Visceral fat: can fermented pickles lessen it?

Visceral fat is around the body’s vital organs. These accumulate when there is excess fat in the body. And it is dangerous and can cause an increase in risk of heart ailments and type 2 diabetes. But some animal studies reveal that fermented pickles can minimize this fat and hence improve health.

Visceral fat and its dangers

Visceral fat is said to be belly fat. Unlike the fat under the skin, this fat accumulates around the vital organs of the body such as the heart and kidneys. This is more dangerous and could lead to several chronic ailments that have no cure. These include heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A balanced and healthy diet along with exercise and healthy lifestyle with no stress can lower the accumulation of this fat. Low sugar and low fats and high protein foods can improve health. Moreover, foods containing minerals and vitamins with antioxidants are beneficial. The latter include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Fermented pickles

Some animal studies have shown that fermented pickles can overcome accumulation of this fat in the body and thus fight chronic diseases. These pickles have heat killed lactobacillus brevis bacteria in them. Some researchers believe that these bacteria assist in the prevention of visceral fat. There are some studies done in animals to prove this point.

Mice were fed this pickle along with a high fat diet for 8 weeks in one study. The pickles helped suppress the fat accumulation around the viscera in these mice.

Lactobacillus brevis or L. brevis is a type of lactobacilli that one finds in milk products and in plant parts as they decompose. Sauerkraut and sourdough bread have these bacilli in them too. These bacteria also go into the making of wines and beers as well.

But not all people are convinced by these findings. Experts claim that other studies have given inconsistent results. Therefore, more studies in this direction are welcome before we recommend fermented pickles to fight obesity or prevent it.

Other ways to tackle the fat

In order to reduce the belly fat, one has to have a calorie deficit diet. Moreover, the amount of calories that a person expends should be more than the intake of calories. This is possible only if one chooses the right kind of healthy foods that are nutrients dense. Additionally, the person needs to burn the body fats by means of exercise of any form. This can be plain walking, brisk walking, gym workouts, swimming, running, or jogging.

Thus lessening the calories intake, increasing consumption of low calories foods that fill the stomach, and regular exercises can cause a drastic fall in belly fat and improvement in health and well being of the person.

Also, read North Yorkshire to implement a new cost-effective program to control obesity in local kids!

Enjoy more of lean meat, protein, plant based foods, sea foods, fish, legumes, whole grains, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, and fruits and veggies. Eggs are good source of protein that is highly bioavailable. Lessen fats and sugary foods. Have lots of water.