You Are What You Eat - Part 1: Fats

I have heard that statement so many times and it is so very true! Unfortunately, people still don't pay as much attention to what they eat as they should.

Every bite of food that you put into your mouth effects how your body will function. 

Different types of foods break down to do different things in your body. Fats are the carriers, carbohydrates are the fuel sources, and proteins are the building blocks. Each one interacts with each other and we cannot survive without them. 

Many people believe that all fats are bad. This is not true! A low fat diet has actually been shown to cause quite a few health problems, including diabetes, heart disease and other inflammatory conditions. Your body needs and craves fats! 

One of the main functions of fats, is to carry your vitamins, minerals, and hormones to where they need to go in your body. You cannot absorb vitamin A, D, or K2 without a fat. Fats also carry your hormones to all the receptors in your body. If you suffer from hormonal imbalances, you might just need to add more fats into your body!

Some healthy sources of fats are oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, butter (yes, butter!), You can also get good fats from fish, nuts, seeds, chia, meat, and avocados. 

Unhealthy sources of fats that can damage the body come from vegetable oils such as canola, margarine, soybean, and corn, and anything labelled "hydrogenated". These are considered "unstable" oils and can go rancid very easily. When they go rancid, they create trans fats. These are the fats that can damage your heart and cause some serious inflammation in the body. 

If you are striving to be more healthy, add some more fat into your diet. Try adding two tablespoons of chia seeds or hemp seeds into your smoothie. Add grass fed butter on to your vegetables. Eat an avocado a day. Take a cod liver oil or fish oil capsule every day. Don't buy the leanest cuts of meat! 

If you have any questions, just let me know!