Get the Skinny on Forbidden Fats: Separate Fat Facts from Fiction

By Rupina Meer • March 28th, 2012 • 9052 Views

We live in fat phobic times, so whether you're fat phobic, fat curious or just befuddled by conflicting information, it's time to debunk the top three myths about this demonized nutrient that's vital to our health:

1.     Claim: Saturated fats lead to obesity and heart disease.

Fiction. The claim that consumption of saturated animal fats is bad for you and causes heart disease is based on flawed evaluation of data. In fact, modern studies based on indigenous tribes from around the world have shown that those who consume the highest percentage of saturated fat have the lowest risk of heart disease. It's the trans fat found in margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that is the true villain, causing far more significant health problems than saturated fat ever could. Unfortunately the low-fat dogma perpetuated by most government authorities has led many of you to replace saturated fats with refined carbohydrates and that's promoting the current epidemic of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Solution: Avoid trans fats and hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fats and add in healthy sources of saturated fats, such as butter (made from grass-fed raw, organic milk) and coconut oil. Coconut oil is far superior to any other cooking oil as it doesn't oxidize at high temperatures and the medium-chain fatty acids actually boost your metabolism and promote weight loss.  

2.     Claim: Dietary fat makes you fat

Semi fiction. Eating the right fats actually helps you shed fat. Healthy cell walls made from high-quality fats are better able to metabolize insulin, which keeps blood sugar better regulated. Without proper blood sugar control, the body socks away fat for a rainy day. In fact, when you deprive your body of fat, it thinks there’s a fat scarcity and holds on to the fat it has. Ironically, it’s not eating fat that makes you gain weight, it’s eating the wrong types of fats.

Solution: Ditch the processed foods made with poor-quality omega-6 fats. Take a look at the ingredients of your favorite packaged food. If the list includes oils made from corn, canola, soy, sunflower or safflower you are getting a sub-par fat. Load up on healthy omega-3 fats instead. The best animal sources of omega-3s are wild salmon, sardines, herring, or small halibut.  If you're vegetarian, you can load up on flaxseed, hempseed, and walnuts; however, these foods only contain the precursor form, ALA (alpha linoleic acid) that our body can not convert efficiently...

Tweet

• <<
• <
• 1
• 2
• 3
• >
• >>

Location:  Orange County, US

Rupina Meer, Board-Certified Holistic Health Coach received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Health Coaches from Integrative Nutrition’s world-class training program learn from luminaries in the field of health and wellness including Drs....