Weight Loss Training: Good Fats, Bad Fats-More Complex Than You Think
by Jack Kenefick on March 7, 2010
The controversy over consumption of fats and fatty acids is one that contains as much myth as fact. While it might seem simple on the surface; there are good fats and there are bad fats; eat the good and avoid the bad; it is a very complex issue.
There is a commonly held belief since the 1950s, for instance, that there is a direct link between the amount of saturated fat in diets and the incidence of heart disease. The problem is that there is little real evidence to support this theory. In France, for instance, people consume large quantities of saturated fat, but the rate of heart attacks in France is lower than in the United States.
Fats from vegetable and animal sources provide energy in our diet, and provide the building blocks for development of cell membranes and a number of hormones. Fats slow down absorption of what we eat, allowing us to go longer without feeling hungry.
Saturated fat is considered one of the ‘bad’ fats, but a mother’s milk, which is considered the best for babies, gets 50% of its calories from fat, mostly saturated fat. This saturated fat is essential for growth in babies, especially brain development.
Taking fat out of your diet can also be hazardous to your health. It can lead to low energy, difficulty concentrating, depression, and yes, even weight gain as you eat more of other foods to compensate for reduction in fat.
On the other hand, polyunsaturated fat, which common theory holds is a ‘good’ fat, is often consumed at levels that are not good for health, as it can lead to increased risk of cancer and heart disease, damage to the liver, dysfunction of the immune system, and a host of other maladies.
This brief introduction shows just how complex the issue of fat really is. Take fat out of your diet? Not really recommended. Control the amount of fat you consume? Definitely.
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The use of any advice on this website is at your own risk. Please consult us, or any other professional, licensed personal trainer or your health care professional, like your doctor, first to see if the advice is applicable to your specific situation.
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