Fat Is What Fat Does

If you think fat is just a hunk of excess calories deposited in your body, think again. Fat has a dramatic affect on blood pressure as well as levels of blood sugars and lipids. This is accomplished through the release of hormone-like substances called adipokines. The more body fat you have, the more adipokine signaling may be involved. And that can eventually increase your risk factors for a number of health issues.

The Bigger Picture: What can you do about reducing body fat? Switch to a healthy diet of whole foods, watch your portion sizes and exercise regularly. You can start out right by working a variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet. Some scientists believe that certain types of fruits and vegetables may play a role in restoring normal adipokine signaling rates.