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Low grade inflammation may not be the BIG problem in obesity
When you get BIGGER, you go on a shopping spree (hopefully) to get bigger clothes, bigger fat cells need more space too……… inflammation drives this process
Inflammation………………. this is the enemy.
And if you’ve got weight issues – odds are, you are inflamed. Scientists talk about low grade inflammation…………..
Fat cells are blamed.
But, fat cells don’t work alone……
Adipose tissue
In fact, that big belly you despise every time you look in the mirror, is a mix of cells. Yes, fat cells are there. And, many of the fat cells there, are UNHAPPY. Crying and lamenting the fact that they’re too full and need a little breathing room.
Their crying and lamenting draws the attention of immune cells, specifically macrophages.
Now macrophages are the soldiers of the immune system. They’re hard working little guys, doing their best to “clean up” ANYTHING, that is causing unhappiness.
Cleaning up
Now most of the time, we think agents of unhappiness are BAD.
An invading pathogen or bits and pieces of you, that have become damaged.
But, this reflects our bias…..
Clutter is not bad per se
Cleaning up is actual a normal, natural process. Think about what happens if you decide NOT to clean up your room / the kitchen, the neighbourhood.
Chaos happens.
So smart “people”, build cleaning up into their routines. Smart bodies do the same.
So the presence of macrophages and company, deep inside fat tissue, is NOT necessarily pathological.
They’re doing their job………
Fat cell remodelling
The fat cells are in a panic, because there is lots of fat, that needs storing.
To store away the fat – they need to GET BIGGER.
For fat cells this means, adjustments to their extra cellular matrix.
This is the layer that surrounds a cell, holding it in place.
It needs to be bigger, for the fat cell to comfortably expand. And there needs to be adjustments to the blood supply………………
Not being adequately supplied with oxygen and nutrients is going to cramp a fat cells style.
Fat cells need help
Remodelling.
Which is why they summon the macrophage clean up crew. They need them to “clean up” the neighbourhood……………so they can do their expanding.
Comfortably storing away, all the nutrients you’re sending.
When we look from the outside……………. we note, there is an awful lot of inflammation and ASSUME, this is BAD !
But is it ?
Adipose inflammation is ESSENTIAL for healthy adipose tissue.
No inflammation is a disaster
You run into serious metabolic troubles, when your fat cells FAIL TO EXPAND. And, if you’re actively sending loads of calories their way……………….
There is going to be MORE INFLAMMATION.
Eish ! It’s a conundrum.
The inflammation is necessary, but clearly when inflammation is “OUT OF CONTROL” , there is an inflammatory cascade , which drives BAD BODY CHEMISTRY.
Hit the off switch
Fat cell remodelling IS THE ON SWITCH !
But, there is an OFF SWITCH. And it doesn’t trigger itself, the body has to hit it, but it turns out, you can help flip the switch, if you know HOW.
Tune in next time to find out how.
But in the mean time, you need to rein in insulin. Not sure how to do it, download our free willpower report and begin the journey today, to BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY and better health.
Further reading
To be healthy, you need MORE fat cells, not less
You can be fat, with lots of fat cells (hyperplasia) or you can be fat with fewer fat cells (hypoplasia). More fat cells is better from a health perspective
Fat is not causing low grade inflammation, insulin is
An army MARCHES on it’s stomach. Insulin makes sure, the body’s army is fuelled up and ready for battle, but when you’re insulin resistant, the battle never stops.
Your fat cells might need help, catching their breath
The bigger a fat cell is, the further it has to stretch to grab an oxygen molecule as it floats by, being short of oxygen, is unpleasant, maybe even inflammatory