How The Body Stores Fat

Body Fat Basics

The human body contains two types of fat tissue:

• White fat is important in energy metabolism, heat insulation and mechanical cushioning.
• Brown fat is found mostly in newborn babies, between the shoulders, and is important for thermogenesis (making heat). Since adult humans have little to no brown fat, we'll concentrate on white fat in this article. See the bottom of this page for more on brown fat.

Fat tissue is made up of fat cells, which are a unique type of cell. You can think of a fat cell as a tiny plastic bag that holds a drop of fat. White fat cells are large cells that have very little cytoplasm, only 15 percent cell volume, a small nucleus and one large fat droplet that makes up 85 percent of cell volume.

How Fat Enters Your BodyWhen you eat food that contains fat, mostly triglycerides, it goes through your stomach and intestines. In the intestines, the following happens:

1. Large fat droplets get mixed with bile salts from the gall bladder in a process called emulsification. The mixture breaks up the large droplets into several smaller droplets called micelles, increasing the fat's surface area.
2. The pancreas secretes enzymes called lipases that attack the surface of each micelle and break the fats down into their parts, glycerol and fatty acids.
3. These parts get absorbed into the cells lining the intestine.
4. In the intestinal cell, the parts are reassembled into packages of fat molecules (triglycerides) with a protein coating called chylomicrons. The protein coating makes the fat dissolve more easily in water.
5. The chylomicrons are released into the lymphatic system -- they do not go directly into the bloodstream because they are too big to pass through the wall of the capillary.
6. The lymphatic system eventually merges with the veins, at which point the chylomicrons pass into the bloodstream.

You might be wondering why fat molecules get broken down into glycerol and fatty acids if they're just going to be rebuilt. This is because fat molecules are too big to easily cross cell membranes. So when passing from the intestine through the intestinal cells into the lymph, or when crossing any cell barrier, the fats must be broken down. But, when fats are being transported in the lymph or blood, it is better to have a few, large fat molecules than many smaller fatty acids, because the larger fats do not "attract" as many excess water molecules by osmosis as many smaller molecules would.

Fat Storage

In the last section, we learned how fat in the body is broken down and rebuilt into chylomicrons, which enter the bloodstream by way of the lymphatic system.
Chylomicrons do not last long in the bloodstream -- only about eight minutes -- because enzymes called lipoprotein lipases break the fats into fatty acids. Lipoprotein lipases are found in the walls of blood vessels in fat tissue, muscle tissue and heart muscle.
InsulinWhen you eat a candy bar or a meal, the presence of glucose, amino acids or fatty acids in the intestine stimulates the pancreas to secrete a hormone called insulin. Insulin acts on many cells in your body, especially those in the liver, muscle and fat tissue. Insulin tells the cells to do the following:

• Absorb glucose, fatty acids and amino acids
• Stop breaking down glucose, fatty acids and amino acids; glycogen into glucose; fats into fatty acids and glycerol; and proteins into amino acids
• Start building glycogen from glucose; fats (triglycerides) from glycerol and fatty acids; and proteins from amino acids

The activity of lipoprotein lipases depends upon the levels of insulin in the body. If insulin is high, then the lipases are highly active; if insulin is low, the lipases are inactive.
The fatty acids are then absorbed from the blood into fat cells, muscle cells and liver cells. In these cells, under stimulation by insulin, fatty acids are made into fat molecules and stored as fat droplets.
It is also possible for fat cells to take up glucose and amino acids, which have been absorbed into the bloodstream after a meal, and convert those into fat molecules.

The conversion of carbohydrates or protein into fat is 10 times less efficient than simply storing fat in a fat cell, but the body can do it. If you have 100 extra calories in fat (about 11 grams) floating in your bloodstream, fat cells can store it using only 2.5 calories of energy. On the other hand, if you have 100 extra calories in glucose (about 25 grams) floating in your bloodstream, it takes 23 calories of energy to convert the glucose into fat and then store it. Given a choice, a fat cell will grab the fat and store it rather than the carbohydrates because fat is so much easier to store.

Breaking Down Fat

When you are not eating, your body is not absorbing food. If your body is not absorbing food, there is little insulin in the blood. However, your body is always using energy; and if you're not absorbing food, this energy must come from internal stores of complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Under these conditions, various organs in your body secrete hormones:

• pancreas - glucagon
• pituitary gland - growth hormone
• pituitary gland - ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
• adrenal gland - epinephrine (adrenaline)
• thyroid gland - thyroid hormone

These hormones act on cells of the liver, muscle and fat tissue, and have the opposite effects of insulin. When you are not eating, or you are exercising, your body must draw on its internal energy stores. Your body's prime source of energy is glucose. In fact, some cells in your body, such as brain cells, can get energy only from glucose.

The first line of defense in maintaining energy is to break down carbohydrates, or glycogen, into simple glucose molecules -- this process is called glycogenolysis. Next, your body breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids in the process of lipolysis. The fatty acids can then be broken down directly to get energy, or can be used to make glucose through a multi-step process called gluconeogenesis.

 In gluconeogenesis, amino acids can also be used to make glucose.
In the fat cell, other types of lipases work to break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. These lipases are activated by various hormones, such as glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone. The resulting glycerol and fatty acids are released into the blood, and travel to the liver through the bloodstream. Once in the liver, the glycerol and fatty acids can be either further broken down or used to make glucose.

Losing Weight and Losing Fat
Your weight is determined by the rate at which you store energy from the food that you eat, and the rate at which you use that energy. Remember that as your body breaks down fat, the number of fat cells remains the same; each fat cell simply gets smaller.
Most experts agree that the way to maintain a healthy weight is:

• Eat a balanced diet - appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, fat and protein
• Do not eat excessively - for most people, a diet of 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day is sufficient to maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly

Shop at www.truefitnessbootcamp.com

Source:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/fat-cell1.htm

Improve Your Vision With Billlberry (Tea or Extract)

Bilberry has a long medicinal history in Europe. It has been used to treat anything from kidney stones to Typhoid fever. During World War 2 British pilots noted that Bilberry jam before a flight dramatically improved night vision. Modern research now supports these claims.

Bilberry contains anthocyanosides which are potent antioxidants which strengthen blood vessels and capillary walls, improve red blood cells, stabilize collagen tissues such as tendons, ligaments and cartilage and has cholesterol lowering effects. They also increase retinal pigments that allow the eye to tolerate light. In addition, it helps to maintain the flexibility of red blood cells, allowing them to pass through the capillaries and supply oxygen.

The herb has been shown to be a vasodilator that opens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Since the eyes have a high concentration of capillaries, bilberry may be particularly helpful in improving eyesight. The herb has been shown to improve night vision, slow macular degeneration, prevent cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Scientific studies have shown improvement in the eyesight, circulation, angina, stroke and atherosclerosis. It is also used to improve varicose veins and has anti-aging effects on collagen structures.

Individuals with hardening of the arteries, diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions that increase the likelihood of damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes are more likely to have serious vision problems as a result of blood vessel damage. Note that bilberry is taken by mouth to treat eye problems. It is not used as an eye drop. Oral bilberry preparations are also used to prevent and treat a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency, which occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged.

Blood may collect in the veins of the legs and lead to varicose veins, spider veins, or sores on the legs. More serious results can include blood clots in the legs. Because bilberry may strengthen the walls of all blood vessels in the body. It may also relieve hemorrhoids.

In the past, dried bilberries have been used to treat diarrhea because the tannins it contains (1.5% and as much as 10%) act as an astringent to the gastrointestinal tract. An astringent shrinks and tightens the top layers of skin or mucous membranes thereby reducing secretions, relieving irritation, and improving tissue firmness. Tea brewed from dried bilberry fruits has also been used to soothe a sore throat or sore mouth tissue.

In folk medicine, bilberry leaf has been used to treat a number of conditions including diabetes. Limited evidence from a few animal studies shows that it may have a decreasing effect on blood sugar. Additionally, in at least one study, an extract of bilberry leaves may also have lowered cholesterol levels in laboratory animals. Other laboratory and animal studies have tested potential anticancer effects of bilberry. In a laboratory study, bilberry stopped the growth of both leukemia and colon cancer cells. While preliminary results suggest that anthocyanosides obtained from bilberries may also block the effects of an enzyme and other chemicals that promote tumor growth, much more study is needed.

To date, no human clinical studies have confirmed any of these results from bilberry.
Recent research showed that Bilberry extract has promising anti-ulcer activity, both preventive and curative. It also has shown anti-cancer properties in animal experiments. When administered to diabetes patients, Bilberry normalised capillary collagen thickness and blood sugar levels in humans and animals.

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Bilberry Herb Notes / Side Effects

Latin Names

Vaccinium myrtillus

Common Names

Airelle, Dyeberry, European Blueberry, Huckleberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, Whortleberry, Wineberry

Suggested Properties

Antioxidant. Supports normal formation of connective tissue and strengthen capillaries in the body. Anthocyanosides may also improve capillary and venous blood flow. Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antihistamine.

Uses

Kills or inhibits the growth of funguses, yeasts, and bacteria. It also kills protozoans such as Trichomonas vaginalis. Prevents capillary fragility and Improves vision.
Atherosclerosis, Bruising, Cataracts, Circulation, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Macular degeneration, Night blindness, Retinopathy, Varicose veins.

Indicated for

Has the potential for the prevention of thrombosis and may reverse attacks of angina from results of animal studies. Was found to prevent atherosclerosis in cholesterol loaded animals. Pigmentary retinitis. Hemorrhoids.

Source:

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-bilberry.html

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Egg Shells Are a Great Source of Calcium

 

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body.
While most of our calcium resides in our bones and teeth, it’s also important for muscle contraction, nerve health, enzyme activity and cell formation.
In fact, our bodies need ample, daily amounts of calcium… and if we don’t get what we need, our bodies have no problem pulling excess stores from our teeth and bones.
So, let’s just say we want to be sure we’re consuming PLENTY of calcium, especially if we are a pregnant or nursing mama!

I do best consuming ~ 2,000mg of calcium a day.

I feel the most calm and balanced and don’t suffer from muscle soreness or body stiffness. High-quality organic, and preferably raw, dairy products are phenomenal sources of calcium as are bone broths, fish bones, and even almonds.But since I would need to drink 2 quarts of milk to hit this quota, I sometime rely on a calcium supplement, especially when I’m nursing or pregnant.
Which one to chose? Calcium citrate? Hydroxide? Gluconate? Aspartate? Or Coral Calcium? And, I could go on!
But as natural mamas, we know that the best source is FOOD since it’s the mostly easily accessible for the body.
Did you know that eggshells are a great, inexpensive, natural source of calcium?

Yes, EGGSHELL Calcium!

High-quality eggshells contain 27 essential microelements but they’re mostly composed of calcium carbonate, a form and structure that’s very similar to our bones and teeth.
In animal and human tests, eggshell calcium shows increased bone density, less arthritic pain, and even stimulates cartilage growth. You can read more about it here.
Sounds great, huh? And it’s really easy to make.

Ingredients and equipment:

• 1 carton of organic pastured chicken eggsIf you can get fresh from the farm, even better and try to get eggs from chickens that don’t eat soy. Pay the extra price since this will serve as a supplement and is much cheaper than buying calcium tablets. Confused how to find or know if eggs are good quality? Here’s a tip… the thicker the shell, the more nutrients. I don’t have a good source close to where I live, so I order mine from Tropical Traditions and their farms in Wisconsin. I love theirs because they are SOY-FREE, something very hard to find in store bought, even organic eggs.

You will also need:

• 1 stock pot (where to buy)
• 1 coffee grinder (where to buy)
• 1 small Mason jar with secure and clean lid (where to buy)

Directions

• Use up your eggs as you normally would, keeping the shell in the carton to make your supplement
• When you have your dozen shells, rinse them well in water. Remove any whites that might be stuck but don’t remove membrane as these have extra nutrients.
• Fill a stock pot with approximately 6 cups of filtered water and bring to a boil.
• Carefully put your eggshells into water. (This will kill any harmful pathogens)
• Let cook for 10 minutes.
• Drain shells.
• Spread the shells on glass or stainless steel baking sheet and let dry overnight. In the morning, put in a 200 degree (Fahrenheit) oven for about 10 minutes to completely dry out.
• Once completed, put a few shells into a coffee grinder and run until they are pulverized into a granular form. Continue until all of your shells are powder.
• Store in a tightly sealed Mason jar in the cupboard away from heat or moisture.

How to Consume Eggshell Calcium

1 tsp. contains approximately 800-1,000 mg. of calcium. Consume by mixing in a small amount of water with a meal. Consume 3/4 to 1 tsp daily, divided in 3 servings with meals. Don’t consumer more than 1 tsp a day as it can irritate sensitive digestive tracks.

ENJOY!

How about YOU? What’s YOUR favorite way to get calcium into your diet?

Eggshell Calcium Studies:

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11281164
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15018022

- See more at: http://www.mamanatural.com/how-to-make-eggshell-calcium/#sthash.AKnunXUv.dpuf

Plenty of foods exist that can boost overall health and even heal certain conditions. Cruciferous veggies are known to help fight cancers, spices like turmeric combat inflammation and some nuts play a role in improving memory. The list goes on. Then there are eggshells, known for their calcium content (one 1/2 teaspoon of crushed, powdered eggshells contain about 400 mgs. of elemental, or absorbable, calcium), a mineral responsible mainly for bone health.

Normally, they’re tossed in the trash or put in the compost pile, but ingesting them is considered by many a healthy way to get more calcium in their diet while also keeping inflammation at bay.

Eggshell membranes contain substances like glucosamine and hyaluronic acid which improve joint elasticity and shock absorption.(2) This makes them ideal for fighting off conditions that affect the joints, ensuring they are kept as fully-functioning as possible. Eating eggshells has also been linked to quickly decreasing pain in those afflicted with joint problems and keeping that pain away as time goes on.(2) Read this article to learn more.

Mikhail Tombak, Ph.D., says that osteoporosis can even be treated by eating eggshells, explaining that calcium is 90 percent absorbable by people’s bones, and that interestingly, the makeup of eggshells is incredibly similar to our teeth and bones. (3) In fact, they’re so similar to teeth that they’ve even been suggested as a way to regrow and remineralize teeth rather than face dental treatments that may be costly and involve use of harmful metals (or both).(4)

How Eggshells Can Naturally Heal Your Cavities and More

Eggshells contain the perfect amount of the ideal substances for healing cavities – massive amounts of calcium and 27 other minerals. The composition of eggshells resembles our teeth. Eggshells provide the necessary amount of calcium to remineralize teeth. Just boil shells from one organic free range egg  for about 5 minutes. You can add them daily into your smoothies or grind them into a fine powder and add it to your food.

Eggshells have unique beneficial medicinal properties

• Bone tissue is composed of calcium.  Actually, human bones and teeth are very similar to an eggshell’s composition. One of the benefits of eggshells is the calcium contained in the shell (93 %), the bone marrow is fulfilling its hematopoietic function better.

• Additionally, eggshells also contain mineral elements: magnesium, phosphorus, silicon,  sodium, potassium, iron, sulfur, aluminum, etc.

Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life

• There are 27 elements found in the eggshells.  Also the protein of a shell is composed of such essential amino acids as methionine, cysteine, lysine, isoleucine. Thus, properly prepared eggshells are the most balanced natural means to obtain calcium.

• Eggshells are especially beneficial for small children because their bodies experience more intensively involved in the formation of bone tissue, which requires an uninterrupted flow of calcium. Shell’s included in baby food can be beneficial to prevent  rickets and anemia, which usually develops in parallel with rickets. Shell’s promote activation of blood in the bone tissue.

• Studies also showed accelerated healing when using the shell for treating such orthopedic diseases as congenital dislocation of a hip or osteoporosis (softening of the bones).

To use  eggshells for medicinal purposes, you need to use organic eggs in order to avoid any chemicals or antibiotics.

How to prepare:
Take eggshells and put them in boiling water for about 5 minutes. The boiling will kill any pathogens. Then, air dry the shells and grind the shells in a coffee grinder. Take a 1/2 teaspoon a day. It is important to note that Vitamin D and Magnesium greatly aids calcium absorption.  So make sure to get enough sunlight or eat organ meats such as liver.

True Herbal Blends

Organic Kidney and Liver Detox Tea: Herbal Teas on Etsy

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23607686

Source: http://www.rawandnaturalhealth.com/can-eating-crushed-egg-shells-improve-health/

Source: http://www.lahealthyliving.com/healthiest-food/eggshells-calcium-rich-food/

How To Naturally Strengthening Teeth and Gums

 

Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale radix)

Comfrey is a time-honoured treatment for a number of bone-related complaints (as shown by its popular designation "knitbone"). Used topically, it has anti-inflammatory properties and relieves swelling and pain. A widely distributed article even maintains that mouth rinses with comfrey root powder complemented by the regular intake of organic eggshells will make teeth regrow. Be that as it may, according to Wikipedia, scientific research has confirmed that "comfrey can influence the course of bone ailments". An easy way to incorporate finely ground comfrey root powder into your daily dental routine consists in mixing it into your self-made toothpowder (see Toothpaste Alternatives, which also includes a warning re comfrey's possible liver toxicity). For more on eggshells, see Foods rich in Minerals and trace elements.)

 

Alfalfa leaf, cinnamon bark, turmeric root, yellow dock root

described as good for bones and joints (and hence teeth) when ingested.

 

Wheatgrass juice

In his "Survival Into The 21st Century" classic, Viktoras Kulvinskas recommends wheatgrass juice for toothaches and healing, which is certainly worth trying if you have it available (wheatgrass can be easily home-grown).

 

Turmeric

An Ayurvedic tooth and gum formula prescribes mixing 1 teaspoon of turmeric with half a teaspoon of salt, adding mustard oil to obtain a paste-like consistency. Rub into teeth and gums twice a day.

 

Kombucha tea

Author Rosina Fasching writes in her book "Tea Fungus Kombucha: The Natural Remedy and its Significance in Cases of Cancer and Other Metabolic Diseases" that by regularly drinking kombucha tea one can keep one's teeth free from damage.
Since urine tests of individuals who had never drunk kombucha before have shown considerable traces of environmental toxins such a lead, mercury, benzene, cesium etc. after kombucha consumption (while the drink itself was free of these contaminants), kombucha may also be helpful for anyone suffering from heavy metal toxicity.

 

Hawthorn berry & bilberry fruit

described as collagen-stabilizers and gum tissue strengtheners.

 

Eucalyptus

The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (from which the well-known therapeutic Eucalyptus oil is distilled) also contain a cariostatic (i.e. halting the development of tooth decay) compound named Eucalyptone (see www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7546549). Rinsing your mouth with a drop of eucalyptus oil in a glass of water will thus not only freshen your breath but also stop superficial caries bacteria from proliferating.

 

Black tea, green tea and oolong tea extract

"In addition to black and green tea, researchers have now discovered another brand of tea which protects against cavities. Oolong tea extract, a half-fermented tea from China, reduces the formation of plaque even in small doses and thus protects against tooth decay."¹

 

Chaparral

Washing your mouth daily with a rinse made from chaparral prevents dental caries.²

 

Alum, black pepper, rock salt, turmeric root

Mix five parts alum powder, three parts black pepper powder, two parts rock salt powder and one part turmeric root powder and use for massaging your gums.³

 

Rose petal, oak leaf, and carob powder

To be applied as a gum pack.⁴

 

Amla (Ayurvedic herb/fruit)

Said to rebuild oral health and support the connective tissue when used internally and thus helpful to the teeth and gums. Used as a mouthwash or ingested in capsule form (one to two grams daily).

 

Onion

Rubbing onion over teeth apparently cleans, whitens and strengthens them.

 

Seaweed

Seaweed deserves a special mention here for its important role in health and healing. See Seaweed.
The following recommendations are owed to Dennis Knicely, D.D.⁵

 

Chlorophyll powder

Brushing with chlorophyll powder can halt tooth decay and gum infection.

 

Strawberries

To strengthen teeth and gums and to help remove tartar (calculus), cut a strawberry in half and rub onto teeth and gums. Leave on for 45 minutes and rinse with warm water.⁶

 

Rye

Natural fluorine, from rye sprouts or flakes, increases enamel strength.

 

White Oak Bark

White Oak Bark will help set/tighten loose teeth and is the main ingredient in "Dr. Christopher's herbal tooth and gum powder". A beautiful testimonial tells of a woman whose teeth were loose due to pyorrhea and about to be pulled when "Spirit" led her to a lecture at the moment when the use of oak bark powder (applied between the gums and cheeks during the night to tighten the teeth) was being discussed. After applying this advice, within two weeks, her teeth had tightened and her gums had become firm.⁷

 

Horsetail

Strengthens the connective tissues, teeth and bones thanks to its silica content and likely due to biological transmutation. Reportedly heals gum sores.⁸

 

Herbal Calcium Formula

Mix equal parts of alfalfa, horsetail, Irish Moss, Lobelia, Oat Straw. A tea can be made or ground herbs put in capsules.

True Herbal Blends

Organic Herbal Teas on Etsy

Source:

http://www.healingteethnaturally.com/herbs-strengthening-teeth-and-gums.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbXlO_Me9I8