For the Love of Fat

Followers know I'm a big fan of fat - healthy fat. There really is a difference between healthy and unhealthy fats.

Why do we need fat? Well, every cell in our bodies has a cell wall that is made 99% of fats. It's why our skin is waterproof. Our brains are nearly 30% fat (and 70% water). We keep heat in our bodies because of a loose fat layer. And these are all the good types of fat. If we only eat good fats, we produce good tissues.

That doesn't mean we get to drench our foods in fat. We only need about the size of our thumb per day of various fats. That includes the fats found in foods and what we add. I always recommend sticking to less than 1/2 tablespoons per day total of added fats.

Let's start with what I don't eat, ever: Trans fats. This fat is man-made to make food items sit on a shelf for a very long period of time without decomposing. It started off as margarine, because the elite in the late 1800s wanted butter and the peasants weren't making enough. Only later did we find out how bad it is for us.

Trans fats are known as broken fats because they look like something bad happened. Their structure was altered and this altering no longer allows it to function as it should. Our brains misfire with the incorporation of bad fats. And when these trans fats float around in our arteries, they stick to each other and quickly produce plaque. Insects intuitively know this: they refuse to touch the stuff. We find trans fat only in processed foods that have anything hydrogenated or hydrolyzed in it - even if the nutritional label and box say trans fat free. The companies use a legal loophole to lie to you on the front of the box, but they have to tell you the truth in the ingredients.

And that's it for bad fats. Surprised? Read on and find out why the low fat craze vilified one of the most important nutrients for our bodies just so some group could easily sell diet information.

There are several fats that are good for us in small quantities, but bad for us in large quantities. And it isn't just saturated fats.

Omega-6 fatty acids are required for our bodies in small doses. The problem is that we are eating nearly 30 times what our bodies need. This leads to obesity, diabetes, cholesterol problems and blood pressure problems. The issue is so severe that these omega-6s are causing small microtears on the inside of our arteries; tears that only omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants like Vitamin E (another fat) can fix. Unfortunately, when processed foods add more omega-6 fatty acids, it forces out omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E.

Saturated fats are the scourge of dieticians, but they are wrong. We need saturated fats because our body most easily converts these raw fats into useable forms: namely hormones. If we are not eating a balanced form of saturated fats, our hormones are affected. Have issues with weight, sugars or PMS? Take a look at your fat intake. Most likely, you are eating too much saturated fats in the form of processed foods.

So, one would think unsaturated fats are good for us? Well, not when there are too many. And certainly not when it comes to boxed foods. Yes, things like omega-3 fatty acids, EGA and DHA are necessary and healthy. But they can't be all that we eat or, again, we become sick.

So, how do we get a balanced amount of fats that work with our bodies and not make us fat, have hormone problem or cause disease? Here are my 3 steps:

• Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole cuts of meat from local, naturally raised sources
• Avoid anything in a box, bag or container
• Avoid supplements - you won't need them if you avoid processed foods

And one more thing: The introduction of GMOs changed the fat profile of some plants. Soy, canola and vegetable oils are nearly as bad as motor oil for cooking and eating. That's right, they are bad for you.

These oils are nearly pure omega-6 fatty acids and all of the brands tested found significant traces of pesticide residue in the oil (organic varieties excluded). Some of the newest modifications are introducing gluten into these plants, thus the oil, in order to strengthen them. The soy in oils is from raw soy plants, which contain high levels of phytoestrogen, known to increase the rate of breast cancers over 100%.

I stick with organic oils of peanut for frying, olive for flavor, sesame for flavor and cooking Indian and Asian dishes, and coconut oil for flavor.

One last little tid-bit: Coconut oil is nearly pure saturated fat; the ones that dieticians told you were so very bad for your health. Yet, scientists are finding out these saturated fats are so healthy that this oil is reversing Alzheimer's, insulin resistance, and even slowing cancer.

I believe fats are good for us, in the proper quantities and proportions. How else could I have gone from a low-fat, vegetarian diet to a red meat several times a week, eggs every day, fat filled diet and lower my cholesterol over 160 points?

Christina Major is the Naturopathic Doctor and Holistic Nutritionist of Crystal Holistic Health Consulting. Crystal Holistic Health helps people, especially women, who have Type II Diabetes, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure lower their numbers, get off medication and increase their energy so they can save money, take back control of their lives and improve the health and happiness of their families. You can get a free report on health at http://www.crystalholistichealth.com/!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Major