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What chemical breaks down fat cells?

In the fat cell, other types of lipases work to break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. These lipases are activated by various hormones, such as glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone. The resulting glycerol and fatty acids are released into the blood, and travel to the liver through the bloodstream.

science.howstuffworks.com - Breaking Down Fat and Losing Weight - Science | HowStuffWorks
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" " Figure 3. How a fat cell breaks down fat.

When you are not eating, your body is not absorbing food. If your body is not absorbing food, there is little insulin in the blood. However, your body is always using energy; and if you're not absorbing food, this energy must come from internal stores of complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Under these conditions, various organs in your body secrete hormones:

pancreas - glucagon

pituitary gland - growth hormone

pituitary gland - ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)

adrenal gland - epinephrine (adrenaline)

thyroid gland - thyroid hormone

These hormones act on cells of the liver, muscle and fat tissue, and have the opposite effects of insulin. When you are not eating, or you are exercising, your body must draw on its internal energy stores. Your body's prime source of energy is glucose. In fact, some cells in your body, such as brain cells, can get energy only from glucose. The first line of defense in maintaining energy is to break down carbohydrates, or glycogen, into simple glucose molecules -- this process is called glycogenolysis. Next, your body breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids in the process of lipolysis. The fatty acids can then be broken down directly to get energy, or can be used to make glucose through a multi-step process called gluconeogenesis. In gluconeogenesis, amino acids can also be used to make glucose. In the fat cell, other types of lipases work to break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. These lipases are activated by various hormones, such as glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone. The resulting glycerol and fatty acids are released into the blood, and travel to the liver through the bloodstream. Once in the liver, the glycerol and fatty acids can be either further broken down or used to make glucose.

Losing Weight and Losing Fat

Your weight is determined by the rate at which you store energy from the food that you eat, and the rate at which you use that energy. Remember that as your body breaks down fat, the number of fat cells remains the same; each fat cell simply gets smaller.

Most experts agree that the way to maintain a healthy weight is:

Eat a balanced diet - appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, fat and protein

Do not eat excessively - for most people, a diet of 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day is sufficient to maintain a healthy weight

Exercise regularly

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Can I drink apple cider vinegar everyday?

ACV is generally safe when consumed in moderation — no more than 1 to 2 tablespoons (tbsp) daily. But drinking excessive amounts of ACV can decrease potassium to hazardous levels. ACV may interact with some medications (including diuretics, laxatives, and certain medications for diabetes and heart disease).

everydayhealth.com - Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, and More

ACV has garnered superfood status, and fans of the vinegar say that it can cure nearly everything that ails you — weight gain, digestive issues, skin woes, and so on. Meanwhile, some companies tout ACV pills as a powerful source of vitamins and minerals, or for weight loss or “cleansing” support. Few studies support these uses, so while you can add it to your diet without significantly upping your risk for weight gain, it’s best to stay realistic about it. ACV’s main health benefits may be due to the amount of antioxidant polyphenols (or plant chemicals) it contains, thanks to the fermentation process. It’s also rich in probiotics , which may benefit the digestive system and gut microbiome

ACV and Weight Loss

ACV contains very few calories, so it can fit into your diet if you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. But you may also have heard that some people take a shot or tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to stimulate fat burning. The fact of the matter is that taking ACV is unlikely to change your body composition or weight. Registered dietitian Katherine Zeratsky points out that this thought doesn’t have scientific support behind it — and the only way to actually lose weight is through a generally healthy diet and by incorporating fitness into your routine. The advice is far less flashy than supplementing with something as trendy as ACV, but it’s exactly what really works. The advice is far less flashy than supplementing with something as trendy as ACV, but it’s exactly what really works.

ACV and High Cholesterol

ACV may be beneficial for high cholesterol in some groups.

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