The thing about fats…

How many of us have heard that fats are bad for us in past lives. I know that growing up as a child, low-fat, reduced-fat, 2% milk fat, etc., were all the rage. I still see it lingering today and the truth is, these items are detrimental to our health.

The thing is, our body needs fat. It needs REAL fat. So when a person consumes something that has reduced fat or no fat, our body literally has no idea how to process this and use it as energy, so instead it gets stored as… FAT. On top of it, these “fake” fats cause tons of inflammation in our body, which down the road can lead to chronic illness and disease.

Another reason why we need fat is because fats are utilized for hormone production. They are the driving forces behind how well our endocrine system works. They also help to produce prostaglandins, which aid in inflammatory and ANTI-inflammatory responses, which our body needs in order to heal itself. Fats keep us satiated for longer periods of time, provides us with energy, regulates our blood sugars, and helps us to absorb vitamins A, D, and E.

Some suggestions on improving quality of fats are to consume all WHOLE fat dairy products, like cheeses, milk, cottage cheese, and yogurts. Make sure these items are grass-fed and organic as this ensures they are nutrient rich. Get rid of that canola oil/vegetable oil immediately. These are hydrogenated oils that are linked to inflammation, chronic disease, and even cancer. Instead, use olive oil, avocado oil, grass-fed ghee, tallow, or real butter. Avocados are an amazing source of quality fats! Try to consume nuts like almonds and walnuts, as well as fatty fishes like salmon and mackeral. Make sure your nuts are raw whenever possible and always make sure your seafood is wild-caught and not farm-raised.

Start looking at fats in a different light. They truly are building blocks to our body and how well our entire system functions. The thing about fats is that they aren’t bad for us and we need them so our body can function properly!