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Confused about fat?
Monday 22nd May 2023
For years the words saturated and unsaturated have become so confusing, and even more importantly the word "fat" in itself is misleading. Fats help burn metabolism, build hormones, increase satiety, support brain health, build vitamins and support digestion and elimination. WE NEED FATS.
Though here is the conundrum why do we call body fat "fat" - I think this word should be deleted in terms of body health and be replaced with lipids, which are fat light substances found in the body. Fats from food do not increase body weight, though processed food does - simple. Whether it is marketed as healthy or not, anything that is found in a box or can is processed and therefore turned into excess lipids causing obesity, Diabetes Type 2 and elevated cholesterol. Why? Because the body cannot utilise excess carbohydrates and the liver turns this into triglycerides and stored in the liver.
Top Tips on Cooking Oils
- Avocado Oil has a high smoking point, high in Vitamin E and full of antioxidants
- Coconut Oil, is a saturated fat and if you have high cholesterol or elevated triglycerides then best to avoid.
- Butter and Ghee high in Vitamin A and D and contains butyric acid essential for gut health (Ghee is butter heated up, then fats and proteins are separated and the fats are used only - Ghee is a good alternative for lactose and casein sensitivity)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil has also been shown to be stable in cooking due to it's high polyphenol or otherwise known as antioxidant properties which protects the oil from becoming rancid. Therefore, research suggests that EVOO is safe to cook with.
Regardless of cooking, to top up on these important fats, drizzle EVOO over cooked vegetables or over a salad to consume these important nutrients.
Did you know that utilising EVOO in your diet alongside a low carbohydrate diet increases weight loss by 80%. This is a randomised double blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial in which 41 adults with excess body fat had 25ml /1.5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil per day. EVOO consumption also reduced body fat and improved blood pressure.
