Bananas have recently been identified as the cause of belly fat.
There are ads all over the Internet that say lose a little belly fat every day by never eating these foods. There is a picture of a banana because according to the pseudo belly fat experts, bananas are the number 1 offender in the accumulation of belly fat.
The banana/belly fat connection is laughable. I know many people who say they have too much belly fat and they estimate they have eaten one banana in the last ten years! So much for that theory.
If not bananas, then what does cause belly fat? Too much sitting is a major contributor to belly fat and an assortment of deadly conditions associated with belly fat.
According to James A. Levine M.D. PhD, writing for the Mayo Health Clinic:
“Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Sitting in front of the TV isn’t the only concern. Any extended sitting — such as behind a desk at work or behind the wheel — can be harmful. What’s more, spending a few hours a week at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity doesn’t seem to significantly offset the risk.
Rather, the solution seems to be less sitting and more moving overall. You might start by simply standing rather than sitting whenever you have the chance.”
The solution to reduce your risks and lose belly fat isn’t a matter of what you don’t eat. It’s a matter of spending less time on your seat and more time on your feet!
That can be easier than you think.
How to Spend More Time on Your Feet and Less Time on Your Seat
- Get up and walk for five minutes for every hour you sit.
- Reduce use of intercoms and email to communicate with co-workers. Walk to their desk when you have a question or to share information. Stand up while you talk with coworkers.
- Never take a phone call sitting down. Pace while you talk!
- Avoid drive thrus. Park your car and get out to get your food, prescription filled and to do your banking.
- Enjoy a “portable” lunch! A wrap or rollup sandwich (sometimes called a “walkabout”) lets you multi task during your lunch break. It gives you a chance to walk while you eat! This is especially good if your job keeps you sitting at a desk all day.
- Stroll around the airport instead of sitting on layovers.
- Wander when you shop. Get extra steps out of every shopping trip by wandering the aisles before picking up the items you need.
- Walk a dog! If you don’t have a dog, many shelters love volunteer dog walkers.
- Stroll around the airport instead of sitting on layovers.
All of the time you spend on your feet will do much more for your weight and health than discovering the 5 mysterious foods you must never eat to lose belly fat!
According to Dr. Levine:
“The impact of movement — even leisurely movement — can be profound. For starters, you’ll burn more calories. This might lead to weight loss and increased energy.
Even better, the muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body. When you sit, these processes stall — and your health risks increase. When you’re standing or actively moving, you kick the processes back into action.”