No. 1 Predictor of Premature Death

A recent study in New England Journal of Medicine forecasts that being fat is what will kill just about all of us – one way or the other.  Now hang on a second before you move on, thinking that this is only relevant for those of us who need an extra seat when flying.
If you are not an athlete then chances are that you will die from a fat-related disease. Yes, even if you are a size 2. The size of your dress is not an indicator whether you are indeed what I like to call “skinny fat” – sure you may look petite, but if 25% or more of your body composition is fat, then you are no better off than someone who needs that extra seat in the airplane. This is why I have all my patients come in and do a dexascan – the most accurate measure of bone density and body fat. Forget the BMI – it is worthless, and only serves to give you a false sense of safety. Ignorance is bliss – until it kills you.
Being fat – it’s a diseaseIn today’s look-driven society, attacking people for superficial characteristics is one of the most effective ways to deliver a painful insult. What is the worst thing you can say to somebody these days? It is not telling them that they are unkind or lack integrity – it’s “you are fat”!
To me, telling someone they are fat (and again, remember you can be fat whether you are a size 2 or you are up in the two digits) is no different than telling them they have kidney disease. Being fat is a metabolic disease – it is that simple. It is only due to our messed up ideals in society that we have come to more or less subconsciously attach the term fat with various types of condescending and completely irrelevant associations. Imagine if the same held true for kidney disease – instead of your doctor telling you your diagnosis up front, he would have to say something like, “Well, there seems to be a kidney issue we may need to talk about. That is, if you feel like you are up for it today…?” Look, being fat is a disease. And it needs to be treated as one. There is nothing shameful about it. But it will kill you, if you don’t act now.
Hi, I’m a pear! And you are… an apple I assume?Even if your body fat is below 20%, then you may still be at risk of dying from a fat-related disease. Because it is not just the amount of fat that matters, but even more importantly: where it is distributed on your body! Fat accumulated in the lower body (the pear shape) is subcutaneous, while fat in the abdominal area (the apple shape) is largely visceral. Visceral fat has been linked to metabolic disturbances and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In women, it is also associated with breast cancer and the need for gallbladder surgery. Especially at menopause, extra pounds tend to park themselves around the midsection, as the ratio of fat to lean tissue shifts and fat storage begins favoring the upper body over the hips and thighs. Even women who don’t actually gain weight may still gain inches at the waist. A larger waist measurement also predicts the development of high blood pressure, regardless of total body fat. In addition, studies have also connected abdominal fat with a decline in cognitive functioning!
 Fight fat with teas and spices!There are 3 supplements that I recommend everyone should be taking in order to minimize the damage that active fat cells have on our health:
• Brain Energy
• Curcumin with 95% curcuminoids
• Green tea extract
Brain energy is a specific amino acid supplement that Eric Braverman MD has developed in order to “feed the brain and burn the fat”! It contains the building blocks for dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter in your brain responsible for everything that is related to energy from the bedroom to the board room – and yes, also your metabolism!  Eric Braverman MD also recommends supplementing with curcumin which is the active compound in the turmeric root and continues to surprise us with regard to its unrivaled efficacy in treating everything from Rheumatoid Arthritis to Alzheimers. Teas and spices have been used for centuries in India with amazing results – and this may very well prove to be the key to longevity once we implement these as mainstays in our Western diet as well. Teas and spices are without comparison the strongest anti-inflammatory strategies we know of. However, you cannot drink and eat enough of these things to reverse the damage that active adipose tissue causes: you need to add these two supplements in to your daily supplement regime!
Are your supplements going out the toilet drain?What you need to understand is that not all supplements are created equal. Finding a brand that is clean of unnecessary fillers and has been tested for bioavailability is of utmost importance to receive any benefits from your supplements. Otherwise, you are simply pouring them out the drain. That is why I recommend supplements from Total Health Nutrients These are supplements that have been thoroughly tested for their purity and bioavailability to ensure that your body is able to absorb and utilize every pill that you swallow! After all, isn’t that what you should be paying for?
Read more about the power of teas and spices in Dr. Eric Braverman MD’s New York Times bestseller book Younger (Thinner) You!
References:

Stewart S. et al. Forecasting the Effects of Obesity and Smoking on U.S. Life Expectancy. N Engl J Med 2009 Dec; 361:2252-2260
Page JH et al. Waist-height ratio as a predictor of coronary heart disease among women. Epidemiology. 2009 May;20(3):361-6.
West N. et. al. Body Adiposity in late life and risk of dementia or cognitive impairment in a longitudinal community-based study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 January; 64A(1): 103-109.
Meisinger C. et al. Body fat distribution and risk of type 2 diabetes in the general population: are there differences between men and women? The MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Sep;84(3):483-9.