Fats & Oils

by on April 18, 2014

Now we come to my favorite topic – fats. Fats are so misunderstood by the general public.

Due to indoctrination of the “lipid hypothesis” (aka the diet-heart hypothesis) here is what the current mainstream thinking is in regards to fat:

  • Saturated fats are bad. Stay away from them at all costs. You will get high cholesterol from them leading to heart disease.
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  • When you cook, use only polyunsaturated fat sources.
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  • Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are the only ones you should consume.
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So where do I stand?

While I agree that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat sources are a great addition to your diet, I am 100% against the notion that saturated fats and cholesterol are bad for your health. Can they be? Of course they can, so can polyunsaturated fats and overdoing anything for that matter. Saturated fat in of itself is not bad through. I can go on and on about this topic, but I am just going to give you the basics here:

  • Fat is not the enemy, not even saturated fat: The whole idea that saturated fats are bad for us started in the 1850’s as the “Lipid Hypothesis” and was further perpetuated by corn and grain producing companies and lobbyists trying to maximize profits of a cheap and easy-to-produce supply of food. Enter the old Food Guide Pyramid. The truth is that saturated fats are really our friend and are essential to overall health. The many benefits of saturated fats include: cardiovascular improvement, bone health, liver health, optimal immune system function, proper nerve signaling, even maintaining a healthy brain. For an excellent resource on all the benefits of saturated fat and research backed articles that disprove the Lipid Hypothesis go to Dr. Weston A. Price’s website. One of Dr. Price’s fantastic books, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, talks in detail about the dietary habits of many non- industrialized tribes/populations. If you read this book, you clearly see that his research proves the importance of animal fats to human health and well-being.
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  • Fat soluble vitamin intake is essential to great results: Adequate intake of vitamins A, D, E and K are essential for success on my program. They provide a world of benefits include bone health, healthy skin, aiding in digestion of other vitamins, minerals and foods as well as many more – too many to list. It’s important to mention that we always try to get these from whole food sources. Fortunately they are typically found in foods that contain saturated fats, so we can kill two birds with one stone. We need fats to absorb these valuable nutrients.
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  • Saturated fats make up 50% of our cell membranes! They give cells the correct amount of rigidity to allow “messages” in and out.
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  • They make our immune systems better (see butter and coconut oil).
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  • A few specific types of saturated fats are the best food for the heart. The fat around the heart is highly saturated.
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You will learn much more in my nutrition programs about fats at a deeper level. You will also learn what fats are good to cook with and at what temperatures.

Regards,
John Meadows