Fat is SO IMPORTANT FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH.

And sadly... everything we know about fat is a lie.

Drum roll please:::::

DIETARY SATURATED FAT AND CHOLESTEROL DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

Most people have absolutely no idea about this reality. In fact, most people would say that a "healthy diet" is one that is low in fat. This is so far from truth, and truly so detrimental to the health of humanity!

Cholesterol is imperative for brain, hormone, and mitochondrial health. 

Fat has been demonized since the 1950s, shortly after President Eisenhower had his heart attack. A biologist by the name of Ancel Keys targeted cholesterol as the reason for heart disease. He found that the plaque that builds up on the walls of arteries contains cholesterol, and since animal fats contain cholesterol, that it must be the cholesterol that causes heart disease.

Right? But isn't that the official party line regurgitated by every single medical doctor in the world?? That is the narrative that has stuck and still haunts humanity to this day. But it is so, so SO wrong.

Please read this article here that reveals how subsequent clinical trials that attempted to substantiate Keys' research were unable to establish a causal link of dietary cholesterol to heart disease. 

Cholesterol comes into the picture when there is INJURY or trauma to the cell / tissue because cholesterol is PROTECTIVE. It comes in to help "patch things up". But allopathy would have you believe that it is the CAUSE of the heart disease, rather than a protection from the body to help it repair damage that has been done. Cholesterol is massively important in human physiology.

Importance of Fat / Cholesterol

Proper brain development

Hormone synthesis

Produces bile salts

Produces vitamin D

Increased feelings of joy and happiness (read: less depression!)

Reduction in chronic disease

Slowing the aging process

Reducing inflammation

Optimal absorption of fat soluble vitamins and minerals

Longevity

Healthier skin/complexion

Strong metabolism

Weight loss

Healthy thyroid function

Fertility

We are going to breakdown fats into 2 different groups: saturated fats, and unsaturated fats. Within the unsaturated fats group are monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. In this post I am going to highlight the polyunsaturated fatty acids and their effects on human metabolism.

Unsaturated Fats

Unsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature. Think of the aisle at Safeway with the bottles and bottles of vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, and the only unsaturated fat that I would recommend consuming. Medical doctors, government agencies, conventionally trained nutritionists, mainstream allopathic researchers and the well known American Heart Association have told the public that these UNsaturated fats are the ones to enjoy in abundance. That they are "heart healthy". That they help to "raise good cholesterol while lowering bad cholesterol." The reason that vegetable oils are purported to be "heart healthy" is because they lower serum cholesterol. But -- lower serum cholesterol is not necessarily better, because cholesterol is protective. PUFAs mean slower metabolism, more inflammation, and hormonal imbalances up the wazoo. PUFAs are unstable, and they become easily oxidized in the presence of light, heat and oxygen. What is a being of light, full of oxygen, and lives at a temperature of 98.6? HUMANS. So yes, this means that PUFAs are very unstable when they are inside us living breathing humans. When PUFAs breakdown, they bust up into toxic fragments and create damage to surrounding cells. Think the shrapnel that flings about after a bomb goes off. 

Saturated Fats

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and actually DO NOT contribute to obesity and cardiovascular disease like we have been led to believe. WHAT??!! In fact, in 2015, the US Dietary Guidelines dropped cholesterol as a "nutrient of concern" because GET THIS::: THERE WASN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE LINKING DIETARY CHOLESTEROL TO BLOOD CHOLESTEROL!! (Remember when I told you everything we have been told about cholesterol is a lie??) Saturated fats include butter, ghee, tallow, lard, coconut oil, duck fat, and suet. If you were to take a poll, most people are going to tell you to stay away from or limit your intake of saturated fat because they believe (read: they have been told) that saturated fats "contribute to heart disease and obesity". This could not be further from the truth. Saturated fats are much more stable than unsaturated fats because they contain more hydrogen atoms. This means they are less prone to oxidation. Saturated fats are actually quite protective, and have been shown to reverse inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease (Nanji, et al., 2001).

Trans Fats

And then we have the Trans Fats… (gasp)… yes, that dirty word that needs to pack it’s bag and go far far away.  Trans fats are artificial fats that were created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.  Sounds Frankenstein-ian right?  It is. They contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and likewise increase risk of cardiovascular disease.  These are the nasty, harmful fats that absolutely live up to their bad name.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  These are found in baked goods, fried foods, snack foods, and many processed/packaged foods.  When you read your food labels (and you should be reading them!), if you see the words “partially hydrogenated”, rest assured you are about to buy a food that has trans fats lurking there. 

Bottom line? 

Fat is an important part of our basic biology and physiology. As I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this, but we are all unique and we all have different needs. My fat needs may be very different than your fat needs. As you figure out what works for your beautifully unique body, just remember that it’s important to consider your metabolic state, the health of your thyroid, your body's bio-individuality, and your underlying state of health when determining your body’s dietary fat needs. 

WAYS TO GET GOOD FAT INTO YOUR LIFE:

• Butter
• Ghee
• Tallow
• Egg yolks
• Cream
• Raw milk
• Coconut oil
• Avocado
• Good extra virgin cold pressed olive oil
• Lard
• Duck fat
• Meat cuts with fat 

What are your favorite ways to get good quality fat into your diet? 

Love to all on this Sunny Sunday!

 xoxo,

Emily :)