Ask Mr. Bhutan | Kuensel Online

How can my body fat negatively affect my health? If body fat is bad for our health, how can I reduce it?

Fat is essential for health and longevity. Subcutaneous fat is necessary to protect the body from external damage and regulate body temperature. Our body fat ensures our health and survival in times of illness and starvation because it has the highest calorie density. Without fat, there is no you. Less fat, there is no you. The best fat is the best you.

Movies, social media, and the internet all promote the desire for lean muscle, making fat the enemy that people hate and resist. Fat is portrayed as ugly and harmful. Not enough fat is just as bad for your health as too much fat. Since too much fat is a much bigger global health crisis, let me focus on it.

Currently, 1 in 3 people on the planet is overweight or obese. Excess fat increases inflammation. The higher the inflammation, the greater the likelihood of pain, injury, and illness. Imagine living in a perpetual state of irritation, inflammation, and oversensitivity in the body and mind. Over time, the body and mind develop an annoying tendency to overreact and easily break down at the slightest stress.

Excess fat adds weight and bulk. Adds chronic stress to joints, muscles, heart, and lungs. Every part of the body has to work harder, creating chronic psychological and physical stress. Even simple tasks we take for granted, like sleeping, are negatively impacted. Making our existence come at a huge cost to ourselves and others.

How do I identify excess fat? I use 3 tried and true methods.

• Check your blood cholesterol with a blood test.
• Check your “Body Mass Index” using a formula available freely online.
• Measure your waist horizontally above your belly button. If it’s over 36 inches for women or over 40 inches for men, you need to pay attention to your health.

How to lose excess fat?

• Fasting: Fasting for anywhere from 16 hours to a few days is a very effective way to quickly burn excess fat and cleanse the body and mind.
• Reduce your intake of unhealthy fats and sugars: Cut out processed foods, fast food, and animal products.
• Reduce your calorie intake. Eat only the amount you need and use. All unused calories are converted to body fat. Even if they come from vegetables.
• Move around every day. Any physical activity is fine. Walking and stretching are recommended.
• Exercise. Learn to find value in effort and discomfort. Lift weights, sprint, climb steep hills, swim, play sports.