When we talk about belly fat, it’s important to know that there are actually two different types; subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Subcutaneous is the fat you can pinch, and visceral is the fat around your organs which is much more dangerous and difficult to lose.

Test how much you know about belly fat with these 7 facts and myths:

1. Belly fat is worse than other fat

FACT.

Belly fat is dangerous because of its location; it surrounds your organs in your abdomen and releases proteins and hormones that raise cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and triglycerides. It’s also a player in insulin resistance and health-threatening inflammation.

2. Stress causes belly fat

FACT.

The more you stress, the bigger your waist. Stress makes the hormone cortisol climb, which makes you crave high-calorie snacks that get stored around your belly as fat. Try to tame your response to stress by closing your eyes and taking deep breaths, or watch a funny clip on YouTube to make you laugh.

3. Stomach crunches will blast tummy fat

MYTH.

You can’t choose only certain areas of your body to reduce fat. Performing ab exercises will help strengthen your stomach muscles, however to lose stomach fat you’ll need to reduce your total body fat.

4. Herbex can help reduce tummy fat

FACT.

Herbex Fat Burn Concentrates are packed full of powerful antioxidants from Green Tea and Guarana extracts, which are known to reduce appetite and increase metabolism to help the body burn stubborn belly fat.

5. A big belly is fine as long as you have a healthy BMI

MYTH.

Studies suggest looking at waistlines, rather than body mass index, as men and women with large waist circumference are more likely to suffer from heart disease, respiratory problems and cancer than their slimmer peers, even when they have BMIs in the “healthy” range.

6. You have to eat less to shrink your belly

MYTH.

Studies have shown that people who eat six small meals a day have smaller waists than people who eat two or three large meals a day. Of course “small” is the key, and meals should consist of whole grains, lean proteins and fibre.

7. Sitting promotes belly fat

FACT.

Belly fat prefers when you sit, so if you want to get rid of it, you have to get up and move! Just 3 hours a week of aerobic exercise like walking, jogging, cycling and elliptical training can bust belly fat. Just make sure you do it at a fast pace, and not at window-shopping speed.

Get rid of harmful belly fat the Herbex way with our range of Fat Burn Concentrates, and get on the road to a healthier, leaner you!