Health Habits

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Posts Tagged ‘apple’

The Science behind Spare Tires and Thunder Thighs

June 13th, 2008

Why is it that some people store their body-fat around their middle while others store it on their thighs and bottom?

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Your doctor will tell you that your genetics predisposes you to be either an “apple” or a “pear” when it comes to your body-fat distribution.

So what kind of fruit are you?

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Generally speaking, women typically collect fat in their hips and buttocks, giving their figures a “pear” shape. In medical terms, this fat distribution pattern is referred to as gynecoid.

Men, on the other hand, usually collect fat around the belly, giving them more of an “apple” shape. In medical terms, this fat distribution pattern is referred to as android.

And before anything gets cute, we’re not talking about the Terminator type of android obesity, more the Fat Bastard type of android obesity

Keep in mind, this is not an absolute. Some men are pear-shaped and some women become apple-shaped, particularly after menopause.

Health Effects of Fat Distribution Patterns

To put it bluntly, apple-shaped people are more likely to develop many of the health problems associated with obesity. They are at increased health risk because of their fat distribution.

While obesity of any kind is a health risk, it is better to be a pear than an apple.

For a more thorough discussion of the health implications of being an apple or a pear, click here.

So What Makes Someone an Apple or a Pear?

On all of your fat cells, you have hormone receptors which are designed to accept specific types of hormones.

When it comes to weight loss and your fat cells, we are concerned with the adrenoreceptors designed to accept adrenaline and noradrenaline.

(To complicate things further, some scientists call adrenaline – epinephrine and nor adrenaline – nor epinephrine).

Think of the receptor as a lock and the hormone as a key.

Of all of the different types of hormone receptors, fat cells have only two – Alpha 2 (A2) and Beta 1 (B1).

B1s are the good guys.

B1 receptors activate lipase (the enzyme that breaks down fat). Lipase causes your fat cells to break down the stored fat into fatty acids and glycerol to be used as energy throughout your body.

This fat breakdown procedure is initiated when B1s hormone receptors link up with the key hormone noradrenaline.

(Adrenaline could also set off this procedure, but your body-fat lacks the major arteries and veins that adrenaline needs to travel in – sorry)

On the other hand, your A2 receptors are the bad guys. Their job is not only to keep fat inside the cell, but to encourage the formation of new fat into the cell.

As a special bonus, they decrease the body’s generation of noradrenaline.

Even better, when you go on a low calorie diet, you are increasing the number of A2 receptors.

Doesn’t sound good does it?

But this still doesn’t answer why my love handles / butt / etc… is fatter than the rest of my body.

OK, here goes

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Why Apples are Apples and Pears are Pears

Problem area fat cells have very few B1 receptors. This means they do not release much stored fat – diet or not.
Problem area fat cells have lots of A2 receptors. And that number grows when you diet.

This means that a typical yo-yo dieter is actually making their problem areas much more stubborn every time he/she jumps on and off the diet bandwagon.

So what do I do NOW?

STOP DIETING – Microwaved diet entrees are not the answer.

START EATING HEALTHY… Fruits…Vegetables…Lean Protein…Nuts & Seeds…Fish

To start eating healthy, click here, here, here and here.

To start moving healthy, click here, here, here, and here.

In the meantime, be aware that lots and lots of lab coat wearing scientists are working night and day to discover the perfect A2 receptor antagonist – that perfect pill that will block the Noradrenaline key from fitting into the A2 receptor lock.

And when they do, you can go back to eating cheesecake.

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Thanks in Advance.

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Apples lower Metabolic Syndrome risk

April 10th, 2008

There is a new scientific paper being discussed today that claims that people who eat the equivalent of one large apple a day are at lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

The paper, presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting was produced by Nutrition Impact, LLC , paid for by the American apple industry and heartily endorsed by the author of the 16th C rhyme “An apple a day keeps the doctor away…” .

The paper analyzed data collected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After crunching the data, Nutrition Impact concluded that adults who eat apples and/or apple products (juice, sauce) are 27% less likely to have metabolic syndrome than non-consumers.

Other benefits for the apple eaters include: smaller waistlines, less abdominal fat, and lower blood pressure.

Not too suprisingly, when compared to apple abstainers, those who chose to indulge eat more fruit in general. They ingest higher levels of fibre, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium. They also eat less total fat, saturated fat, modified fats and total sugar.

From this paper, I think it is safe to say that apples make up part of a healthy diet. When compared to other fruits, the apple is not a magic anti-Metabolic Syndrome pill. However, when compared to the typical North American diet of sugar, modified fats and a variety of non-foods, the apple is a superstar.

I found out about this paper in my daily National Post – Apples & Metabolic Syndrome

I thought this blogger did a great job with this topic. I wish my post was half as well written. medinnovationblog

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If you are interested in a better way to eat, click here or here or here.

Thanks.

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