THE SKINNY ON FAT: MAKING THOUGHTFUL CHOICES ABOUT WHAT FAT TO EAT

By: Pat Anderson, NBC-HWC

To eat fat, or not to eat fat? That is the question. The path to the answer may be incredibly complicated, but the bottom line is much simpler. Eat as much as you want of the “right” fats.  

What are the “right fats” for you?  

Well…. that depends.

The dietary Fat Cultural Meme

For most of our lives we have lived under a cultural meme that dietary fat is the enemy we must avoid at all costs. As it turns out, the real enemy was the meme itself. It has led us down the garden path to a host of chronic illnesses—a journey that occurred so gradually none of us were even aware of what was happening.
  
A second cultural meme that has compounded this problem is that we are told if we just followed the guidelines we would be healthy and fit. That if we are overweight or unhealthy it is our own fault; that we have no will-power. This has caused unnecessary shame and feelings of hopelessness.

I’ve got good news for you--it is not your fault! It is not about your willpower, or your math skills in counting calories, or that secret stash of chocolate in your dresser drawer. You are fighting what can only be a losing battle against the billions of dollars spent to make and market irresistible unhealthy foods, to create cravings and addictions to designer foods. “So good you can’t eat just one!” 

The food we eat is not just calories with some vitamins sprinkled in.

From the inside out

This is not about what you look like on the outside. It is all about what is happening INSIDE your body that affects your health, your vitality and your future.  That is the image you want to focus on. Fixing that image, in part through the food choices you make, you will achieve the image of health and vitality on the outside as well.
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We generally think about food in the context of the macronutrients it contains:

• Carbohydrates (“carbs”)
• Proteins
• Fats 

These macronutrients serve very different functions. You are probably most familiar with carbs for energy and protein for muscle. That leaves fat...which we all assumed was, well, that unwanted lump of flesh on our hips and thighs, right?

Did you know our food is more than just calories?

“Food is information and literally talks to your genes and controls gene expression, hormones and metabolism.”  —Dr. Mark Hyman in The Blood Sugar Solution: Nutrition Basics for Everyone

We now understand that the food we eat is not just calories with some vitamins sprinkled in. The food we eat interacts with our bodies, impacts the expression of our genes and hormones, can cause inflammation and auto-immune disorders, can nurture or destroy the microbiome in our gut. 

Part of the reason there is so much confusion and misinformation about fats is that dietary fat is incredibly complex.

Are fats healthy?  It depends.

Fats are essential for life.  To touch on just a few benefits:

• Our brains are 60% fat, and fats are also critical to the health of our peripheral nervous system .
• Every single cell membrane in your body (all 37 trillion or so) require fat to function optimally. 
• Human survival literally depends on fat intake—our sex hormones are derived from cholesterol. 
• Fats are an important source of energy, especially for long duration energy needs.
• The "right” fats can also help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.​
• Healthy fats in your meals are more satiating, so you won’t get hungry as often...which can help you lose weight! 
• Current research on Alzheimers’ shows promising benefits with higher intake of unsaturated dietary fats like those recommended below.

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So, Fats are good, right?

​It depends.

Healthy fat sources support these critical functions.  But, there are also “Bad Fats” that are harmful for your health.

What fats should we avoid / minimize?

1. ​Trans-fats
​Synthetic “trans-fats” (aka partially hydrogenated oils or PHO’s) are always B-A-D. They are the only fat that everyone agrees causes heart disease. But don’t be fooled, while these fats were finally banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015, there are some exceptions to the ban, allowing manufacturers to continue sneaking these into the food supply.  

Foods may have up to 0.5 grams per serving (come on - do you really eat just one serving?!) yet state zero grams of trans fats in the nutrition facts label. The only way to know for sure if a food contains trans-fats is to check the ingredients. Look for the words “partially hydrogenated"  in the ingredient list, and if you see that, walk away! 

2. Cooking oils high in omega-6 fats
Too much of the “bad fats” can cause inflammation in our bodies.  Cooking oils high in omega-6 fats (most common sources are the fats in processed foods like soy, corn, cottonseed, canola, safflower, etc) are the most problematic, and are also the most prevalent oils used in processed foods.  

So, the source and type of fat is the key?

Mostly, but even good fats can be bad.

Toxins

Some fats are contaminated with toxins because one of the functions of fat is to absorb toxins to protect the body from their effects. This is often seen in conventional produced meats, which may be laced with hormones, antibiotics and even toxins from foods eaten by the animal.  When we eat that animal, we are also eating the toxins embedded in the meat.

Any food containing fat can go rancid, meaning the fat has oxidized. Nuts and seeds are a great example. Ever bitten into a pecan or Brazil nut and had the immediate desire to spit it out?  You may notice an “off” smell or taste—metallic or musty; the color may be “off.”

Rancid fats are inflammatory to eat, hence, bad for our health. It may not make you feel sick to eat it, but eating rancid foods is one source of inflammation in our body, which triggers chronic disease over time.  

When in doubt, toss it!

Saturated fats

While the USDA dietary guidelines do not limit fat intake in general, they do recommend limiting intake of saturated fats to 10% of calories per day.  

Most saturated fats come from animal sources—lard, butter, cheese, milk and meats for example. There are a few vegetable sources, most notably coconut and palm oil.

Recent studies indicate the problem with saturated fat may be related to the source of the food.

​For example, several studies conducted around 2008 and 2010 compared fatty acid profiles of grass-fed beef versus conventionally fed beef, and found grass-fed beef consistently had higher levels of inflammation-lowering omega-3 fats that is sorely lacking in most of our diets.
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There is also some cutting edge research that looks deeper into the specific fat profiles of meat and dairy products, so stay tuned to see if future updates to the USDA guidance may reflect a deeper look into the different sources of saturated fat.

Examples of Unhealthy fats

While healthy fat sources actually help to reduce inflammation, unhealthy fats can be inflammatory, for example:

• Highly processed oils like soybean, corn, canola, cottonseed, rapeseed, safflower, to name a few). The only redeeming quality of these oils is their low cost at the grocery store. What you don’t see is the high cost to your health if you consume them regularly. 

• Fried foods, in general. Oils heated at high temperatures can degrade into carcinogenic compounds that also cause inflammation in your body. 

• Rancid oils may not make you sick right away, but they taste bad and contribute to inflammation.

• Fats from unhealthy sources such as fish and meats from CAFO’s (Concentrated or Confined Animal Feeding Operations, also called “factory farming”). These animals are fed a diet high in unhealthy fats and carbohydrates to fatten them up quickly, causing their meats to be higher in those same unhealthy fats. They’re also typically filled with antibiotics and hormones that your body does NOT need. (Google “skittles and truck accidents” for an eye-opening account).  ​​
• Large fish such as King Mackerel, Marlin, Orange Roughy, Shark Swordfish and Tilefish are likely to have high levels of toxins such as mercury and PCB’s.

what are the best sources of healthy dietary fats?  

The following sources are most generally agreed upon as the best choices, based on what we know today.
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• Salmon and other fatty fishes (especially small fish that don’t eat other fish). Choose smaller fish sold in tins like sardines, as low-cost sources of the good fats that fight inflammation. Skip-jack tuna is ok to eat occasionally, as this is sourced from smaller fish.  To learn more about sustainable fish choices, check out SeaFoodWatch.org.

• High quality meat sources like pastured beef, venison, buffalo, pastured chickens and their eggs (those dark yellow/orange yolks are a sign of healthy high omega-3 fats) can be good sources of fat for most people. However, eat meats high in saturated fat in moderation—Dr. Mark Hyman calls this eating “condimeats,” using meat more like a condiment than main course. Meats highest in saturated fats include fatty cuts of red meats, dark poultry meat and poultry skin.

Dairy: Let’s break it down: 

The USDA guidelines recommend eating low-fat dairy products. Full-fat dairy is high in saturated fat, so limit consumption (children two and under should only eat full-fat dairy—they need the extra fat for healthy brain development). 

When you do eat dairy, choose products from pastured cows, sheep and goats and choose organic if possible. If you can find or afford organic, look for products with no added hormones. 

Low-fat yogurt tends to be high in sugar to make it palatable, which makes it unhealthy (because sugar is inflammatory). You can add as much whole fruit as you like for flavor, just check the label to avoid “added sugars.”

For some people dairy is inflammatory. You may be able to eat some forms of dairy with no problem. You may just have trouble with lactose intolerance, which is common, and can take digestive enzymes to help with that.  But some can’t tolerate dairy in any form, and consuming it will cause inflammation, and possibly unnecessary pain and misery.  

How do you know if dairy works for you? Eliminate all forms of dairy from your diet for 10-14 days and see how you feel. If you notice any positive changes in digestion, joint or muscle pain or swelling, skin conditions, brain fog, sinus congestion or drainage or in your energy levels, you may be sensitive to some dairy products. To find out which, add one type of dairy back every two days, and see if your symptoms change. Perhaps you can eat cheese, but milk gives you gas.  Maybe you find that butter is ok, but anything else makes your nose stuffy. Experiment and listen to your body!

Butter, like other dairy product is high in fat, but many of the butter alternatives are not so tasty or healthy. Experiment with replacing butter with olive or avocado oil.

Bottom line on dairy—if you tolerate it, choose high quality sources and watch the saturated fat levels. Avoid the cheap stuff—you can pay more for good quality now or pay your doctor later when you develop chronic disease.

Nuts, seeds, and nut butters

Nuts and seeds and their butters can be an excellent primary source of healthy fats for vegans. Most are very high in fat, which is not usually a problem since we rarely eat them in high quantities.  Be aware that they tend to have a short shelf life because they are prone to turning rancid. Buy small quantities more often and refrigerate. 

Oils for Cooking and Flavor

Olive oil—especially extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that has minimal refining (cold-pressed). This is one of the most stable oils. It is not as likely to go rancid as quickly as refined vegetable oils like corn, soy and canola.

Avocados and avocado oil. Holy guacamole! Feel free to chow down on that avocado toast (hmm, maybe gluten-free?), and your brain will thank you!
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Salad dressings - while most ready-made dressings are made with the highly processed vegetable oils like soy and canola, you can find some excellent bottled dressings made with olive oil or you can easily make your own.  Salad dressing can be as simple as a little oil drizzle and a vinegar splash.  Your taste buds may rebel at first, like mine did, but once they adjust, your body will thank you!

Coconut oil has become a controversial topic.  It is about 50% saturated fat, and USDA guidelines caution it should be used sparingly.  However, about   a third of the fat in coconut oil is a type called medium chain triglycerides (MCT), which appears to have beneficial effects on cholesterol and other health concerns.
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Last, But Not Least (in my book, anyway!)

Cacao or low-sugar dark chocolate can be a healthy source of fats and other yummy benefits like antioxidants and flavonols. While about 30%  of the fat is saturated, the benefits of dark chocolate outweigh this if eating 1 ounce a few times a week.  The higher the cacao content, the lower the sugar and the higher the flavonols (and the pungent flavor), if you can handle it! Cacao nibs and powder is touted as a “superfood”, and can be used in smoothies, coffees and hot chocolate, cooking and baking in place of other sources of chocolate.

"You are what you eat" vs. "you are what your food ate."

We have often been told, “You are what you eat”.

There is a slightly modified version of this in the wellness community:

 “You are what your food ate.”  

When we eat animals fed toxic foods, we absorb those toxins. When we eat plants that were grown in toxic soil (for example, rice grown in soil high in arsenic), that toxin stays in our bodies, and over time, this toxic buildup can lead to chronic disease. When we over-consume even healthy foods, we place a burden on our bodies that leads to inflammation, and eventually to chronic disease.

Choose your foods carefully, incorporating healthy fats to “crowd out” other unhealthy food choices. Eat to live, rather than live to eat. Eat real food, prepared with healthy fats, that are as close to their natural state as possible. When you make sustainable food choices that support the needs of your body, it not only benefits you—it benefits us all. When you are healthy and vital, you can make your deepest and most meaningful contribution to society.

If you want to make lifestyle changes, talk to a health coach about how they can support your success in that journey! You can connect directly with the author, Pat, here. 
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Note:  This article is not intended to give nutritional or dietary advice.  Rather, it is intended to provide education around the current understanding on a complex topic about which our understanding is evolving.  Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional before you implement any changes in your diet.