Your Body NEEDS Fats for Optimal Function
Fats in general are considered the dietary villains, especially saturated fat, which many people still claim will increase your risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. However, this is simply untrue. The only really dangerous fat out there is Trans fat (margarine, vegetable oils). Saturated fats are actually vital for optimal health as they are:
|
Building blocks for your cell membranes |
Useful antiviral agents (caprylic acid) |
Effective as an anticaries, antiplaque and anti fungal agents (lauric acid) |
Modulators of genetic regulation and prevent cancer (butyric acid) |
|
Needed for production of a variety of hormones and hormone like substances |
Carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and required for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption, and for a host of other biological processes |
Useful to actually lower cholesterol levels (palmitic and stearic acids) |
Provide a concentrated source of energy |
When cutting down on carbs, you generally need to increase your intake of healthy (ideally organic, unprocessed and minimally heated ) saturated fats. Both carbs and fats are sources of energy, but saturated fat is actually the preferred fuel for your heart. Another metabolic bonus is that fat does not raise your insulin levels, whereas carbs do. However, it’s important to recognize the difference between grain carbs and vegetable carbs.
If you want to lower your insulin levels and reduce fat accumulation, reduce the amount of grains and sugars you eat; NOT your vegetables. In fact, you actually need to radically increase the amount of vegetables you eat when you cut/processed grains, as by volume grains are far denser than vegetables for calories. As for healthy fats, good sources include:
Olive oil (Uncooked), Coconut oil (best for cooking), raw nuts and avocado, Butter and meat from grass fed animals organic eggs and Palm Oil.
Best of health to you.