Myth: Fat is The Enemy, most people believe that to be true

FLOWOOD, Miss. - April 12, 2018 - PRLog -- That's the philosophy of many Americans who are trying to lose excess weight. While plenty of proven health risks can be tied to carrying extra pounds, not all fat is bad, experts say. In fact, dietary fat is considered an essential nutrient, and some "good" types of fat actually deliver a myriad of health benefits, including aiding in weight control.

What is The True Purpose of Fat?
Fat is a tissue that is needed, by the body, for a wide variety of functions such as energy storage, temperature regulation, proper reproductive capabilities (particularly in women), shock absorption, the regulation of other nutrients and to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.

Myth: The Less Fat You Eat, the Better
This is not true. Your body needs three nutrients to thrive: Protein, Carbohydrates, and Fats. These give you energy, help rebuild cells, and produce needed hormones. The Fats to limit or avoid entirely are saturated and trans fats, found in foods like butter, high-fat dairy, red meat, and many processed foods.

Why Do We Accumulate It?
Obviously, from an evolutionary standpoint, the exceptional energy storage capacity of fat cells was an excellent advantage. Being able to store an effectively unlimited amount of energy in a relatively limited amount of space made it easier to survive through this time period when food wasn't available. Today, it's just another evolutionary leftover that makes it difficult to get into shape.

Myth: All fats are the same
All fats are high in energy and have an identical calorie value (9kcal per gram), so their effect on your waistline is the same. The big difference is their effect on your cholesterol levels, so it's important to consider the type as well as the amount of fat you are eating.
Swapping Saturated Fats in your diet for Unsaturated Fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) can help lower cholesterol levels. Trans Fats have largely been removed from UK food; average intakes are now below recommended maximums.

However, we're still exceeding recommended amounts of Saturated Fats. These include butter, lard and ghee, plus coconut and palm oil (often found in confectionery and biscuits). Saturated Fats are also in whole milk, cream, cheese, cakes and chocolate.

Find Unsaturated Fats in avocados, olive, rapeseed and sunflower oils, oily fish, seeds and nuts and use these alternatives for everyday eating.

Try mono or polyunsaturated spreads, such as olive oil or sunflower spreads (a new manufacturing process solved past concerns about their trans-fat content). Liquid oils can also be used for cooking and baking instead of butter.

Myth: Any kind of meat is bad for my heart

Lean meats such as chicken or turkey, without the skin, are healthier options, as they are lower in Saturated Fat. Red and Processed meats can be high in Saturated Fats and cholesterol and may also have added salt to raise your blood pressure. The expression "Trim The Fat" applies here. Watch out for the white bits of fat in ham, steaks and bacon, and trim them off where possible.

Myth: I need to eat a low-fat diet to look after my heart

As our understanding develops, it's clear we need to consider the overall balance of our diets. A Mediterranean-style diet is famously associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, attributed to the inclusion of olive oil, grains, beans, lentils, fruit, vegetables, oily fish and nuts.

This is not a low-fat diet, but the fats are mostly Unsaturated. It seems to be the overall combination that makes it so successful.

For the Record, scientific analysis determined that one pound of fat is 454 grams and let's assume 90% lipid on average. So about 400 or so grams are actual stored Triglycerides. When burned by the body, one gram of fat provides 9 calories so 400 grams of fat contains about 3500 calories of stored energy. Now you know where the old axiom of "3,500 calories to lose a pound of fat" comes from. Now, if you are 10 pounds overweight, that is 35,000 stored-up calories waiting to be used when needed.

To sum it up know this about Fats.
Unsaturated Fats: The good Fats, needed in your diet.
Saturated Fats: Good but may cause health risks like coronary heart disease.
Trans Fats: The "Bad Guys" avoid these like your nosey neighbor!
Hopefully I have dispelled some of your fears about Fatty Foods.
Enjoy eating and stay Healthy!
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