Lean, mean, fat burning machine

Time to go back to basics. The first thing that I recommend clients do is begin taking a fish oil supplement to increase omega-3 intake. It's the simplest and most effective thing to do to feel better,  be stronger and  get leaner.

For what you gain in health and fitness  they are very cheap, and all it requires is a few capsules down the hatch each day,  you'll significantly improve you health! In a previous article entitled 'Why Eskimos don't get heart disease and why you should consider tucking into a narwhal', I explained how  our agricultural system has left us chronically deficient in essential fatty acids, and what effect that has on heart disease rates. But today I'm going for the biggest effect of all;

FISH OILS MAKE YOU LEAN!

Chances are you have heard this claim before, but have you every really thought about why it happens. If you understand what is going on in your body, even on a basic level, then I l believe you will be more likely to  get hold of some.

Here's a brief outline of how this happens:

• FISH OILS IMPROVE CARBOHYDRATE TOLERANCE

Carb tolerance in it's most basic sense is the effectiveness which your body uses nutrients. If tolerance is low then sugar in the blood will be shunted into fat stores, making you fatter. However if you have a high tolerance of carbohydrates then you will be able to push more nutrients into you muscles and organs, which will make you feel leaner.

It has become apparent that the way tolerance improves is through the remodelling of the membranes around your cells. The process is actually very simple; the fatty layer which separates cells (cell membrane) contains proteins. These proteins are responsible for what goes in and out of the cell. The protein that controls carbohydrate uptake for the cell is more active when surrounded by omega-3 than when surrounded by something like a trans-fat.

If you eat lots of processed fats, then your cell membrane proteins will not be as receptive and so will not absorb as many carbohydrates. This leaves them in your blood to be sucked up by fat cells. If you eat lots of oily fish or take a fish oil supplement then you will have a cell membrane with lots of omega-3s and your muscles and organs will get a huge dose of energy and leave  your fat stores reducing.

• FISH OILS DECREASE INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is awful for the body, and it's effects are very complicated. However the main effects is that the body's stress levels go up. There are a huge number of reasons why inflammation may be elevated from injury to a poor diet, a tight deadline or not enough sleep.

Inflammation is bound to happen and in small infrequent doses is a good thing (like when you go to the gym or cut your arm). Swelling and increased blood flow allow the area to heal more quickly.

For this reason if your body senses inflammation then it perceives that the body is experiencing some kind of peril. It becomes catabolic, promoting muscle loss and fat gain; everything we want to avoid.

Taking fish oils will lead to significantly less inflammation  and therefore  improved body composition. It works by cutting off immune responses within the body. The exact mechanism of how this works is still undecided. However one explanation is that it increases the body's ability to respond selectively to genuine threats improving immune function and decreasing inflammation.

• FISH OILS INCREASE THE ACTIVITY OF FAT BURNING GENES

Including a good source of omega 3 fatty acids in your diet increases your body's ability to use  fat as a fuel. So eating more fat will actually  make you leaner.

The way this works is similar to the first example. it alters the function of a protein on the outside of the cell membrane which causes us to produce more  fat burning  proteins.

The long and short of it is that the food you eat will give you more energy and at the same time  omega-3s will make you less fat.

Everybody wins!

NOTE:

Most people will derive their protein from 6 sources:

1. Beef
2. Lamb
3. Pork
4. Chicken
5. Turkey
6. Eggs

There are literally hundreds of species of fish available for purchase in the UK. Go to a local fishmonger and experiment. Keep you menu fresh and get the fish oils thrown in for free!!!