How to lose visceral fat: add this popular food to your meals

Visceral fat, as opposed to subcutaneous fat, lurks deep below the surface, accumulating near vital organs, such as the liver and intestines. Visceral fat’s precarious positioning in the

body means that carrying too much of it can interfere with vital bodily functions, triggering mechanisms such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, precursors to heart disease. The

threat posed by visceral fat could therefore not be more stark: losing it could be the difference between life and death. Luckily, making healthy dietary changes can curb the harmful belly

fat and stop it coming back. The content found in particular foods make them great options for beating the harmful belly fat. Egg-based meals, for example, increase fullness and reduce food

intake during later meals, compared to other meals with the same calorie content, according to research. Eggs also rank high on a scale called the Satiety Index. This scale evaluates how

well foods help you feel full and reduce calorie intake later on. READ MORE: How to live longer: Two surprising food groups that could increase your life expectancy Strengthening the claim,

many studies show that people who eat more protein tend to carry less visceral fat. A study in 23,876 adults showed that a higher protein intake was linked to a lower body mass index, higher

“good” HDL cholesterol and a smaller waist circumference, which is a marker of visceral fat. WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL? Cholesterol, a waxy substance that's found in all of your cells, comes

in two forms: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and High-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The former is dubbed the “bad” cholesterol because it can clog up your arteries, causing a heart

attack or stroke. HDL cholesterol aka the “good” cholesterol, on the other hand, picks up excess cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to your liver where it's broken down and

removed from your body. In addition to eggs, other great sources of protein include: * Meat * Fish * Eggs * Dairy * Legumes * Whey protein While upping your intake of protein can help to

reduce visceral fat, for optimal results you should cut back on carbs. In an eight-week study including 69 overweight men and women, scientists found that people who followed a low-carb diet

lost 10 percent more visceral fat and 4.4 percent more total fat than those on a low-fat diet. Exercising regularly can also help to attack the harmful belly fat by helping you to burn

calories. According to medical website LiveStrong, a weight loss of five to 10 percent of your total body weight can help reduce visceral fat stores. To accelerate the calorie-burning

process, try circuit training, brisk walking, biking or any activity that gets your heart rate up and you moving for an hour, advises the health body. In fact, a University of Virginia study

found that high-intensity interval training, reduced total abdominal fat, including visceral and subcutaneous fat.