Fat is almost always talked about in the negative sense-as something we all want to get rid of fast. However, our body needs a fair amount of fat. For one, it keeps us warm if we live in or visit a place during cold months of the year. Furthermore, certain vitamins are only soluble (will dissolve) via fat versus water.

Furthermore, fat helps store calories for when the body needs them later. This is part of the body’s natural survival mechanism that would help anyone through a time when food is scarce or when for medical reasons a fast may be necessary.

Types of Fat

To make matters slightly complicated, there are actually a few different types of fat. Please read below for more info:

White Fat This is the type that stores energy and distributed hormones to the bloodstream. This is a part of what helps regulate the body’s metabolic system. This type of fat also helps regulate the liver as well as insulin function to help prevent the onslaught of diabetes or heart disease.

Visceral Fat This is considered a very dangerous form of fat if it accumulates too much around your inner organs such as your veins, arteries, or heart. Usually it shows up on the belly and could increase risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, or stroke, and seems to be significantly resistant to insulin.

Subcutaneous Fat This type is said to not be as dangerous as the visceral source. It may even have some benefit, in that of course it is part of what provides the “cushion” of the buttocks for instance. It shows up on the thighs as well. However, it is wise to tone all areas of the body and try to make each member of the body as lean as possible via muscle building and aerobics.