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Your confusion is about to vanish. By the end of this article you will have a great grasp on what kind of fats you should eat and why without having to remember all the lengthy names, carbon chains and molecular structures. So read on… Eating the right balance of essential fatty acids, (EFA’s) such as omega 3’s and omega 6’s, is as simple as 1-2-3. These fatty acids are critical to the proper functioning of every body system. 1. Omega 6’s are found in abundance in most people’s diet. They are found in soy, corn, and safflower oils. Don’t worry about getting enough of these. However the Omega 3 source is a bit rarer. 2. The best Omega 3 food sources are flax seed, flax seed oil and salmon. It’s the omega 3 source you need to become intentional about. 3. Simply avoid animal products. Don’t worry about the other kinds of fats, because basically all the bad fats are found in animal products (some fish being the exception) and processed foods. Why… Studies, like The China Study, have strong implications for health and diet. To boil it all down animal proteins and fats are highly correlated with many diseases of affluence. Diseases of affluence refer to those diseases found primarily in western cultures. These diseases did not exist or were rare prior to industrialization. These diseases include heart disease, cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and stroke to name a few. According to The China Study these diseases are largely unknown in traditional cultures that subsist mainly on plant based diets. The omega 3 source and omega 6 source of these essential fatty acids are mainly plant based. If you eat a well balanced, plant based diet you needn’t worry about whether you are eating the right kinds of fat. Chances are you are. That’s because fatty acids in plants are mostly unsaturated meaning they are liquid at room temperature. Much unlike the margarine in a tub that remains solid at room temperature…please avoid these sources of fat as if your life depends on it…because it does! If you must use a spread use virgin cold pressed olive oil instead. Saturated and hydrogenated fats (those that contain the bad boy trans-fatty acids) are solid at room temperature and are derived from animal products. Some others like shortening, margarines and other kinds of spread may be derived from plants, but the molecular structure has been altered changing the fats from largely unsaturated to saturated. If you avoid eating processed foods, you will not have to worry about eating the bad boy fats. It’s that simple. If you insist on doing so, make sure you look for the word non-hydrogenated or zero trans fatty acids. Eating the right types of fats is important to achieving optimal levels of fitness. For example, the omega 3 benefit is that these essential fatty acids (EFA’s) support the immune system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. Additionally, another omega 3 benefit is helping manufacture and repair cell membranes allowing harmful waste products to be eliminated. This is a very important process and helps to keep the body disease free. The health of your body is determined by the health of your cells. Another important function or omega 3 benefit is aiding the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are responsible for the regulation of the heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting and even immune system functioning. So you can see why becoming intentional about knowing your omega 3 source is so important. Remember, keep your nutrition simple and safe: Avoid animal foods and processed foods by eating a mainly plant based diet.
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