Fat has had a lot of bad press and for many people, just a mention of the word can evoke misery. You can try to lose it, try to hide it, try to avoid it, but your body still needs it! Did you know that fat helps to insulate our nerve cells, keeps us warm, balances our hormones, keeps skin and arteries supple, lubricates joints and is a component in every cell?
The key issue here is recognizing which type of fat your body needs, how much your body requires and which type is your enemy. Armed with the right information, you can focus on getting more of the good fats and less of the bad fats into your daily diet.
There are two types of fat to be aware of. Saturated fats - let's call them "the enemy" and unsaturated fats - "the good guys"! It is easy to tell the difference because saturated fats are hard at room temperature. Saturated fats are not essential to your health. They come from animals and are found in meat, eggs and cheese. They are harder to digest and full of cholesterol.
Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and have been divided into two groups. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, and polyunsaturated fats such as sunflower oil. Polyunsaturated fats are split into Omega 3 fatty acids and Omega 6 fatty acids. Monounsaturated fat (Omega 9) although not essential, is not harmful in moderation - a good quality (extra virgin first cold pressed) olive oil is a healthier alternative to the usual vegetable oil. Good sources of Omega 6: safflower oil, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, walnut oil, pumpkin oil, sesame oil. Good sources of Omega 3 are mackerel, herring, salmon, pilchards, sardines, tuna and flax seed oil. Here are some important facts about fat in our diet.
1. Fat is the 'energy reserve' of animals, plants and humans.
2. The ideal body-fat ratio should be approximately 19-26% of a woman's body weight, and 12-18% of a man's body weight.
3. There are two different types of body fat - brown and yellow. Brown fat is situated inside the body and is 'active', containing mitochondria that produce heat (thermogenesis) and as a result burn energy. Yellow fat is found nearer the surface, is less active and more likely to accumulate. Women tend to have a higher ratio of yellow fat than men.
4. Women need higher levels of fat because it is essential for reproduction and so the body stores it 'just in case'.
5. An average healthy intake of good fats in the diet should be approximately 30-40 grams a day. The fat content of diets in affluent populations can be nearly four times this amount!
6. Most foods containing fat combine saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in varying quantities. For instance, butter's fat content is almost 100%, of which 60% is saturated, 30% monounsaturated and 10% polyunsaturated, compared with sunflower seeds' fat content of 73%, of which just 12% is saturated and 21% monounsaturated and 67% is polyunsaturated.
7. Heat, light and oxygen destroy essential fatty acids, which is why it is best to keep oils in dark containers.
8. Essential fats must come from the diet because your body cannot produce them. The essential healthy fats are Omega 3 and Omega 6 (known as essential fatty acids).
9. Weight for weight, fat provides more than twice the amount of usable energy than carbohydrates or protein (you'll find 9 calories in every gram of fat).
10. Fat contributes to the palatability, texture and the smell of many foods, it also slows down the process of digestion providing an extended period of satiation after a meal.
When you know the good from the bad, fat is fabulous!
(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore
-- Kim is a successful weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and help you reach your goal weight. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply results you will love! You can receive a free consultation. Visit today: http://tinyurl.com/4ad56 Are you interested in earning money from home? We can help you grow a profitable home business: http://tinyurl.com/4ad56
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..Weight loss plans come in all shapes and sizes. Some... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
My first article provided steps for fast healthy weight loss.... Read More
"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More
"Help, none of this mainstream stuff works!"There is a specific... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
I asked my sister to come to my gym with... Read More
Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight you may find... Read More
Many people today are interested in weight loss and weight... Read More
A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of... Read More
Dieters have long searched for secret paths to easy weight... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
NLP Setting an Anchor Process to Get Back Motivation for... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
Do you struggle to maintain or lose weight? If so,... Read More
(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More
"I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many... Read More
Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More
Are you frustrated with your weight problem and don't know... Read More
Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More
Digestion is a chemical process. Our body combines different types... Read More
Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest ..Although liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic... Read More
I'm sure you have heard it before, but one of... Read More
A "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More
Let me tell you something - if you are doing... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
If you're trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
The gastric bypass procedure isn't for everyone, but those who've... Read More
Dieters are often told ? drink water. Drink a minimum... Read More
Weight Loss and Water: A Way to Make Your Body... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Yes, my healthy diet has at times suffered at the... Read More
I don't know about you, but I absolutely love bread... Read More
Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More
We all know it's hard to begin losing weight, no... Read More
Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More
Many of enjoy sitting down at Starbucks and enjoying a... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifty... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I... Read More
Weight Loss |