Eat healthy oils and fats
Despite the bad press we actually need fats and oils to maintain good health. The walls of our cells are made up of a mixture of oil and protein, and so we need good quality fats and oils to keep our cell walls healthy. This is most noticeable with skin and hair. Oils also contain the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Our bodies use fat stores to keep us warm and as a long-term energy source.
All of our sex hormones come from cholesterol. At the same time, our brains need healthy oils to work properly. A shortage of cholesterol plays havoc with our memory. Our bodies need lots of Omega 3 oil to calm inflammation and every cell in our body needs oil for its cell membrane.
Fats come in different types – saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. They can also be solid at room temperature, like butter, or liquid like olive oil. Generally animal fat from meat, lard or dairy products is saturated, while vegetable oils tend to be unsaturated (coconut and palm oil are the exception). Saturated fats like butter and coconut oil tend to be solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fats like olive oil are liquid at room temperature. Oils and fats come in many types and may be in long, medium or short chains. The fats in butter, coconut and palm oil are a special type of saturated fat called medium chain fatty acids. These are easily broken down to give us energy.
Recent studies have shown that eating healthy fats and oils is good for us. For example, eating lots of olive oil is a vital part of the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, up-to-date research is also letting us know that saturated fat does not cause heart disease or diabetes. However, you should make sure that you choose healthy sources of fats such as coconut oil or organic butter. Similarly when using olive oil make sure its organic extra virgin olive oil. Animals store toxins in their fat, so cut off fat from meat unless you know its organic.
Eating healthy fats and oils will settle your appetite and give your body energy throughout the day. You just need to choose the right type. Sure, it might cost a little bit more, to buy good quality oils, but your body will thank you for it.
