Fat, one of the 3 macronutrients (the others being protein and carbohydrates) are an essential element of good nutrition.  Fats are also a key component of a real foods, sugar-free, low carb or keto diet lifestyle.

Not all fats are equal.  There is a clear distinction between natural or ‘good fats’ and processed or ‘bad fats’.

Good fats from healthy sources are essential to our health, can improve cholesterol levels, ease inflammation and are essential for numerous healthy body functions.

Fats to avoid, such as altered trans-fats, highly refined vegetable oils and margarines, are linked to increases in disease risk.

The ketogenic diet requires a high intake of healthy fats

Fats Myths

1. Myth: Fat-free means healthy.

Fact: A ‘fat-free’ label doesn’t mean healthy, in fact it is often the opposite.  Many fat-free products are highly processed, high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and chemical flavouring, colourings and preservatives.  Check the label next time you pick one of these ‘foods’ up and see if you can understand all of the ingredients.  It’s likely to be far removed from natural real food.

2. Myth: Reducing fat in your diet equals weight loss

Fact: Fat is one of three essential macronutrients (the others being protein and carbohydrates).  The mix of fats that you eat is important to your cholesterol, weight and overall health. The key is to eat more good fats from natural foods (think avocadoes, oily fish, cold pressed oils) and avoid bad fats (processed and refined vegetable oils and margarines).

3. Myth: All body fat is the same.

Fact: Where you carry your fat really matters!  The health risks are greater if you carry your weight around your waist, as opposed to your hips and thighs.  Belly fat can be stored around the abdominal organs and liver, which is linked to increased risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

4. Myth: Eating a low-fat diet is the key to health.

Fact: Obesity rates have doubled in the last 20 years, coinciding with the low-fat eating revolution – a very interesting correlation!  This is a strong indicator that the current dietary advice does not work for all.  Fats provide more sustainable energy than eating low fat.  Fats are also filling, satisfying hunger and cravings for longer, so help to curb snacking and overeating.  Our cells in the body require fat lipids to function and even to remove fat from the body – so paradoxically we need to eat healthy fats to remove excess fat fro our bodies!

5. Myth: Saturated fats are bad for you.
Fact: The much maligned saturated fats are naturally found in the food that we eat, especially animal products including milk, cheese, butter, tallow.

Advice for the past decades have been that saturated fats raises blood cholesterol levels and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.  However, recent studies conclude that saturated fats are not the cause of our modern diseases, showing that people eating more saturated fat do not experience more cardiovascular disease than those who eat less.

GOODfats Organic Grass Fed Beef Tallow