Lose weight and fat percentage by increasing your Iron intake

Fats, or lipids, are one of three macronutrients that the human body utilizes for energy (carbohydrates and proteins are the other two).

While fats get a bad rap for being unhealthy, their health properties depend on the type of fat you eat. Despite of the fat type, however, each fat molecule contains more calories than other macronutrients. 
One lipid molecule contains 9 calories, while each carbohydrate or protein molecule contains 4.

 This means that taking a large amount of fat causes your body to convert more energy into body fat. Eating foods with fat burning powers can help you avoid weight gain and decrease your risk of chronic health conditions.

There are different types of Fats

We often treat “fat” as a monolithic category that includes exclusively harmful molecules. However, there are four major classes of fats used by the human body:

• ·         saturated,
• ·         trans,
• ·         monounsaturated,
• ·         and polyunsaturated fats (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2015).

 Saturated fats are regularly found in animal products, such as dairy products, beef, and skin-on chicken. Trans fats are also in nature found in animal products in small amounts, but they are much more common in processed foods such as baked goods, crackers, or fried foods. Taking a diet high in saturated and trans fats has been associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

The other two types of fat, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, are considered “healthy” fats. These are the fats that are much more commonly found in plant products. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to lower levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and increase levels of healthy HDL cholesterol. As a result, they have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health.

Iron is an important mineral that has many very important functions in the body. It is a master player in the body, leading the way for several important physiological functions, including transporting oxygen to your red blood cells and producing ATP, adenosine triphosphate production (ATP), which is essential for cellular energy.

Iron is important in carrying oxygen to different parts of the body, including your muscles. Your muscles need oxygen to burn fat and iron aids in that. Lack of iron decreases oxygen supply and slows down functioning of body organs, thereby slowing down metabolic rates

The low levels of iron in the body are associated with fatigue, decreased athletic performance, concentration, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath, mood and even hair loss or increased hair shedding.

Weaknesses, fatigue, shortness of breath and weight gain are common symptoms of hypothyroidism, or decrease in thyroid function.

Weight gain of the body

Iron does not only affect your energy, although this may come as a surprise, it can also have an impact on your waistline.

One research published in the British Journal of Nutrition, evaluated adolescents between (9 - 13) years of age for body fat and visceral fat (otherwise known as fat around the organs in the abdominal area), along with measurements of iron status.

The results showed that subjects with the highest percentage of body fat and visceral fat mass were over two times more likely to have insufficient iron status in their body.

Another study even found that when 21 women were treated for iron deficiency, they experienced reductions in body weight, waist circumference and body mass index.

A deficiency in iron may impact the health of your thyroid gland, as with other nutrients such as iodine.  This small gland in your neck secretes hormones that regulate your metabolism.

Researchers have found that low levels of iron in the body may be associated with impaired thyroid function and a disruption in the production of thyroid hormones.

Regrettably, many people do not get enough iron in their diets. Treating iron deficiency can allow your metabolism to work more efficiently and can fight off fatigue to help increase your activity level.

It is good to add iron-rich foods in your diet to help meet your iron needs and maintain your metabolism and energy levels.

Iron can be found in meat, poultry, seafood, fortified grains and cereals, leafy green vegetables, dried fruits and beans.

Abstracts

A deficiency in iron may leads symptoms like fatigue, decreased athletic performance, concentration, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath, mood and even hair loss or increased hair shedding.  

Treating iron deficiency may results in weight loss, body fat percentage reduction and improve overall health.