What are Fat Cells?
Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites
Defining fat cells and fat distribution.
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Fat cells are used by the body to store excess calories (energy) for future use - sometimes for several months at a time.
The energy that you use to run today's race may be coming from that cheeseburger your ate 2 months ago.
And yes - all of the energy that the body receives, processes and stores arrives in the form of calories from the foods and beverages that we consume in our daily diet.
Every excess calorie that your body does not utilize for energy is stored in the fat cells - even the calories from celery, carrots or cucumbers.
An excess calorie from a piece of fried chicken is viewed by the metabolism the same as it views an excess calorie from a carrot; it views it as a source of energy - which is quite precious to the body.
Without energy, the body would die. So it stores that precious source of energy in cells which are commonly referred to as 'fat cells'. And yes, the bigger the cells, the more weight that is added onto the body.
We also view food and beverages as precious sources. We enjoy their flavors, textures, colors, shapes and sizes. And if we didn't we certainly wouldn't survive for a long period of time, would we?
Can you even imagine going to the table where beans, cornbread, steak fingers, mashed potatoes, gravy, hot rolls, various colors of vegetables and a huge chocolate cake resided and saying, "Oh boll weevil - I'm going to have to force some of this stuff down or I won't keep living."
While healthier tables should be set for optimum health purposes - we hope that we get our point across. Without food, we don't last long. Without energy - the body doesn't either. Both the appetite and the body depend upon energy needs to fulfill their separate needs.
FAT DISTRIBUTION
Which factor is most important in determining the state of health?
a) the fat distribution on the individual
b) the weight of an individual
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Studies indicate that where the fat is distributed on the body may be just as important as the amount of excess fat we store in our fat cells.
Fat around the middle (the abdominal area) appears to have more negative health risks associated with it than fat stored below the waist. By now we've all heard the Apple/Pear theory which basically says - that those who are shaped like a pear will live long and prosper while those of you who are shaped like an apple are totally out of luck.
And all I ever wanted to be was a peach!
Besides, everyone knows that the best apple pie on the planet is prepared with pears rather than apples.
Even so, take heart Apple Dumplings, because chiseling the abdominal weight away tends to be a lot easier than prying it off the hips and thighs.
And there are many individuals who are apples who live longer then their pear-shaped peers.
Furthermore, there are several things that we-apples can do to cut our health risks. First and foremost, we can keep that extra weight off our 'core'. We can also 'seed out' those fatty foods which go straight to our middles. And we can do a bit more rocking and rolling as the activity works well in slimming down the middle - and yes, the rest of the body, too.
Pear-shaped individuals can also benefit greatly via a healthy dose of activity and a well-rounded healthy diet built upon the official food pyramid.
See? There is something healthy in the mix for everyone! And that's how it should be.
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