Fat has got a bad rap! It all started in the late 70′s-80′s. We should have known “they”were wrong about fat when “they” were also telling us to wear spandex, blue eyeshadow and eat microwave dinners.
We need fat! Ordering and buying food “fat free” is not going to help you lose weight. In fact this is actually working against you by helping you hold on to weight! Fat is what helps our bodies metabolize sugar therefore effecting the insulin levels secreted. Have you ever noticed other cultures like French and Asian consume large amounts of good fat in their diet all without an obesity problem? There is a reason. Our bodies need good fats from butter, eggs, yogurt, fish, meat, and meat bones (make a broth) to keep the balance of hormones and insulin. It is essential for women to consume a healthy portion of fat in their diet and to maintain a minimum of 18% body fat. This balance of good fats will allow women’s delicate endocrine system to perform better, keeping their menstrual cycles regular and their thyroid happy.
Seven Reasons Why We Need Fat by Dr. Mercola:
1) Improved cardiovascular risk factors
Saturated fat plays a key role in cardiovascular health. The addition of saturated fat to the diet reduces the levels of a substance called lipoprotein (a) that correlates strongly with risk for heart disease. Research has shown that when women diet, those eating the greatest percentage of the total fat in their diets as saturated fat, lose the most weight.
2) Stronger bones
Saturated fat is required for calcium to be effectively incorporated into bone. According to one of the foremost research experts in dietary fats and human health, Dr. Mary Enig, Ph.D., there’s a case to be made for having as much as 50 percent of the fats in your diet as saturated fats for this reason.
3) Improved liver health
Saturated fat has been shown to protect the liver from alcohol and medications, including acetaminophen and other drugs commonly used for pain and arthritis.
4) Healthy lungs
For proper function, the airspaces of the lungs have to be coated with a thin layer of lung surfactant. The fat content of lung surfactant is 100 percent saturated fatty acids. Replacement of these critical fats by other types of fat makes faulty surfactant and potentially causes breathing difficulties.
5) Healthy brain
Your brain is mainly made of fat and cholesterol. The lion’s share of the fatty acids in the brain are actually saturated. A diet that skimps on healthy saturated fats robs your brain of the raw materials it needs to function optimally.
6) Proper nerve signaling
Certain saturated fats, particularly those found in butter, lard, coconut oil, and palm oil, function directly as signaling messengers that influence metabolism, including such critical jobs as the appropriate release of insulin.
7) Strong immune system
Saturated fats found in butter and coconut oil (myristic acid and lauric acid) play key roles in immune health. Loss of sufficient saturated fatty acids in white blood cells hampers their ability to recognize and destroy foreign invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
There are several good ways to get healthy fats but we do recommend keeping it clean! Eat healthy, organic sources of saturated fat in your everyday diet. Organic butter and eggs are important so no other hormones are added to the foods. Fish is best if it’s wild caught and meat is best grass fed. Use large bones such as beef bone or whole chickens to slow cook your own broth. Don’t scape off the fat! Those fat molecules also hold many of the vitamins and collagen (yes wrinkle fighting) that you need. Use the broth as a soup, cook risotto, brown rice or drink it alone.
Healthy fats will help you stay thinner and look younger! It’s a win/win! But yes you still need to eat lots of vegetables, fruits and exercise:)
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