Fats: Are They All Bad?

I have heard it said a piece of pie can not be sliced so thin that there are not two sides. There are many who would have you believe that any fat you consume is going to lead to obesity or possibly death.

It is true that there are certain fats you need to avoid such as hydrogenated and saturated fats. Hydrogenated fats are the healthy oils that manufactures have managed to change into trans-fatty acids, and saturated fats are found mainly in animal and dairy products. The exceptions are palm and palm kernel oils which are found in plants. Including these fats in your diet on a regular basis may lead to some health problems.

If these are the fats you should avoid, then what are the fats you should include in your diet? Many of you may be happy to find out that a piece of good quality dark chocolate occasionally is a good thing. The fat in chocolate is not particularly good or bad for you, but will boost your immune system. However, this does not give you a license to run out and buy all the candy bars in your local store.

I am sure that it comes as no great surprise that fish, especially salmon and albacore tuna are a great source of fat. At one time nuts, seeds, and avocados were thought of as taboos, but consider putting them back in your diet. Science is starting to rediscover what ancient civilizations knew: olive oil is tasty as well as healthy. History records that at one time olive oil was thought of as so important that it was used as currency.

Eliminating fat from your diet can be just as detrimental to your health as eating the wrong kind of fat. Fat supplies energy and essential fatty-acids, provides insulation and protection for the body, and aids absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. Have you cut the fat out of your diet and wondered why you are not losing weight? When the fat is too low in your diet the body goes into survival mode and stores every ounce of fat. You will lose muscle and water but not fat.

With any of the foods that Mother Nature created with fat soluble vitamins she also added a small amount of fat. Why is it that we think we are smarter than Mother Nature?

Category: Nutrition