Fat
Many of us have been repeatedly lied to when we’re told that fat is inherently evil and bad for us. In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth.
We’re just beginning to wake up from this dietary catastrophe, but much of the damage has already been done. During the fat-free craze, I only noticed people increasing in weight. Many of the products on store shelves still advertise themselves as fat-free while being loaded with high GI substitutions to make them palatable. In most cases it would be far better for our waistlines if we just ate the fat.
Fat is a key component of any nutrition plan due to the many benefits it provides. Fat lowers the glycemic index of foods, improves insulin resistance, maintains healthy skin and hair, protects neurological function, enables hormone production (especially key muscle-building hormones), and empowers fat metabolism.
Not all natural fats are created equal, meaning there are both “good” and “bad” fats. The first group of good fat is essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, which our bodies cannot make, so they must be obtained from food sources. My favorite is flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil helps to block fat storage, increase metabolism, and increase insulin sensitivity. In some cases, it has been shown to be anticatabolic. In other words, it helps stop muscle tissue breakdown. The other group of good fats is monounsaturated fats, like all-natural peanut butter, olive oil, and avocados.
The bad fats are saturated fats, which are primarily present in fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and some tropical oils. Then there are transfatty acids. These processed wonder molecules give foods especially baked goods—shelf stability and enduring “freshness,” if something three months old in plastic can really be called fresh at all. While trans fats are great for keeping products sellable, they’re terrible at keeping you alive. Trans fats are implicated in all manner of diseases, most notably heart disease. Thankfully, new labeling laws mandate that trans fats be listed on the labels of all processed foods. If possible, avoid them entirely. They don’t occur in nature. When it comes to nutrition, I prefer to stick with natural choices. If it’s made by man, you don’t necessarily want to put it in your mouth.
In a typical day, one-third of your fats come from the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids group, one-third from the monounsaturated fats group, and no more than one-third from the saturated fats group. Saturated fat is almost impossible to avoid, since there are trace amounts present in many of the otherwise beneficial foods we eat.
Posted in Nutrition
Comments (1)
Essential fats found are fish are great I try to eat a pieve of fish at least 3 times a week. I think it helps with digestion.