Everyone seems to hate fat.  They try to lose it, they want everything “low-fat” or “fat-free” (even though fat free and low fat just means added sugar, which is the actual thing making you gain weight), but fat is actually essential for you and your body.

Fat is essential for normal growth and development, it is a great source off energy, it allows your body to absorb vitamins, it provides cushioning for your organs, and helps maintain cell membranes! There are three different types of fats including unsaturated fat, saturated fat, and trans fat.

Unsaturated fats fall into two categories: polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated. The polyunsaturated are your Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids which are good for your heart!  Monounsaturated fats are oils, avocados, peanuts, tree nuts, etc and they lower your LDL level and increase HDL levels!

Saturated fats have been given a bad reputation, however they are safe to consume. Saturated fats are found in red meats, whole milks, cheeses, coconut oil, and many baked goods.  However, many foods have a combination of unsaturated and saturated fats!

The ONLY type of fat that you need to be running away from is trans fats since trans fats are industry created fats used to give processed foods a longer shelf life. In fact the FDA is banning the use of trans fats in products (obviously it must do some damage if the FDA will actually ban it), it will be a slow process to completely eliminate them in the USA’s food supply, however you can eliminate them in your own home now!

So your diet no longer needs to be “fat-free” or “low-fat” because fat is essential for your body to function properly and is an important macro-nutrient in a balanced diet.  So don’t continue to run away from the fat, embrace it!  Just stay away from trans fats…