Fats: All You Need to Know

I’m sure you got a chill just by reading that word. But you have to get beyond that initial reactions and understand why lipids are important for you (in small amounts of course).

What do I need to remember about fat!

• Keep it to a minimum!
• Get your dose from: most vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, flax seed oils, soy beans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.

Lasagna

What types of fats will I find in food?

• Saturated fats –BAD   in processed food
• Trans unsaturated fats (also known as Trans fats)–THE REALLY BAD ONES!
• Unsaturated fats –BINGO! THE ONE YOU WANT TO CONSUME 😉
  You can find this type of fat in foods like avocado, nuts, and vegetable oils such as canola, and olive oils.

Meat products contain both saturated and unsaturated fats

What do I need to eat fat for?

• To absorb Vitamins A, D, E, and K and essential fatty acids.
• Good skin, hair, nails, body temperature, cell functions
• Buffer many many diseases!
• Protect vital organs

What happens if I don’t eat fat?

• If you eat little fat you’ll probably be healthier
• If you don’t eat any fat whatsoever, all of the above will go wrong! (from the “What do I need to eat fat for” list)

What happens if I eat too much of this stuff?

• Obesity, Diabetes, High Cholesterol Levels
• Cancer, Infertility, Liver Dysfunction, Alzheimer’s Disease
• Almost anything bad you can think of!

How much should I eat to be healthy?

• Less than 15% of your diet should be made up of lipids.