For a long time, fats were demonised as the food to avoid (thanks to some pretty flawed science)…
This caused the low-fat movement to kick off, where fat was removed from food and sugar was added instead – in order to make up for the loss of taste and texture.
But, fat is not the devil! In fact, we love healthy fats and eat them regularly. Unfortunately, there are still a few myths kicking around about why fat should be avoided. Get ready for them to be busted!
1. Eating fat makes you fat.
While this statement might seem logical, it’s not true. Although we don’t recommend eating a whole jar of peanut butter in one sitting, there’s a place for fat in our diets. Not only does fat fill you up, but it also fuels your metabolism, promotes bone strength and boosts immune function. And, when eaten moderately, it definitely won’t make you fat!
2. All fats are the same.
Nope. All fats are definitely not created equally! There are fats we love and others we shy away from at all costs. Monounsaturated and saturated fats are what we would refer to as “healthy fats”.
- Monounsaturated fats can be found in olive oil, avocados and nuts and this fat been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke!
- Saturated fats can be found in animal products like meat, eggs, butter as well as coconut oil! These fats are integral to our cell structure and help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins. This type of fat has also been proven to lower your levels of LDL cholesterol – AKA the bad type.
- Polyunsaturated fats come in two forms: omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon, sardines and walnuts and are great for heart health. Omega-6 fatty acids are prevalent in pine nuts, raw sunflower seeds as well as refined corn and soybean oils. While omega-6 plays a role in hair growth and brain development, too much can have an inflammatory effect, so the source where you get these fatty acids is important. And, as we often tend to consume way more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, this can result in an unhealthy balance. When you quit eating processed foods however, you’ll naturally reduce the amount of omega-6 rich foods that you consume.
- And, when it comes to trans fat, we run in the other direction! These fats are found in processed foods, particularly deep-fried foods, and have been linked to an increased cancer risk.
3. Eating fat leads to high cholesterol.
Despite common belief that saturated fats raise your cholesterol levels, the opposite has actually been proven. In fact, if you’ve got high cholesterol levels, sugar is the one to watch as research has shown that people who consume more added sugar have lower levels of “good” cholesterol and higher levels of the “bad” cholesterol. So, ditch your “cholesterol-lowering” margarine – which is filled with refined vegetable oils – and use butter instead!
4. You don’t need fat in your diet.
You definitely need fat in your daily diet – those low-fat, high carb diets aren’t really our cup of tea! Fat is essential for maintaining optimal health! In fact, fat is needed for everything from building cell membranes, to the absorption of vitamins and minerals and as a source of energy. It’s also essential for muscle movement and blood clotting. And, fat helps to keep you full and feel satiated. You can find nine of our fave foods that are brimming with healthy fats here.
5. Fat is bad for you.
While we agree that some types of fat can be detrimental to our health, this blanket statement simply isn’t true. When you eat the right kinds of fat, it can work wonders for your health. Want glowing and wrinkle-free skin? Fat is your best friend! Are your nails a little worse for wear? Increase your intake of eggs, which contain saturated fat.
Are you constantly hungry? Fix that by ditching sugar and eating more fat with our 8-Week Program! A new round now kicks off WEEKLY, so what are you waiting for?
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