Why Belly Fat Is Dangerous And Not Just Unsightly

We all know that belly fat is unattractive. There's no news there. But, did YOU know that it's also the most dangerous kind of fat to have?

The truth of the matter is that there are many health problems that can be directly linked to belly fat. These aren't small problems but big problems like diabetes and heart disease in addition to quite a few varieties of cancer.

Side Effects of Belly Fat

Carrying around the excess weight is actually a burden on your body. Can you imagine taking on a set of weights equal to the number of pounds you're overweight and carrying them with you everywhere you go? Your body isn't meant to carry all this weight around all the time and may show signs of strain in the form of high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Belly fat is particularly dangerous because it leads to fat being stored in the liver. This makes your body even more resistant to insulin than before. It also, oddly enough, makes you prone to overeating. And you know by now that overeating leads directly to weight gain. The more weight you gain; the greater the odds are that you'll have health problems as a result.

Getting Rid of Belly Fat with Exercise

Once you've discovered that belly fat is dangerous, it's time to do something about it.

But.

How do you get rid of belly fat?

Jogging

Of all the things out there designed to help you rid your body of belly fat and all the dangers it represents, jogging is the best cure on the market. And the real beauty is that all it really costs is a pair of good running shoes – especially now that so many communities are investing in walking tracks and greenways for pedestrians traffic, cycling, and running.

Painful crunches and sit-ups get all the good press when it comes to eliminating belly fat but the truth of the matter is that they just don't work. The one thing that does work is aerobic exercising in order to elevate your heart rate. But, in order for this to be truly effective you need to job for at least 30 minutes (of actual running time) or you won't get the results you're looking for.

Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is effective for getting rid of belly fat partly because it's so much fun. It's much easier for most people to talk themselves into spending 30 minutes a few times a week belly dancing than jogging.

More importantly, for people interested in not only getting rid of dangerous belly fat but also burning calories, belly dancing can burn between 200 and 400 calories per hour while helping you get lean tone muscles.

Beyond Exercise – Other Means of Eliminating Dangerous Belly Fat

It takes more than counting calories and burning calories to completely eliminate belly fat.

Don't get me wrong. These things are an EXCELLENT beginning. But there are more pieces to the puzzle you need to consider before you can have true success with your efforts to get rid of unsightly belly fat that is also very dangerous.

The first thing you need to do is replace alcohol consumption with water. There is a reason it's called a "BEER BELLY" after all. Drinking more water has two benefits. First of all it helps you stay adequately hydrated. Second, it helps you feel satisfied or even satiated with less food.

The next step is to stop eating fast food. Trade it in for healthier salads or make wiser choices when you have no option other than to consume fast food. You can opt for grilled chicken, choose salads, and forget about upsizing and fries altogether.

Also reduce the amount of sugar you consume as consuming too much sugar does no favors for your health or your efforts to get rid of belly fat. If you have a strong sweet tooth, consider foods like low-fat yogurt and frozen yogurt or natural sugar alternatives like honey for a little touch of sweetness.

Finally, reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. You may wonder what this has to do with belly fat but the truth of the matter is that consuming too much sodium makes people thirsty and they often reach for less than healthy choices in order to satisfy that thirst (like high-calorie drinks).

It's true that it isn't exactly EASY to get rid of dangerous belly fat but many people make it more difficult than it has to be. There are easier ways to go about eliminating belly fat for a healthier happier you. These are small steps you can take in the right direction and not an "all or nothing" end-game.

There are minor changes you can make that will deliver huge results when it comes to your efforts to lose weight. What are you waiting for? Now is the perfect time to get started. Belly fat IS dangerous and now is the perfect time to start getting rid of it.

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