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An interesting study has suggested that having a healthy percentage of fat is better than having 0% body fat. To some this may come as a surprise, and you may be a little bit skeptical. But researchers have conducted tests on mice that suggests that mice who have a higher percentage of fat experience better brain activity.

NAMPT is an enzyme in our bodies that plays a very important role, in specific when secreted by fat cells. Scientists have conducted tests on mice who lack this enzyme, and found that they were much more inactive compared to mice that contain this enzyme in their fat cells.

A little bit of healthy fat never hurt anybody

In relation to mice this enzyme is very important to humans. It is believed that it benefits ageing and your body’s ability to fight diseases like dementia. Also the increase in brain activity is very beneficial for the body as a whole.

Many people concern themselves with staying in perfect physical shape. These people may believe that maintaining a fat percentage that is very low is healthy for them. However, research conducted suggests that having more fat in your body may actually be better for you as you age.

There are two sides to the spectrum

Many people who are slightly overweight experience less physical problems in their later years. In comparison people who have a low fat percentage experience more problems, as they get older. The same can be said for people who are obese because they may experience many problems.

This is not to suggest that maintaining a very high percentage of body fat is good for you. There is a fine line between having a little bit of healthy fat, not having any fat, and having too much fat. Science confirms that being a healthy adult does encompass maintaining a reasonable amount of fat within your body.

Perhaps the most beneficial purpose of extra fat would go to the brain. Your brain needs this fat to exercise its most valuable properties, the same properties that maintain your good health.

Your body will thank you

The NAMPT tests proved to be quite valuable to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain known to play important roles in maintaining your body’s physiology. This includes regulating sleep cycles, heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, thirst and appetite.

As you can see these are all vital parts of the way in which our body survives. Understanding that the NAMPT enzyme plays a very important role we can further comprehend the importance of maintaining a healthy percentage of fat in our body.

I can imagine the repercussions of being too skinny or obese. The important thing to remember is that having a little bit of extra fat is very good for you. Next time you are putting in extra effort at the gym remember this article. That gorgeous body you are working so hard to maintain may come at a price. There are two spectrums to everything, too skinny is not good, and too heavy is potentially worse.

Do your best to maintain the perfect amount of fat, especially when you get older, because it could prove to be very useful.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3067515/How-slightly-overweight-GOOD-health-Fat-tissue-boosts-brain-s-energy-levels-affects-metabolism-ageing.html

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