A study published this past Monday, March 17th, in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, did not find that people who ate higher levels of saturated fat had more heart disease than those who ate less. Nor did it find less disease in those eating higher amounts of unsaturated fat, including monounsaturated fat like olive oil or polyunsaturated fat like corn oil. Bottom line, as repeated in many previous studies, consumption of healthy fats have not proven to correlate to heart disease.
This is one more of dozens of other studies to convince our brain-washed population that we actually need fat. Ever since the beginning of the low-fat diet craze back in the 1980s, coronary heart disease is still the leading cause of death in America as reported by the CDC with cancer coming in a close second. Type 2 Diabetes rates are soaring. Why? Perhaps all of these fat-free/low fat products that are filled with sugar to make the products taste better are huge contributors. Sugar happens to be a big culprit behind heart disease as well as cancer and, of course, Type 2 Diabetes. People who try to eat "low fat" also tend to eat more carbohydrates to avoid fat. This just adds more sugar to the body as carbohydrates convert to sugar in the body. Think about it. If it's sticky on the outside, it's sticky inside of your body, and sticky on the inside of arteries which can contribute to plaque build-up. How is this when we've been told to lower our fat consumption which may "contribute to heart disease?" It's just bad information with no basis. In fact, I've been preaching for many years how GOOD healthy fats are for you.
No, I'm not talking about the man-made hydrogenated trans fats. I'm talking about the wonderful natural fats such as olive oil and nut oils (NOT vegetable oils-nothing healthy about these!). I even encourage saturated fats (yes, really!) such as coconut oil and butter. These are all natural fats and will benefit you as opposed to the trans fats found in fake fats such as margarine.
Did you know that the fake fats such as in margarine, are what contribute to heart disease? In fact, a July 2002 report from the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Science declared that the upper limit for trans-fats in the diet should be zero. The consumption of just 2-3 grams a day of trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 21%. Take note, that applies to all of you Benecol users (there is a small enough amount of hydrogenated oil so that the packaging is allowed to list 0% trans fat, but there is still enough to increase risk of heart disease!).
Healthy fat does not contribute to heart disease but it is essential for our brain health and for transporting vitamins to our cells. Our brains are 60% fat. Our bodies are brilliant at trying to nourish us utilizing the materials it has. When fats do not come from outside sources (such as food), our bodies seek out the fat it needs to provide energy, insulate our cells and transport essential vitamins such as fat-soluble A, D, E and K and more. Guess where it goes to get the fat it needs? Yup, it goes straight the biggest source it can find--your brain. Less fat in your brain may be reflected in less than optimal function. Perhaps you may even know someone who had been a slave to low-fat diets their whole lives and are now plagued with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, even Depression and many more.
It is about time that we enjoy the benefits of whole eggs and not just the egg whites while cooking them in real butter, feast on first cold pressed olive oil or other nut oils in your salad and/or roasted veggies, cook with coconut oil, add lots of avocados to your meals or nibble on nuts or nut butters.
Boost your brain power, energize your cells and nourish your body by feasting on good, healthy fats.
