Fats have always had a bad rap with the perception that “fat makes you fat”, but fat is one of body’s most basic building blocks for many bodily functions. Dietary fats are essential for our health and adding a mix of good fats to your diet can lead to a plethora of health benefits in the long run.
Most people and lump all fats together in the ‘bad’ category, meaning they avoid fats all together with the fear that they will put on weight. But don’t believe the myth. The truth is, not all fats are created equal… There are good fats and bad fats. For a long time, we’ve been encouraged to eat bad fats, such as margarine instead of butter, under the banner of health. However, when you eat foods like margarine – a trans-fat (in other words man-made fat), you’re feeding your body cheap materials which will never end well. Most processed foods in the supermarkets are made with poor-quality omega-6 fats from refined processed vegetable oils, which are abundant, cheap, tasty and improve texture. On your next supermarket trip flip over to the ingredient panel on the back and if the list includes oils from corn, soy, cottonseed or safflower, pop that thing right back on the shelf. You’ll be ingesting a poor-quality fat, and nobody wants that.
You want to ensure your body has the fats it needs to construct high-quality cell walls, that means eating more omega-3 fats. Cells walls made from omega-3 fats are more flexible, allowing cells to respond more quickly messages. These “good” fats also help your body produce prostaglandins – otherwise known as the hormones that dampen down inflammation in the body. Optimal sources of omega-3 fats include fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring), organic flax and hemp seed oils, brazil nuts and sea vegetables. The more omega 3’s you eat, the easier your body can cool off inflammation. Inflammation is at the root of nearly every chronic health disease, especially those impacting the brain and the heart. Beyond nourishing your brain and heart health, eating these ‘good fats’ will actually help you shed excess body weight. This is because your healthy cell walls are made from high-quality fats which lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, meaning you’re more likely to burn it than store it (boom myth busted).
So, next time you pick up that fatty salmon, stir-fry those veggies in grass-fed butter, or munch on your nuts/seeds, think of how your body is responding to these beautiful fat-soluble vitamins found with these foods. Trust us, your cells will do a little happy dance and your body will thank them later for it.