When it comes to body fat and toxins, these two “wrongs” add up to much more harm than we ever knew.
Researchers are now finding that when you have extra toxins in the body, efforts with weight loss can become hindered. It’s definitely true in this case: two wrongs don’t make a right. In fact, these two unhealthy conditions seem to spur each other on, adding up to more than you ever bargained for.
If you want to lose weight, pay attention to toxins.
Likewise, if you pay attention to toxins, you can lose weight. To understand how this works, we must look at the link between fat cells and toxins.
The Link Between Fat Cells and Toxins
Toxins in your body are bad for you. Being overweight is also bad for you. But did you know the two things are related? That’s right: if you are overweight and trying to slim down, then a detox program, like this one from Isagenix Australia, can help you lose those pounds.
Let’s go step by step and learn how the two are related:
- Toxins enter your body through the bad food you eat.
- Toxins are stored in your fat cells (source: Obesity Review*).
- You are overweight, so you have lots of fat cells for storing toxins.
- You start to lose weight so your fat cells start dissolving.
- The toxins stored in those dissolving fat cells is released.
- Toxins released back into the body start to negatively affect your system.
- Your metabolism slows down because of all the toxins suddenly being released into your body.
- Your weight loss progress slows down because your metabolism slowed down.
It’s a vicious circle, and the only way to get off the carousel is to detoxify your body. This is how a detox regimen can help you lose weight.
What Fat Cells Do
We used to think fat cells were merely storage units in the body. Scientists were under the impression that the only function of these cells was to store excess energy. As we consumed too much food energy, the fat cells would grow and multiply in order to accommodate the excess. Then, if we used the energy, they would give it off when needed. This is how we lose weight.
Well the scientists weren’t wrong… they just didn’t have the entire picture. Now we know that fat cells have a more active role in the functioning of your body. They don’t just sit separately from the rest of the body’s organs, tissue, nervous system and the rest.
They interact and are part of a bigger system. We might have known this was true, given the fact that the more we learn about the human body, mind and disease, the more we learn that everything is interconnected!
“Hey, Immune System… I’m Talking to You!”
If your fat cells could speak, that’s what they’d say. They speak to your immune system about disease, among other things, which means having lots of fat cells is bad for you in more ways than we previously knew. Your fat cells also communicate with your hormonal system. Know what they’re saying this time?
“Hey, Hormonal System… Gimme more Estrogen!”
They’re telling your glands to produce more estrogen. This is not good for you, since any hormonal imbalance in the body can wreak all kinds of havoc.
What Your Fat Cells Are Telling the Rest of Your Body
When you are overweight, your fat cells behave differently than those of people who are not overweight. The fat cells of overweight people behave as if they were infected – they become inflamed (source: Cell Metabolism*).
Inflammation in your body is normally a reaction to sickness. When you are sick, your body attacks whatever germ has invaded. This causes inflammation.
Inflammation is easier to understand if you think of a broken wrist, or a deep cut. Both injuries result in inflammation – the body’s natural reaction to distress and a crucial part of healing.
Raise the Alarm! Fat Cells are in Distress!
But when your fat cells become inflamed, your body sees this as cause for concern – even alarm. Your body is stressed when it thinks something is wrong, and inflamed fat cells are sending out a loud distress signal. That’s just not good for your body. Here it is again:
- You gain weight.
- Your fat cells grow and multiply.
- They become inflamed.
- They communicate with your immune system, telling it that they are inflamed.
- The immune system translates inflammation as distress in the fat cells.
- The immune system sends out alarms to the rest of the body.
- The alarm just sounds and sounds since the inflammation doesn’t go away…
- The body’s immune system is now compromised, laying open for disease to infiltrate.
When Your Body is Out of Balance, Weight Loss is Difficult
Now you’re not only sick, your hormones are also out of whack. Nothing functions well: you’re fatigued, so you can forget about exercise… and there goes your weight loss plan. Funny how that works, right? Once again, we find out that everything is interconnected. If one aspect of your body isn’t doing well, other things will be affected.
What to Do if You Want to Lose Weight
If you’re trying to slim down, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to detox. Put yourself through a complete detoxification program and give your weight loss efforts a healthy boost from day one. Getting rid of toxins that are stored in your fat cells is always a good idea, whether you’re trying to lose weight or not.
A healthy cleanse will give you the mental strength you need to stay focused on losing weight. Your mind will become clearer, and your body will have more energy. Cleansing combats fatigue, so you feel like exercising. And now we know that reducing your weight will help you in more ways than we knew… no more inflammation of the fat cells, no more misread signals by the immune system, and increased health, energy and well-being overall. What’s not to love?
References
- *WA Hsueh, et al. Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex Plays an Essential Role in Obesity-Induced Adipose Inflammation. Cell Metabolism. 5 March 2013; 17 (3): 411 – 422.
- *C. Pelletier, P. Imbeault and A. Tremblay. Energy Balance and Pollution by Organochlorines and Polychlorinated Biphenyl. 7 February 2003; 4(1):17-24.