Fats have been demonized for the longest time.
Even today, thousands of individuals and sources demonize the poor nutrient and suggest that we should cut all fat from our diet.
But the truth is, mounting evidence suggests that fats are integral for our health and wellbeing. In this blog we’ll look at why that is and what it means for us.
What Are Dietary Fats?
Dietary fats are organic molecules made of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Depending on their structure, fats come in three categories – saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.
Based on that, fats can have different effects within our body.
As far as the health effect of fats goes, researchers have come up with a general rule of thumb:
If a fat comes from unprocessed food (fatty fish, avocado, etc.), then its effects are mostly good. If the fat comes from processed food (potato chips, cookies, etc.), then it’s best to limit them.
Now that we have a basic understanding of fats, let’s look at what they do for us.
Why Fats Are Critical?
Fats are vital to our health and wellbeing. Some of their functions include:
Aiding in the production of hormones, enzymes, and cells
Maintaining our brain health
Vital for our cardiovascular system
Supporting our metabolism
Keeping us full after meals and preventing us from overeating.
Some research even suggests that getting enough dietary fats is vital for our mental health, and it can help treat and prevent depression.
As a whole, fats are integral for our health, wellbeing, energy, and fitness results.
How to Get More Fats In Your Diet?
Here are some of the healthiest fat sources you could add to your grocery list and incorporate into your nutritional plan:
Fatty fish, which is also vital because it provides us with the much-needed omega-3 fatty acids
Whole eggs
Avocado
Olives and extra virgin olive oil
Coconut and coconut oils
Seeds and nuts
Full-fat yogurt
Cheese
Dark chocolate.
With so much information out there on what you should and shouldn’t eat, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Remember, fats are not the enemy they have been made out to be. They are crucial for our health and wellbeing. By incorporating healthy sources of fats into our diet, we can support our hormones, brain health, cardiovascular system, metabolism, and overall energy levels. So next time you hear someone demonizing fats, remember that healthy fats play an important role in our body and should be included in our diet, in moderation. For guidance on your specific nutritional needs, it is best to consult a qualified dietitian. If this is something that is not an option for you, keep this general rule in mind - try to source most of your nutrition from whole fresh foods, and limit your intake of heavily processed foods.
DK