 20 or 30 pounds can do long-term damage to everything from your heart to your joints.
But there are some types of fat that are much, much worse than others.
In fact, scientists have discovered a new type of fat… I call it “Zombie Fat”… that’s literally spitting out health-wrecking poison 24 hours a day.
Odds are, you’re carrying more of it than you should.
But starting today, I’m going to show you how to get rid of this zombie fat for good… and maybe even add years to your life.
Visceral fat (also called belly fat) is the kind of fat that gives you that tell-tale “beer belly.”
Belly fat is the kind of fat you don’t want. It is associated with heartburn, sleep difficulties, diabetes, heart disease… and many other diseases.
When you think about poor health tied to fat, belly fat is your culprit.
How do you know if you have too much belly fat?
A waist circumference of more than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men generally says you have too much.
Two things are happening that make belly fat harmful to your health.
The first is that all fat cells secrete chemicals called adipokines. These chemicals create changes in our bodies – some of which (like inflammation and insulin insensitivity) are very harmful to our health.
Guess which kind of fat produces the worst adipokines?
If you guessed belly fat, you are right.
The other issue is that some fat cells go to sleep — or what scientists call senescent cells and I call “zombie fat.”
Scientists are just beginning to understand senescent cells, but here is what happens:
At a certain point in a fat cell’s life, it stops working. The cell doesn’t die, it just stops doing most of what it used to do.
The cells just sit there… sort of half-dead, like zombies.
Senescent cells aren’t completely lifeless, though. They produce bad-news adipokines (and lots of them).
This is why visceral fat gets worse as we age: there are more senescent cells producing bad chemicals.
The good news is that your body loves to get rid of belly fat – it is often the first to go during a well-structured weight loss program.
Dr. Scott’s Plan for Reduced Belly Fat:
- Start with blood sugar control: Belly fat is a sign of poor blood sugar control. You can get to better sugar control by avoiding sugars and processed foods and by supplementing with the mineral chromium and the herbal extract berberine.
- Eat mostly proteins and non-starchy veggies: This will also help to keep your blood sugar low.
- Focus on exercise that builds muscle: Try working with a personal trainer to find out what you can do to build muscle, but you can also try simple exercises like walking.
Belly fat is your number-one enemy when it comes to health. If you have belly fat, work to make it a thing of the past.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
This Sleep Mistake Is Doubling Your Disease Risk
Think your inconsistent bedtime is just a harmless habit? Think again. New research reveals that going to bed at different times each night isn’t just making you tired—it could be dramatically increasing your risk of serious diseases. But the key to making sure poor sleep doesn’t derail your health goals likely isn’t what you think…....
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...