For women all over the world, watching their stomachs expand and protrude as they get older, is often thought to be an unavoidable fact of life, and for some, this may actually be true. However, whatever the reasons for an excess of belly fat, it can still pose serious risks for your health, and you may need to take steps to try and reduce it. While taking a herbal metabolism booster could help, there are other things you can do to combat stubborn belly fat, too.
Firstly, let’s look at what might be causing belly fat:
Belly fat: what’s behind it?
Your overall body weight is influenced largely by the following 3 factors:
- Daily calorie intake
- Calories burned through exercise
- Age
Eating more than you need to and not doing enough exercise can lead to weight gain, including around your stomach. Additionally, though, as you get older, you may find that your muscle mass diminishes and fat increases, which can also reduce the rate at which your body is able to use up calories and help you stay at a healthy weight.
Decreasing levels of estrogen has also been shown to influence the distribution of fat in the body, and there may even be genetic elements at play, too.
What’s so bad about belly fat?
Because belly fat also includes visceral fat that’s found deep inside your abdomen and surrounds your organs, and isn’t just made up of subcutaneous fat found just below the surface of the skin, it is linked to a number of more serious health problems, such as the following:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Abnormal cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Problems with breathing
In addition, belly fat is now associated with a heightened threat of premature death, no matter what a person’s overall weight is.
What can women do about belly fat?
While there are a number of exercises that can help women reduce their belly fat, these alone won’t help shift it altogether.
Below are some steps women can take to shed their belly fat, reduce the risk of certain health problems, lower their weight, and increase their overall health:
- Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
Consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains, opting for leaner protein sources and reduced fat dairy products, limiting sugar and saturated fats, and instead, consuming moderate amounts of fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated typically found in nuts, fish and certain vegetable based oils, can help. You could also try adding natural herbs for belly fat loss to your diet.
- Swapping sugary drinks for healthier alternatives
Water has no sugar and no calories, but if you can’t live without that sugary taste, opt instead for beverages that contain artificial sweeteners.
- Portion control
No matter what you’re eating, by consuming more then you need of something, the calories can soon stack up. Reduce your portion sizes where possible, and if dining out, share with others or take some home with you.
- Add exercise to your daily routine
Brisk walking or more vigorous activities such as running can easily be incorporated in most lifestyles, and doing some exercise a few times a week can be helpful in the fight against belly fat. You could also consider adding some strength training into your exercise routine.
Belly fat may seem like a cross many women simply have to bear, but there are things you can do to combat it and reduce your risk of suffering from a number of potentially serious health conditions. Try the tips listed above and add herbal supplements to your diet to give yourself the best chance of battling the bulge!
