The hidden dangers of visceral fat | Health

Visceral fat is the type that is stored around internal organs — and this hidden fat is known to contribute to multiple health problems, including heart disease, type two diabetes and even cancer. However, this kind of fat can be hard to get rid of.

Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic, says that it’s important for everyone to know what kind of fat they’re carrying around. Subcutaneous fat is just beneath the skin that you can pinch, while the more dangerous visceral fat is buried deep within the abdomen.

“Visceral fat has shown to increase all major chronic diseases,” Zumpano says. Getting rid of that deep belly fat can help you be healthier, and being active is key.

“If we’re sitting at a desk all day and we’re only doing 30 minutes of exercise, but we’re doing it every day, it’s still really not enough for most people,” Zumpano says.

Zumpano suggests:

The next step: a healthy diet.

“Belly fat can be increased by artificial and sugary foods,” Zumpano says. She recommends steering away from sweets and toward whole foods, such as lean sources of protein, fresh fruits and veggies.

“Plant-based diets, Mediterranean diets have been shown to be very helpful when it comes to reducing inflammation and visceral fat,” Zumpano says.

It’s also important to address sleep, as Zumpano says that if you don’t get enough good quality sleep it can affect the foods you crave throughout the day and impact your metabolism. 

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