Did you fall for this statement by the “expert” Food & Nutrition Board who gave the following misguided comment: “Saturated fats and dietary cholesterol have no known beneficial role in preventing chronic disease and are not required at any level in the diet.”
If you did, you may have been harming your health and your loved ones.
How could this be possible?
Could scientists be confused? The body is capable of synthesizing saturated fats from carbohydrates and these fats are the same ones present in fats of animal origin. Hence the warning not to eat saturated fats from animal sources.
But, this is a big BUT, not all saturated fatty acids are the same. Small differences can have profound health implications and avoiding all saturated fats will cause serious health consequences.
There are in fact more than a dozen different types of saturated fat, but you predominantly consume only three: stearic acid, palmitic acid and lauric acid.
Research has already proven that stearic acid (found in cocoa and animal fat) has zero effect on your cholesterol levels, and actually gets converted in your liver into the monounsaturated fat called oleic acid.
As for the other two, palmitic and lauric acid, they do raise cholesterol levels but raise the “good” cholesterol as much or more than “bad” cholesterol, so you’re still actually lowering your risk of heart disease.
What is saturated fat good for?
1. It provides energy
2. It provides the building blocks for cell membranes and hormone like substances
3. It slows down absorption so that you can go longer without feeling hungry
4. It helps convert carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and more
5. It carries vitamins A,D,E and K where it is needed by the body
6. It is the preferred fuel for your heart
7. It helps to actually lower cholesterol levels
8. It helps prevent cancer
Answer this question? If it were so bad, why would breast milk produce saturated fats which provide the perfect nourishment to ensure growth, development and survival of infants?
However, There IS Still a Link Between Fat and Heart Disease!
The problem lies with the way most studies make no effort to distinguish between saturated fat and trans fat.
We know that trans fat increases your LDL levels, or “bad” cholesterol, while lowering your levels of HDL, known as “good” cholesterol. It can also cause major clogging of arteries, type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.
Unfortunately, food companies find that using trans fats is cheaper, extends storage life and has a better flavor and texture than oil.
Your body needs some amount of saturated fat to stay healthy. It is virtually impossible to achieve a nutritionally adequate diet that has no saturated fat. What you don’t need, however, are trans fats.
But, you say, the label says that it’s trans fat free!
Did you know that labeling requirements can claim to say the product is trans fat free if it has less than 500 mg trans fat per serving?
In order to be compliant, all companies have to do is decrease the serving size to the point that the ratio of trans fat falls below 500mg.
A good rule of thumb is to check the serving size and it is seems way too low, then it’s probably hiding trans fats.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not telling you to go out there and start stuffing yourself with foods high in saturated fats, but I am telling you to be aware of your body type and what your body needs to feel good and then be moderate in your approach as in all other things in life.
However, to ensure your body can absorb the proper nutrients, you must give it the tools to do so and cleansing your body polishes these tools for more effective results.
Tags: cleansing, saturated fat
