Benefits of Healthy Fats

There is a lot of misinformation out there about healthy fats. "Fat makes you fat" is the most commonly accepted notion, but where did this actually come from? Natural and healthy saturated fats such as butter, coconut oil, cream, egg yolks, lard, cacao butter and other animal fats, have been used for thousands of years with no "fattening" effect.

The low-fat craze of the early 1990's had a huge brainwashing effect on the perception of healthy foods.

When you choose fat-free foods, you naturally choose higher sugar/higher carb and lower protein foods, because protein in its natural state comes with a healthy dose of fat. You also then eat more of these foods because low-fat equals low satiety, meaning you must eat more to get full than those who eat fat liberally.

Another major plus of eating healthy saturated fats is something called fat-soluble vitamins. They are abundantly found in healthy animal fats, and actually require fat for absorption. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are all fat-soluble vitamins that help keep your body in tip-top shape. Vitamin A specifically is actually very important for your metabolism and thyroid health, so make sure you include foods like liver, butter, and egg yolks in your daily diet.

Why we need fats:

• Healthy fat is a source of energy in the body (think of your body as a fire, fat are the logs, carbs are kindling)
• Healthy fats are required for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K
• Healthy fats are used to construct tissue to both line and protect your internal organs
• Healthy fats are essential for a healthy liver, bile function, and the inflammatory healing process
• Healthy fats contribute to food tasting good
• Healthy fats lubricate the digestive system, and helps with removing toxins from the body
• Healthy fatty acid balance supports cell membrane health, cellular communication and reduces cellular inflammation!

So choose saturated fats like butter, coconut oil, and lard as the main fats in your kitchen. Olive oil can be a good choice in moderation, but it is not very heat stable, so it's best to use after cooking. And don't forget to eat low-mercury seafood for your omega fatty acids.

Why to Avoid Unsaturated Fats (Hint: Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disease and Weight Gain)

Unsaturated fats are also known as PUFAs (omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids) and are found in largely in oils — including vegetable, corn, canola, peanut, flax, and soy. The cheapness of these oils makes them an essential ingredient for most processed foods (especially sauces, salad dressings, mayonnaise, candy). These fats are often highly processed, unstable, and oxidize very quickly in the body. They are also a huge burden to the liver and can block or slow hormone synthesis.

According to Dr. Ray Peat, "Unsaturated fats cause aging, clotting, inflammation, cancer, & weight gain."

Not the kind of food you want in your diet!

Research suggests that during evolution the ratio of omega 6 fatty acids (vegetable oils) to omega-3 fatty acids (marine omega-3s that fight inflammation) was closer to 1:1, and the Western diet today hovers closer to 20:1 creating huge implications on human health, especially obesity. [6]

What does your body's omega-6: omega-3 ratio look like?

What if there was a test you could take to find out just what your own body's omega-6: omega-3 ratio and how healthy your cell membranes are, so you actually knew the exact food changes you needed to make to create healthier cell membranes while reducing symptoms of imbalance at the same time?

Fatty Acid Testing

I am absolutely in LOVE with this simple omega fatty acids test that you can take at home. So much so, I'm now recommending it for each and every one of my one-on-one clients.

Just a simple finger prick and a drop of blood sent into the lab will tell you your:

• Omega 3 Index — a measure of the most important omega-3s—EPA and DHA—in your blood. Their purpose is to respond to inflammatory events and help the cells (and you!) stay healthy. Hundreds of studies have demonstrated that having an Omega-3 Index of 8% or higher offers significant protection from health outcomes like dying from heart disease, poor cognitive health, anxiety and depression, muscle soreness and joint pain, dry eyes and much more. One study showed that the Omega-3 Index was actually a better predictor of risk of death from heart disease vs. cholesterol. [3]
• Omega 6: Omega 3 Ratio — this shows if your balance of omega 3 fatty acids is in or out of balance with your intake of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids abundantly found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and smaller amounts in animal products.
  
• AA: EPA Ratio (arachidonic acid: eicosapentaenoic acid ratio) — Research shows, "Several studies have shown that an unbalanced AA/EPA ratio in favor of AA fatty acid, leads to the development of different metabolic disorders, including obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)" [4] and "Since AA and EPA are the precursors of the most important inflammatory mediators, AA/EPA ratio is an index to better evaluate inflammation and nutritional status of cell membrane." [5] This is my favorite ratio of the omega fatty acids test and the one I focus the most on bringing into balance with my clients. 
  
• Trans Fat Index — you've probably heard about trans fats. They are only found in the food that we eat (the body can't make them). These are hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats that have negative consequences for human health and should be minimized as much as possible in the diet. 
  
• Full Fatty Acid Report Profile — a full report on your fatty acid makeup. 
• SPECIAL BONUS — a video training from me, walking you through understanding your results and how to make changes to support the health of your cells in the best possible way!

One of the best ways to make changes to your health is to have data on your body to pinpoint problem areas, motivate real change, and keep you accountable along the way. With the information provided in the omega fatty acid report and video training, you will gain the knowledge and understanding of your body to:

• Adjust the makeup of fats in your diet to support bringing your fatty acid balance back into balance so you can fight chronic inflammation, unwanted weight gain and cardiovascular in a scientific way (no more guessing!)
• Choose omega fatty acid containing foods and food-based supplements that support the health of your cells. Not just something generic off the shelf that may not be a good fit for you.
• And most importantly, give you actual data on your body to help you understand how to take back control of your health one bite at a time.

So, if you've done everything else under the sun to improve your health but are still having problems and lingering issues, it's time to address the very foundation of your body, the health of your cells!

Give all 30 trillion cell membranes you have some TLC.

Summary

• Reduce the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are not evolutionarily consistent in high amounts and just say no to fake food!
• Use coconut oil to cook and bake with. Refined coconut oil is nearly flavorless, and is stable for cooking at higher temperatures, whereas virgin coconut oil is best for popcorn or desserts you are okay with having a coconut flavor.
• Use butter for lower heat cooking and baking
• Use olive oil on foods AFTER cooking (olive oil goes rancid when heated)
• Get your fatty acids tested to see where your body is at and what you really need to focus on.

Where Is Your Omega Fatty Acid Balance At?

Ready to find out your omega fatty acid balance so you can tip the scale on inflammation?

Get your test kit here.

What are your favorite fats? Please share in the comments!