For many years I’ve been trying to educate people on the importance of fat in our diets. I try to explain that, one, fat is not the devil and , two, not all low fat-high carbohydrate (sugar) foods are good for you.
I admit, I’m not pushing the right buttons to be seen by the big guys but now Andrew Weil, one of the big guys, has spoken and I am sooooo happy to see that saturated fat is not being vilified as usual.
Here’s what Dr. Weil has to say, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/healthy-eating_b_629422.html.
Two points that stick out and should be considered:
He is not promoting meat consumption and that’s fine be me. Hey, I’m all with eating meat that are grass-fed and natural vs. those pumped with antibiotics. Read my book, The Stubborn Fat Fix and you’ll understand how the food supply affects our health, http://www.amazon.com/Stubborn-Fat-Fix-Metabolic-ebook/dp/B002E6IJWY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1292253814&sr=8-2 . However the reason most people avoid meat is to cut saturated fat from their diet. If there is no link between eating red meat and heart disease then we can start eating meat to help supply our bodies with important vitamins and minerals like iron and B12 that we are not nourishing our bodies with when we omit red meat from our diet.
The other point worth paying attention to is that he underscores the fact that carboydrates can upset hormonal balance, fructose and glucose can overload the liver and raise insulin levels and “refined carbohydrates, starches and sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease and diabetes.”
Now that you know that saturated fat is not a one way ticket to death and that sweets/added sugars and sweeteners are at the top of the evil food list, what foods will you choose to consume?
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About the author
Valerie Goldstein
Valerie raises the bar for health and nutrition know how with unconventional expertise and unconditional support for wellness.
Thank you for the reply. I appreciate that you took the time to give me a detailed response. Best wishes and happy holidays.
My pleasure. Happy and healthy holidays.
Hi Valerie,
I definitely have been off the anti-saturated fat bandwagon for a while now in regards to heart disease. I’ve seen the studies and am convinced the link is not there. However, what about the studies that link saturated fat to insulin resistance?
I do not believe there are any studies that test the link between saturated fat and insulin resistance within the realm of a low carbohydrate diet (50 grams or less). High amounts of saturated fat eaten in combination with a high carbohydrate, low fat diet may be associated with insulin resistance especially when calories are in excess.
In my experience, the studies that link saturated fat with insulin resistance are:
1. Lower in carbohydrates but carbs may still be too high
2. Low in carbohydrates but the specific types of carbohydrate foods used, such as banana or raisins, have a high glycemic index which in combination may contribute to insulin resistance
Getting back to the point of my blog, additives like corn syrup or trans fats are far worse for your health and puts you at increased risk for insulin resistance than natural saturated fats such as red meat, coconut oil or 85% cocoa chocolate. Red meat for example contains contains a blend of saturated fat, mono and polyunsaturated fats as well as iron, B vitamins and other nutrients that benefit health. Corn syrup and trans fats do not provide health benefits but provide shelf stability so that the product does not go rancid is a short period of time, a benefit for food companies not your health.
So enjoy the real food that G-d has given us, eggs, cheese, meat/fish/fowl and coconut. Avoid the additives and preservatives food companies pile into commercially prepared foods and you’ll be doing your part in staying healthy and warding off insulin resistance. Always make sure you follow doctors guidelines because this is only general information and people need to tweek general advice for their own individual needs.