Reduction

One of the issues with belly fat is how to  spot reduce or target fat loss just in the stomach region? For years we have known that healthy fats are essential for everything in the body from hair, skin, nails, hormones, inflammation and improving the way our body deals with almost everything. One of the secrets I wanted to reveal was the belly fat reducing ability of an oil commonly known to many, safflower oil.

The seeds of the safflower oil yield natures richest source of polyunsaturated fats omega-6, linoleic acid. Today, interest in the health benefits of polyunsaturated oils to lower cholesterol and possibly impact weight control has brought new popularity to this interesting plant. The latest study is showing that safflower oil may have remarkable

Fat to Beat Fat

The idea that fat play a role in fat loss is difficult to grasp. After all, most of us are under the impression that increasing fat in the diet increases the risk of becoming overweight or obese. Yet research is beginning to show that specific types of fats are actually beneficial in helping us lose weight through a number of interesting mechanisms.

High Linoleic Acid Safflower Oil Beats Belly Fat

To have a greater appreciation for safflower oil and to gain a greater understanding of the possible mechanisms of action; a thorough review of the study is useful. I don’t want you to think that its just me talking about this research, but every media outlet seemed to focus on this profound discovery. Women’s World broke the news in January of 2010 which sent a flurry of women into the stores looking for safflower oil. Little did they know the kind of oil used was almost virtually impossible to find.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009 published the study involving fifty-five women, who were considered obese based on their BMI values. These women were also postmenopausal and had Type 2 diabetes. The study actually compared two oils, high linoleic acid safflower oil (unlike the high oleic acid cooking variety) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, known to reduce overall body fat).

The women in the study took one of the oils for 16 weeks, followed by the other oil for an equal amount of time. In order to ensure that the study was measuring only the effects of the oil supplementation the participants were instructed not to change their diets or exercise routines over the course of the study.

Amongst the surprising findings was the fact that about 2 teaspoons of oils rich in linoleic acid had a significant effect on body composition in women. Women lost between 2 to 4 pounds of belly fat simply by taking high linoleic safflower oil (this translates to about a 6.3% loss). Safflower oil also increased lean tissue (muscle) by an average of about 1.4 pounds and 3 pounds. Translated, this means that women taking safflower oil, not only lost belly fat but also gained lean muscle mass (a good thing).

The study also found that the women taking the safflower oil supplements also had lowered fasting blood sugar levels.  The participants fasting blood sugar levels dropped between 11 to 19 points (mg/dL) on average; this is considered very significant for Type II diabetics.

The promotion of adiponectin levels (up to 20% increase) by safflower oil is another important aspect  in fat loss.  It is well established that adiponectin is a hormone associated with sugar regulation and the breakdown of fat. Research has shown that lower level of this hormone are found in obese individuals and that increasing circulating levels will have beneficial effects on both weight loss and sugar regulation. Dr. Belury one of the lead researchers said that adiponectin might have triggered the body’s ability to burn dietary fats.

The less fat you have the more adiponectin is released. If you have a lot of belly fat, there will be only a small amount of adiponectin released which causes our cells to become resistant to insulin and in turn will cause more fat to be stored in the belly region. Adiponectin also has anti-inflammatory effects on the cells lining the walls of the blood vessels. High blood levels of adiponectin are associated with a reduced risk of heart attack. Low levels of adiponectin are found in people who are obese (and who are at an increased risk of a heart attack).

High Linoleic Acid Safflower Oil SafSlim™

When we think of safflower oil, we think of the clear, flavourless oil commercially available in all supermarkets for a relatively inexpensive price. Unfortunately this oil has been highly refined, which creates an unstable, toxic oil that is overall unhealthy for us to consume.

When the Ohio state university study hit the media world, women ran to find the “right” kind of safflower oil. And of course, what they could find did not match what was studied. In order to meet consumer demand created by this exciting research, SafSlim™ was developed. To make safflower oil more body ready, a unique patented form of emulsified safflower oil is commercially available under the name SafSlim™. Emulsification is a technology that allows for rapid digestion and assimilation through the intestinal tract and into the bloodstream, thus allowing for maximum cellular bioavailability far superior to the oil in its natural form. Considering the state of most North American’s gastrointestinal and digestive systems, there are so many variables that can prevent the proper assimilation of oils, therefore oil available in a pre-emulsified form will help improve bioavailability.

With this very exciting and profound research, healthy nutrition and food choices, we can all be successful at banishing belly fat for good.

For more info visit www.safslim.com or www.karlenekarst.com