29/05/2025
🔥 Inflammation vs. Fat: What’s the Difference?
Fat is stored energy — mainly from excess calories.
Inflammation, on the other hand, is the body’s immune response to perceived threats like injury, stress, poor diet, or toxins.
🧠 Why Stubborn Fat Might Actually Be Inflammation
1. Inflammatory Fat Cells
- Visceral fat (the kind around your organs) secretes inflammatory cytokines.
- These substances promote chronic, low-grade inflammation, which can cause the body to retain more fat — especially around the belly.
2. Tissue Swelling
- Inflammation attracts fluid & immune cells to an area. So what seems like fat may actually be swollen tissue, not just stored lipids.
3. Cortisol & Stress
- Chronic stress increases cortisol, a hormone linked to both inflammation & belly fat storage.
- Cortisol encourages the body to hang on to fat, especially in the midsection.
4. Insulin Resistance
- Inflammatory markers interfere with insulin function.
- This leads to poor glucose control, more fat storage, & difficulty burning existing fat.
5. Poor Lymphatic Drainage
- Inflammation can impair the lymphatic system, which helps remove toxins & excess fluids.
The result? Puffiness & weight that won’t budge even with diet & exercise.
🔍 Signs It’s Inflammation, Not Just Fat
- Fat feels firm or puffy, not soft.
- Weight gain is localized (belly, thighs, upper arms).
- You experience other inflammatory symptoms: fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, or digestive issues.
- Weight is resistant to change despite clean eating and exercise.
✅ What to Do About It
1. Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Cut out sugar, refined carbs, seed oils, & processed foods.
- A great go to is a GAPS/ Carnivore diet
2. Improve Gut Health
- A healthy gut reduces systemic inflammation.
3. Manage Stress
- Meditation, sleep, & exercise help reduce cortisol and systemic inflammation.
4. Move Lymph
- Gentle movement (walking, yoga), massage, & hydration keep the lymphatic system flowing.
If you’re eating well, exercising, & still struggling with stubborn fat, it may not be just a matter of weight — it could be inflammation. Addressing it at the root can unlock real change, both in how you look & how you feel