Getting Over the Fear of Eating Fats
For over a century we have been told to stay away from fat because our logic was simple: fat makes you fat.
Americans continue to keep on the "low fat" diet life style and stay away from fatty foods, but the obesity epidemic still exists.
The reason for that is simple: Americans have a high intake of a refined carbohydrates which means SUGAR, SUGAR, SUGAR.
As many of you may know, America's number one leading health problem today is obesity. How did we get to this major epidemic of obesity if we were eating a "low fat" diet?
This is because we were not eating enough healthy fats. We get most of our nutrients and caloric intake from refined carbohydrates and sugar.
Refined carbohydrates elevate the blood sugar in your body and put you on a "high" that eventually wears off until you crash (Think: that 3pm mid-day coffee...probably from the donut or bagel you had for breakfast).
Since our diets came from refined carbohydrates and sugar our bodies stay constantly hungry which can lead to us eating more and more throughout the day. Hence the obesity epedemic.
So why fat? What does fat do for the body? How can healthy fat be beneficial for the body?
First of all, the key to have a healthy body is that we need to eliminate carbohydrates from our diet and increase our fat intake. This can reduce our blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. Eating healthy fats keeps our blood sugar regulated and keeps us full longer which leads to healthy weight loss.
Secondly, monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil and almonds can reduce LDL levels. The biggest benefit to this is that it decreases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Another type of fat group is the Omega-3 fatty acids which is a type of polyunsaturated fat found in salmon, flax seeds and walnuts.
Finally, our bodies cannot function without fat! To be healthy and have everything functioning properly, we need fat. Our brain is nearly 60% fat and functions primarily on Omega 3 fatty acids (fun fact: that's why the walnut is referred to as brain food). Fat promotes heart health, replenishment of the cells and organs, weight loss, boosts our immune system, and much more!
Start incorporating healthy fats in your daily diet! Go grab that handful of walnuts, eat salmon, drizzle some olive oil on your salad, add coconut oil to your stir-fry or smoothie.
There are endless ways to incorporate healthy fats in your daily diet to up the nutrients you intake while also boosting the overall flavor of what you eat to amazing heights!
Frances is an amazing health and lifestyle coach whose main goal is to help our community get physically and mentally stronger with every mindful choice we make.
