Pot Belly Is A Concern. How To Eat Healthy This Holiday

Pot Belly Is A Concern. How To Eat Healthy This Holiday
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Dr. Nancy Qusba Emergency Physician Downers Grove, IL

Dr. Nancy Qusba M.D. is a top Emergency Physician in Downers Grove, IL. With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Nancy Qusba M.D. is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Nancy Qusba M.D. is... more

Holiday Healthy-Eating Advice

Pot Belly is not an insult, but a concern. It is a pot filled with health risks that is characterized by a large waist circumference because of excessive abdominal fat that has built up and has had a negative impact on health. There is a strong correlation between pot belly, diabetes, heart disease and also Alzheimer's disease. Fat that is underneath the skin and in skeletal muscle is active and easy to lose. However, this doesn't include abdominal fat that is deep seated, which is called visceral fat.

  • Fatty liver: Excess abdominal fat is transported to liver through the portal vein .
  • Fat: Serves as a compact way to store energy, similar to sugar
  • High blood sugar in diabetes also plays a role in fat being metabolized: With high levels of blood sugar and high insulin levels in diabetes, the liver gets saturated with glucose. This excess sugar is used to create fatty acids, which is released in the blood stream and increases the body fat, adding to the insult.

It needs some basic work-up

  • Fasting blood sugar level
  • Blood pressure
  • Triglyceride level
  • (HDL) good cholesterol level
  • Uric acid levels

So what do we to avoid problems with fat and sugar? Well, they go hand-in-hand

  1. EXERCISE, EXERCISE AND EXERCISE. This includes a combination of aerobic activity, low sweetened drinks, and avoiding cookies, cakes, candy, white bagels, and white pasta.
  2. Eat a healthy diet. This diet should be low in carbohydrates and include more vegetables and fruits. Avoid saturated and trans-fat like (sausage, bacon, sweets, and fried food)
  3. Limit your alcohol intake
  4. Take supplements like fish oil tabs niacin 
  5. And, finally take medication only if needed