I remember when I was in high school, and low fat was the way to eat. This notion was everywhere, and fat was made out to be the “bad guy”. I remember buying red licorice and pretzels because both labels stated in big capital letters “low fat”, and I thought this meant I could eat as much as I wanted. I thought if I didn’t eat fat, I wouldn’t get fat. It makes sense, right? Wrong. Fat has an important role in our bodies and is absolutely necessary. What we need to be careful about, is the type of fat we eat.
A low fat diet is not heavily backed by research. One study worth noting is The Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, which was performed by the U.S. government to prove that dietary fat is a killer. They spent $100 Million dollars and found no correlation between dietary fat and heart disease.
We are lead to believe we should consume no saturated fat, because it causes heart disease. FALSE! The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a meta-analysis that concluded there was no scientific evidence that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease.
Saturated fat is the main fuel used by heart cells, it composes 60% of the fat found in your brain, and it is also the major component of our cell membranes. It helps build stronger bones, is a part of healthy lung function, and effects proper nerve signaling. Again the types of saturated fat DO matter, but we should not be avoiding saturated fat all together.
What type of fats should you eat?
Monounsaturated fats: The Mediterranean culture consumes approximately 40% of their calories from monounsaturated fat, hardly low fat by our American standards. However, studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet increases life expectancy and reduces incidence of disease.
Omega-3: When you are deficient in Omega-3’s you are at risk for numerous afflictions such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorder, allergies, aging, asthma, depression, cystic fibrous, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity. Guess what? A recent study found that 99% of us are currently deficient in this essential fat. The term ‘essential’ means that we do not produce it in our body therefore we must consume it in our diet.
Saturated fat: Not all saturated fats are the same, and some are beneficial for your health. There are different forms of saturated fat. For example, lauric acid contains MCT (medium chain triglyceride) fats which are easily digested and burned immediately by your liver for energy. In addition, lauric acid has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
What types of fats do I need to avoid?
Hydrogenated oils: These oils are genetically modified and contribute to the imbalance of you omega-6:omega-3 ratio. When we accumulate too many omega-6s (which dominate the standard American diet) we cancel out the benefits of omega 3s.
Trans Fat: This fat needs to be avoided all together because it raises you “bad” cholesterol and lowers your “good” cholesterol. Don’t be deceived by these products that are labeled trans-fat free because under the labeling laws if it contains less than a half a gram you can call if trans-fat free.
Saturated Fat: While some types of saturated fat have benefits, there are other types that need to be avoided because they can be detrimental to your health. Grain fed animals and processed dairy foods contain high amounts of harmful saturated fat.
Fat is necessary for many vital functions in the body. When you are making choices you need to remember the quality is what counts.
If you want to know how much you should be eating click here www.dynamicbalancehealth.com to set up a 30 minute free phone consultation. There are so many myths about food to which we have all been exposed. We want to get you on the path to true health from the inside out.
Crystal Shores has had such success in returning people to health because this is her passion. She does this by influencing a person’s body systems to work together, instead of manipulating just one aspect of their biochemistry. The whole body approach is what separates Crystal apart from other health care practitioners. She takes the necessary steps to evaluate what is truly happening in a person’s body, and designs a nutrition program based on their bodily function, and not a diagnosis.
While graduating at the top of her class Summa Cum Laude and completing a competitive Dietetic Internship, she followed her dream of being a business owner which gives her the opportunity successfully impact the lives of others as a Registered Dietitian. After her internship, she was introduced to Functional Medicine, and knew this was how she would realize her dream. She and her husband started what is known today as Dynamic Balance, which utilizes proven nutritional principles along with the cutting edge science of Functional Medicine to facilitate proper function within the human body.
Crystal is a dynamic and inspirational woman who has spent years educating herself and others on what true health is, and how to achieve it. She has first-hand knowledge of what it takes to make the necessary changes in a person’s life, because she has done it herself. She spent the majority of her 20’s having fun and chasing happiness through external means only to end up realizing that true joy comes from within. This realization came from experiencing pain and fear that no outside force could remove. The time came when she had to make the choice of what direction she wanted her life to take. When she stood at this fork in the road, she made the decision to go back to school to receive her second bachelor’s degree, in Dietetics. This ultimately led her to feed and nurture her body back to a healthy state. It is with this passion and dedication that she serves her clients to lead them to enjoy the health they deserve.
The road to health and well being is not always an easy one and it requires guidance and support. If it were easy, we would all be healthy. She hopes to guide others in achieving health from the inside out.
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