Let's Get Fat!

Something very interesting has been happening to me over the past few months. I have been eating fat without getting fat. Let me explain. About a decade ago I along with most Americans began to fear FAT. As fat became the enemy and a swarm of low-fat and nonfat foods crowded grocery store shelves, something interesting happened––Americans got 30 percent bigger and mass confusion reigned. We started consuming highly processed goodies with wild abandon, unaware of or simply disregarding the fact that they have significantly more sugar and only slightly fewer calories that their original counterparts. I personally have spent most of my adult life buying no fat and low fat foods, counting fat grams all the while barely budging on the scale and for all intense purposes not really feeling any better for it. Here's what I have found through my research and work with my holistic counselor.
Fat is a wonderful source of energy and this is why our bodies are designed to store it easily. Ancestrally speaking, the goal was to have a stockpile of energy easily accessible when food was scarce. Also, when cold weather made activities like gathering roots a challenge, fat could be used as insulation. Also, we need fat to burn fat. That’s right. Fat balances blood sugar by slowing the release of carbohydrates into our system and levels the ratio of two hormones, insulin to glucagon, which is critical for giving stored fat the heave-ho.
The right kind of fat is an essential macro nutrient that our bodies need (the other two being protein and carbohydrates). There are two kinds of natural fats, saturated and non-saturated. Saturated fats are solid fats found in milk, cheese, meat, lard, and tropical oils such as palm kernel and coconut. Non-saturated fats are found in vegetable, fish, nut, and seed oils and are divided into two categories: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Monounsaturated fats include olives and olive oil, avocados, cashews, almonds, peanuts, and canola oil. Polyunsaturated fats are found in fish, vegetable oils (corn, sesame, sunflower, and safflower)
Saturated fats have been disparaged in the press as villainous foods that should be banished from the diet. According to Dr. Mary Enig, nutritionist and biochemist internationally renowned for her research on the nutritional aspects of fats and oils, “The idea that saturated fats cause heart disease is completely wrong, but the statement has been ‘published’ so many times…that it is very difficult to convince people otherwise unless they are willing to take the time to read and learn what all the economic and political factors were that produced the anti-saturated fat agenda.”According to Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Nutritional Specialist, “Saturated fats play a positive role in the human body. They provide a good source of stored energy, they cushion the organs against shock, and they insulate vital tissues against the cold.”However, overindulging in saturated fats can adversely affect your health by blocking absorption of essential fatty acids found in non-saturated fats. It’s important to remember that eating out can contribute to a lot of hidden saturated fat. According to Ms. Gittleman, “We tend to overeat saturated fats not because we are eating too many fresh, thick steaks, but because we unwittingly eat fats that are separated from the original food sources and used in a variety of ways in commercial food production.”
So, you see, the answer is not to eat less fat. Have no fear; good fats are not the demise of our health and waistlines. Whether you’re trying to shed pounds or thwart heart disease, good quality fats should not be avoided and are critical for good health. Incorporating healthy fats like fish, nuts, quality dairy, avocados, and oils into your meals will help you eat less, lose weight, and feel great.
So tomorrow morning wake up and have a couple pieces of toast with some wonderful nut butter or for lunch a great fruit and cheese plate and tell yourself....I hope I'm getting FAT!

"Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can't taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie"
~Astrid Alauda