"Fat-Free"Living
By Alison Held, M.S. Nutrition
Marketers do a good job of convincing us that fat is bad news. The word 'fat' is associated with an overweight body so of course consumers, until they are better educated, will be more apt to purchase the 'fat free' product in hopes to stay or get thin.
Did you know that the best source of energy for the body is in fact fat? This means you need fat to survive and thrive! As you've heard, it's not just any fat that counts. Getting some fat with every meal is important for overall functioning and feeling satiated. When companies sell their product as 'fat-free' you can be assured that they've replaced the missing fat with something else. The something else is typically carbohydrates that send you for a wild blood sugar roller coaster ride. In addition, this added sugar (without high levels of fiber) will actually increase fat stores - the exact opposite reason why you may have purchased this product in the first place!
Renowned nutrition researcher, Walter Willett of Harvard University says that, "We have found virtually no relationship between the percentage of calories from fat and any important health outcome." In plain and simple terms, fat will not make you fat or sick or rob you of energy.
Get a balanced mixture of saturated, omega-3s', omega-9's and omega-6's fats into your diet. Here are some to experiment with:
- Eggs (the yolk and the white)
- Coconut oil
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Evening primrose oil