The ’70s were a great time (so I hear) – bell-bottoms, lava lamps, and a young John Travolta ~swoon~. But the time period also began a “health” craze that proved to be harmful: Low-fat everything. Fat was thought to be the cause of heart disease and weight gain, but when everyone started to cut it from their diets, Type II Diabetes increased, Alzheimer’s increased, and weight gain and heart disease both continued to grow.
So, I’m just going to say it – Fat is very important in our diets. It is a key component in hormones like cortisol, it aids in the absorption of vitamins, and it actually helps you burn stored fat. It also literally makes us happy by boosting serotonin, the happy chemical.
But there’s more you need to know because not all fats were created equal…
Unsaturated Fats
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These fats are found in foods like olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, flax, and fatty fish. They are considered the most healthy types of fats. Oleic acid, one specific type of monounsaturated fat, can lower blood pressure and increase fat burning. DHA, a polyunsaturated fat, supports brain function and is very important prenatally to help develop the baby’s brain and eyes.
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are those found in meat, cheese, and butter. They are also found in palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Fun fact bonus: All of these fats are solid at room temperature.
This group is considered to be less healthy than unsaturated fats, but I like to put them as the middle ground because they are still a better option than any manmade fats.
Coconut oil is a big player in this group. It has specific health benefits like increasing the good kind of cholesterol (HDLs), improving energy, and boosting weight loss.
Trans Fats
Okay, I’ll give you this one – It’s bad! Manmade trans fats are made by changing the chemical structure of vegetable oils. The benefits of this include increased shelf life… and that’s it. These bad boys can be found in margarine and manufactured cooking oils and consuming them can increase the risk of many inflammatory diseases.
So there you have it. We need to eat fat to protect our brains, keep our hormones in balance, and reduce the risk of certain diseases. As long as you keep your calories in check, fat does not make you fat.
What are some of your favorite recipes or snacks with the foods mentioned above? Please feel free to share the love below!