Fat and cholesterol are bad for your health. You must have heard
this phrase countless times, even from nutrition experts, and shrank at the
thought of falling victim to them. Just imagine the thought of developing a
heart condition and you decide to follow the misleading advice. Have you ever
stopped to ask yourself if there is any proof to ascertain the claims? These
are myths that have been there for a long time now and they have polluted our
minds about the whole issue of fats. The truth has finally dawned and the true
nature of fat is out.
People have been led to believe that the only way to live a long
healthy life is to go for a diet with a low fat content. This was based on
scientific research carried out in late 1960's and early 1970's. Their findings
associated conditions like heart disease to high fat intake. After the
recommendation that people desist from using too much fat, high incidences of
obesity were reported. Even before recovery from the obesity epidemic, the
diabetes menace followed, taking down many as its victims. The two occurrences
can be attributed to the decline in the intake of healthy foods like eggs and
meat, and instead turning to high sugar foods.
For a long time now, we have been made to believe that
vegetables and processed seeds are good for our body. Examples include corn and
soybean. It has been proved that this category of foods has a high content of
polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids. This component has a very close
association with inflammation, and increases risks of heart disease when it is
taken in excess. The toxic levels in the unsaturated component are very high,
which means that it is a health hazard.
Another myth is the relationship between Saturated and Trans
fats. The latter are unsaturated and have a long shelf life due to their
chemical composition. The method of preparation involves the use of high heat
and pressure and hydrogen is used as a catalyst. Despite this, it has been
propagated that the two are similar in composition. To put it straight, the only
similarity in the two is the shelf life. Otherwise, Trans fats are toxic,
unlike the saturated fats which are safe for human consumption. Some of the
foods that have saturated fats are butter, coconut oil, and meat.
A fat person is viewed as a heavy consumer of fats. That is an
outrageous untruth that many have believed. It is true that fats have more
calories than carbohydrates and proteins. It is also a fact that you are what
you eat. However, this doesn’t mean that you gain extra weight when you use high
fat diets. On the contrary, studies have shown that people who use these foods
are more likely to lose weight easily as compared to those using low fats.
Prior to this discovery, processed margarine was viewed as
better than natural margarine. Just like the others, this is a myth that has no
basis at all. If anything, most manufactured margarines have high levels of
Trans fats, a very dangerous component as you already know. The discussion can
go and on but the bottom line is that fats are not dangerous for your wellness.
So without fear or contempt, you can go ahead and have your butter and coconut
oils.
