The Skinny on Fats!
You made it to the grocery and have ransacked the produce section. You have everything you need for the perfect salad. Now, you find yourself standing in the salad dressing aisle pouring over the “lite” or “fat free” dressing options. So many options to choose from, but remember, it must have those magic words. You believe the goal is simple. Avoid and limit fat consumption as much as possible, and a big salad filled with veggies and low-fat dressing sounds like the perfect solution.
Don’t get me wrong, salads are a great, nutritional option. But what you don’t realize is that fat is actually a crucial part of our diet. Substantial limits or under eating daily fat grams can have negative effects on the body.
Recently the FASTer Way to Fat loss conducted a study and the results were MIND BLOWING. They actually found that by following our program and utilizing the app guidelines our clients were able to lose body fat while maintaining muscle, decrease their biological age by 3 years, and build body confidence as opposed to following outdated government guidelines (i.e., low fat diet programs).
Decades ago, studies uncovered that fat caused inflammation, heart disease, cholesterol issues, and more. Fat was considered bad, and the goal was to minimize fat consumption as much as possible. But, the real picture is more nuanced as those studies may not have been differentiating between the various types of fats as not all fats are created equal. Some fats are healthy (yes, it’s true)!!
There are three different kinds of fats - unsaturated, saturated, and trans fats.
Unsaturated fats are healthy fats and when I encourage you to eat more healthy fats, these are the types I’m talking about. Unsaturated fats have lots of good qualities and are good for supporting cell growth, your metabolism, immunity, hormone production, protecting your organs, and promoting nutrient absorption. They can also be used as a fuel source! Consuming healthy levels of unsaturated fats helps lower your risk of vascular disease, heart disease, and stroke. We know that your body and brain use carbohydrates as preferred energy source, but unsaturated fats can also be a fuel source! This explains how people can burn through fat when carb cycling.
Some great sources of unsaturated fats include: avocado, nuts and seeds, olives, some oils (avocado oil and olive oil are my favorites) and some fatty fish to name a few.
Saturated fats are the kind of the fats you want to have in moderation. These tend to be the fats found in fatty cuts of meat, cured meats (salami and pepperoni), sausage, oils (canola and vegetable), and butter. These are the types of fats that can increase your LDL cholesterol or your bad cholesterol.
And of course you’ve heard about trans fats, right? They’re the “no-no” when it comes to health & wellness as they can increase your LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) leading to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Trans fats tend to be in your baked goods, french fries, fried chicken, and donuts to name a few. These fats should be consumed in moderation. We don’t completely avoid them (donuts are a weakness), but we try to limit consumption to maybe once or twice a week, if possible.
So remember, salads are great, but don’t spend so much time focused on eliminating fats from your diet. You can make a simple and healthy dressing right at home with a few ingredients. We crave fats and they are absolutely necessary! Instead, focus on recognizing the right kinds of fat and getting the proper amount to help make impactful changes and transform your body!
Interested in learning how much fat you body may need or a simple healthier home made dressing to try at home, message me! I’d love to chat. Ready to get started so you can feel your best by summer?! My next client experience begins June 24, 2024. I can’t wait to see you there!
