Can a high-fat diet be healthy?

Can a high-fat diet be healthy?

Many health-conscious people strive for a low-fat diet. But you could be missing out on many health benefits like weight loss and a strong cardiovascular system if you're missing out on essential fats.

The fat-free, low-fat diet mindset came from the fact that so many people were, well, fat. It was logical to assume that we had eaten too much of it. Now we learn more. We now know that the harmful fats are the trans fats, oxidized and heat-processed fats, such as those found in margarine, fried foods and even grain-fed cattle.

In the daily pursuit of health, we have tried to cut out all fats only to learn that we are hurting ourselves. Fortunately, it is a new era and we now know which fats not only need to be cut out, but what we need to include in our diet for better health, free from premature aging and degenerative diseases.

These good fats are called essential fatty acids. They fall into two categories of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Both types of fats are essential and it is important to get them from different sources. The essential fats are the most popular because they are the most researched. However, there is another category of fat that you should be aware of - the Omega 9. Although not classified as an essential fat, they are known to be necessary for good health.

Let's look at the effects of these fats. A deficiency in these fatty acids can lead to heart disease, depression, fatigue and inflammation, which can lead to arthritis and even cancer. The benefits of consuming the good fats include weight loss, a stronger immune system, anti-inflammatory abilities, balanced hormones, thicker hair and healthier, supple skin.

Omega-6 fatty acids are found in many sources such as walnut oil, grapeseed oil, avocados, hemp oil and pumpkin oil. It was once thought that the American diet simply contains too much of this fat because it is found in fatty meats and cooking oils. However, it is not the excessive consumption of omega-6 fatty acids, because they are absolutely necessary for survival - this is how we consume them.

The problem lies in the processing of the food and the balance of the fats. First of all, cooking or heating these foods (like cooking oils) will break the EFA chains and render the healthy fats useless. We also know that there is a difference between the healthy omega-6 fats and the trans fats found in cooking and fatty meats. Adding to this problem is the fact that we don't consume enough omega-3 and omega-9 foods, which leads to an imbalance in our diet and our health.

Where can we get the other fats we need? Some of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseeds and their oil, walnuts and their oil, wheat germ oil, salmon, halibut, snapper, scallops and winter squash. Omega-9 fatty acids are found in food sources such as olive oil, sesame oil, avocados, peanuts (raw nuts made from bottled oil), almonds, cashews, pecans, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts.

The consumption of essential fats is being recognized day by day as an important health factor. We have already noted some of the benefits mentioned above. So what else could there be? In addition to these health benefits, eating healthy fats can stabilize blood sugar. When consumed regularly, you feel fuller and more satisfied for longer, so you eat less, have fewer cravings, and less fatigue. In addition, including these fats in your daily diet has an anti-aging effect on the skin, hair and hormonal system. Essential fats also have detoxifying properties.

If you want additional benefits, take a supplement form that is cold pressed and minimally processed. You can usually find these in the refrigerated section of your local health food store. No matter which form you choose, the benefits of EFAs are many. Therefore, be sure to include them in your diet.

Inspired by Cindy Papp