Oils And Fats

There is much confusion when it comes to the topic of fats.

We are repeatedly told by the media, especially partial info from ads and commercials, that eating fats will result in weight gain, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke.

Many people are under the impression that all fats are bad for proper health. They don’t differentiate between good fats and bad fats, and therefore, are extra careful to purchase only those products that have the words NO FAT or LOW FAT emblazoned on the label. Unfortunately, this is very misleading.

For years, health experts advised Americans to restrict fat consumption. Now, they are quietly adding that fats are a source of essential nutrition and necessary in the diet.

Science has proven that fats (and yes even so-called saturated fats) play an important role in the functioning of the entire body. Fats (lipids) are vital for all growth processing, renewal of cells, brain and nerve functions, even for the sensory organs (eyes and ears), and for the body’s adjustment to heat, cold and quick temperature changes. Our energy resources are based on lipid metabolism. To function efficiently, cells require true polyunsaturated, live electron-rich lipids, present in abundance in raw flaxseed oil. True polyunsaturated fats greedily absorb proteins and oxygen and pump them through the system.

The Importance of healthy fats

The importance of healthy fats in the diet for good health in general cannot be underestimated.

Fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in the diet; they also provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone like substances. Fats as part of a meal slow down absorption so that we can go longer without feeling hungry. In addition, they act as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Dietary fats are needed for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and for a host of other processes.

Animal fats and cholesterol are vital factors in the human diet, necessary for reproduction and normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection from disease and optimum energy levels.

Saturated fatty acids constitute at least 50% of the cell membranes. They are what gives our cells necessary stiffness and integrity.

Saturated fats do not cause heart disease and never did. The unhealthy fats are refined corn, cottonseed and soybean oils.

Saturated fats play a vital role in the health of our bones. For calcium to be effectively incorporated into the skeletal structure, at least 50% of the dietary fats should be saturated.
A variety of diets including recommendations from the American Heart Association and the Diabetes Association speak of the importance of fat in the diet.

Yes! Fats ARE IMPORTANT FOR PROPER HEALTH. It is just a matter of selecting the right kind of fat. Cutting back on ALL fat can have a severe detrimental impact on ones health and Well-being.

Fats are important for every part of the body.

• The body uses fat to store energy.
• Body fat is continually being burned for energy and replaced.
• Fat provides fatty tissues for insulation, and is essential to the body’s use of certain vitamins.
• Healthy skin and hair are maintained by fat.
• Fat helps in the absorption and transport through the bloodstream of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
• Fats in the skin are important in preventing water loss from the body.

The fact is that fat-free diets are the number one damaging, so-called "good intention" that can lead to severe health problems.

We must identify which fat is harmful and which one is healthy. Indeed certain fats are not only healthy but essential to our body proper functioning.

All fats consist of fatty acids. Fats are classified, depending on their chemical structure, as saturated, unsaturated or polyunsaturated fat.

Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature. Vegetable oils are usually liquid at room temperature while animal fats are usually solid at room temperature.

Fat does not accumulate unless the body receives more then it can deal with. Too much of the wrong kind of fat however, can cause problems for the digestive tract.

The skin composition in individuals with dry skin such as psoriasis and eczema is due to an improper mixture of the skin fats.

Dry  skin is therefore, the most easily recognizable sign of fat deficiency, due to the fact that fats compromise a large part of the skins structure. Therefore, providing the right kind of fats can have a significant impact on the healing process.

So which are the bad fats and which are the good fats?

There are basically three kinds of fats: saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and monounsaturated fats.

Saturated fats come primarily from animal sources such as butter; meat fat, whole milk, cream and cheese. Vegetable oils derived from coconut, palm, and palm kernel oil are also highly saturated.

Most researchers agree that you should keep your intake of commercially produced saturated fats such as margarine and vegetable shortening to a minimum. Click here to learn which fats and oils are recommended and which ones should be avoided.