Table of contents:
- How is body fat formed?
- Carbohydrates are converted into body fat
- Protein is converted into body fat
- Collection of fatty acids into triglycerides, aka body fat
You may often hear these statements and end up limiting food sources of fat. Though did you know that fat is not really bad like what you think? Not all fats are bad, depending on the type and amount eaten. However, is it true that only fatty foods make you fat? What about foods that contain carbohydrates and protein? Does eating lots of these foods make you free from obesity and accumulated fat?
How is body fat formed?
Yes, actually not fat alone is the only reason why you have a lot of fat folds in the body. Fat is not bad, fat is the same as other macro nutrients which are also needed in the body. Actually, fat is needed on average 20 to 25 percent of the total calories eaten in one day. In fact, there is still a greater need for fat compared to protein which is only 10 to 20 percent of total calories. So what makes fat the "prime suspect" of obesity?
Fat in the body is fat in the form of triglycerides, which is the result of fat metabolism from various, not only fatty food sources, but protein and carbohydrate food sources can also form triglycerides. Foods that contain fat will clearly be metabolized by the body into fatty acids. When too much fatty acids have accumulated, the body will store them into triglycerides or fat in the body. Then what about carbohydrates and protein? All foods that you overeat can actually cause additional folds of fat in the body, so don't just avoid and limit fatty foods.
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Carbohydrates are converted into body fat
Food sources of carbohydrates such as rice, bread, or noodles will be metabolized and broken down by the body into glucose or sugar in the blood. Then, there is the hormone insulin which regulates blood sugar levels so they are not excessive. If the body's cells have obtained sugar from the bloodstream to make it into energy, the insulin hormone will convert the remaining sugar in the blood into glycogen or sugar in muscles and fatty acids. These fatty acids will gather with fatty acids that are produced from the previous fat metabolism. Therefore, eating excessive carbohydrate foods will also increase triglycerides, aka body fat.
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Protein is converted into body fat
In the body, protein has the main function of forming tissue and increasing muscle mass. Protein that enters the body will be digested and broken down into amino acids. It is these amino acids that help the body to carry out its functions normally. But when you eat too much protein and nothing makes it useful - such as building muscle during exercise and physical activity - protein is also stored.
Excess protein can turn into sugar or glucose in the blood and will combine with glucose resulting from the breakdown of carbohydrates. So, the glucose in the blood will be higher, so the insulin hormone will convert the glucose into fatty acids. And again, more and more fatty acids, not only fatty acids that come from the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, but also protein.
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Collection of fatty acids into triglycerides, aka body fat
The accumulated fatty acids will be converted into body fat or also known as triglycerides. Therefore, the triglyceride level should not be too high because it will be harmful to health. The body stores all the excess fatty acids in fat cells known as adipose cells. These cells gather to make a network which is also known as adipose tissue.
Adipose tissue is scattered in various parts of the body, such as under the surface of the skin and between organs. The location of adipose tissue also depends on several factors, one of which is gender. Men tend to have adipose tissue in the abdomen and waist. Whereas women have more adipose tissue in the hips and waist area.
Fat cells that accumulate too much around the organs of the body are very dangerous for health because they can inhibit blood circulation which then causes various degenerative diseases. High triglycerides, such as more than 100 mg / dl are very dangerous and can cause acute inflammation of the pancreas. The way to reduce triglyceride levels or body fat is to have a healthy lifestyle, eat good food, not overeat, and do regular exercise.
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