DOES EATING FAT MAKE YOU FAT?

For decades we were told how important it was to give up fat, especially if you wanted to lose weight. Dr. Walter Willett, noted nutritionist and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health has said, "The whole idea that reducing fat intake is the most important thing you can do was never supported by any good evidence." That said, there are different types of fats and some should be avoided.

Trans fats, usually listed on food labels as 'partially hydrogenated oils' are artificially manipulated fats that food producers use to enhance the shelf life of processed foods and these fats should be avoided. Studies have shown they raise LDL 'bad' cholesterol which usually leads to heart disease. As I always say on this blog, any foods that are artificial or artificially manipulated are not good for the body.

Polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids that are found in olive oil and some fish, are very good for ones health. Polyunsaturated fats have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Saturated fats found in red meat, cheese and butter, are better than trans fats but not as good as polyunsaturated fats.

As you can see, fat is not just fat. However, we need some fats to be healthy so totally eliminating fats from your diet is not a good thing.

Gary Taubes, whose internatinal best-seller Good Calories, Bad Calories has said the idea that eating fat makes you fat drove national nutritional policy for decades and may have contributed to our current health problems as everyone rushed to replace fat with carbs.

Choose your fats wisely and you won't gain weight.