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7 Ways Your Pot Belly is Secretly Killing You
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Although nobody likes a flabby spare tire around their middle, sometimes it just sort of sneaks up on you. One day it seems as if you are 25, thin, and physically fit, then, well, life happens. You get busy, you stop going to the gym. The next thing you know you are in your late 30s and you realize you need to buy pants a size or two larger. You know how it is.
Or perhaps you have always had a weight problem and no matter how hard you work on eating right and exercising, that belly just doesn’t seem to disappear.
Let’s not forget all the funny names people have for those with belly fat. Jelly Belly. Muffin Top. Beer Belly. Santa Belly. Pot Belly. Spare Tire. Donut Belly, and more. Sometimes, friends and families will make up kinder names, such as saying that you aren’t fat, you are just fluffy, but you know what they really mean.
Although it’s true that people seem to take on different shapes when they gain weight, if you tend to put on your weight in the belly, then you should know that your apple shape is actually killing you. Slowly but surely, you are putting your health at risk and shortening your life.
Even just 20 extra pounds, when they are stored in the belly, can greatly increase your risk of numerous health problems. This isn’t something you should take lightly.
If you think being asked to play Buddha at Halloween is funny, keep reading. You might be shocked at what you find out.
1. Sleep Apnea
Having excessive belly fat can leave you susceptible to a condition known as sleep apnea. This is a serious, life threatening condition where you literally stop breathing while you are asleep, sometimes for as long as 3 minutes. There have been numerous studies linking belly fat and sleep apnea, especially for men.
2. Erectile Dysfunction
That’s right guys. That beer belly could be obstructing blood flow where you want it to go. It’s more than just about blood flow; belly fat also lowers testosterone. One study done in Australia showed that men who lost between 5 and 10 percent of their body weight over a two month period helped to fix their “problem.” That’s not as much as it seems. If you weigh 200 pounds, then you only need to lose 10 pounds, which would be 5 percent. That’s 5 pounds a month, slightly more than 1 pound a week.
3. Diabetes
There have been several studies showing a direct connection between abdominal fat and insulin resistance. It appears to be all about location. Blood from your abdomen travels to your liver. It should be used for energy but your belly fat is getting in the way, restricting the flow of blood and the flow of insulin. Belly fat makes your livers job harder. This means that less insulin is being turned into energy. This will make your blood sugar level rise and increase your risk of developing diabetes. Read more how to manage diabetes with fruits.
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