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Christine Eaton
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A Pound Away Keeps The Grim Reaper At Bay

Raise your hand if you are easily frustrated and discouraged when you diet, and quit when you do not see immediate results.

I am with you. I would much prefer sitting on my couch eating a box of ice cream sandwiches while watching Judge Judy, as opposed to eating Yoplait Light Yogurt, and inhaling the stench of fresh air as my feet pound the pavement. But, until that magic heart health pill is developed we have no choice.

What we women need to know and understand is that as we gain fat it is not only on our hips and belly, where we see it. We gain fat on the inside, around our internal organs and inside our muscles. This type of fat is called visceral fat. This visceral fat is what makes us more susceptible to preventable illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.

This visceral fat is processed, or metabolized, by the liver. It then enters our bloodstream as cholesterol. Individuals with higher levels of visceral fat have higher levels of LDL, or Low-Density Lipoprotein, the bad cholesterol. Left unchecked, this LDL leads to a build up of plaque in the arteries of the heart which leads to blocked arteries, which has serious consequences such as death.

We value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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