The Short and Skinny on Fats!
By Susan Kingston, Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Most times people have preconceptions about eating healthy, especially about fats. Recent research has proven that the ‘fat makes you fat’ theory is simply not true. What is true is that bad fats cause weight gain, as well as having many other detrimental effects on health such as inflammation and oxidative stress. These ailments cause a cascade of other harm to the body, including increased risk of cancer, auto-immune diseases, rheumatism, diabetes, anxiety and depression to name a few.
This doesn’t mean that it is best to avoid all fats-actually it is quite the opposite! Healthy fats have actually been found to be essential to our health and well being! Good fats support our cognitive function, emotional stability, hormonal balance and ability to adapt to stress, as well as a healthy cardiovascular system, blood sugar balance, and healthy joints and immune system! It doesn’t stop there! Healthy fats support weight loss, skin health and graceful aging! This is all great news!
Healthy fats are in foods such as chia, flax or hemp seeds, wild caught fish, eggs, extra virgin olive oil, organic nuts and seeds, coconut milk or oil and avocados.
A few examples of foods with unhealthy fats are french fries, chips, donuts, cakes, fried foods and ice cream.
Now, don’t worry — just because you would like to change the fats in your diet, doesn’t mean you will have to suffer by changing the fats you eat and eat tasteless boring food! See below for a few recipes that are based on healthy fats and are also delicious!
Try These Delicious Recipes!
Southwestern Coconut Ranch Salad
Download the salad recipe here
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Download the pudding recipe here
About the Author
Susan Kingston studied at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and graduated with honours receiving a Certification of Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She is a member of the Naturothérapeutes du Quebec. She specializes in nutrition, supporting people in bringing their body back into balance to overcome health challenges and optimize their health. Susan is the mother of 2 daughters and lives with her husband in Mont-Tremblant Quebec.
REFERENCES
Foods with a high fat quality are essential for healthy diets
H Zevenbergen 1, A de Bree, M Zeelenberg, K Laitinen, G van Duijn, E Flöter
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19641346/
Trans fats—sources, health risks and alternative approach – A review
Vandana Dhaka, Neelam Gulia, Kulveer Singh Ahlawat, and Bhupender Singh Khatkar
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3551118/
The negative effects of hydrogenated trans fats and what to do about them
Fred A Kummerow 1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19345947/