If I had a prayer, it would be this: “God, spare me from the desire for love, approval, or appreciation. Amen” Byron Katie
Breathe…again…deeper…again…Get ready, we are going on a peace expedition into Fat territory.
Fat is one of those “F” words. The word “Fat” evokes emotions such as fear, shame and inferiority. The word “Fat” has power…it sells…and people spend billions of dollars every year in an attempt to eradicate it. If you believe the media, it is a growing epidemic and it must be contagious because we are always trying to avoid it. With all the fighting going on and all the personal battles of the bulge, how much do we really know about fat?
Fat is probably one of the most misunderstood words in our vocabulary because it is all tied up with appearance and self image. Fat is an abuse word that people use not only on other people but also on themselves. It is a comparison word that is used as a measure of superiority and inferiority.
When I was growing up, fat was not the public issue that it has become today. I remember the first time I really ever heard the word…on an early morning local TV talk show (Fannie Flagg was Weather-Girl) there was an exercise segment with a catchy tune…Go You Chicken Fat – Go Away – Go You Chicken Fat Go.
What most people refer to as body fat is actually adipose tissue which is loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. Adipose tissue is derived from lipoblasts. Its main role is to store energy although it also cushions and insulates the body. Obesity or being overweight in humans and most animals does not depend on body weight but on the amount of adipose tissue. There are two types of adipose tissue…white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Adipose tissue serves as an important endocrine organ by producing hormones such as leptin, resistin and the cytokine TNFa.
This is the type information that no one really wants to know. It is at this point when discussing nutrition that most people stop reading…the advertising media story is much easier to digest. Fat is bad! When I lived in Las Vegas a few years ago, one strip club advertised on billboards and taxi’s…We have 99 Beautiful Girls and 1 Fat Girl.
Advertising for the food industry and the pharmaceutical drug industry has been largely responsible for the widespread idea that all fat should be eliminated from our diets. Spreading misinformation sells junk food and health issues sells prescription drugs. About twenty-five years ago one advertising agency hired by a well-known vegetable oil company to promote their product designed a label for the vegetable oil using the phrase “No Cholesterol” and created a trillion dollar medical industry.
Not only is it unhealthy to eliminate all fat from our diets, it is dangerous. Fat is one of the nutrients required by the body along with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The fat required by our bodies is known as essential fatty acids . Our bodies can’t make EFAs, therefore we must get them from the foods we eat.
Eight Reasons to Eat Fat (EFA)
- Reduce Inflammation–especially of Autoimmune Diseases
- Protect against Heart Disease
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Decrease the Risk of Blood Clots
- Keep Skin Supple and Prevent Wrinkles
- Strengthen the immune System
- Regulate Metabolism and Burn Adipose Tissue (Body Fat)
- Lower Total Cholesterol
The real issue with saturated fats is the toxins and chemicals fed to the animals which accumulate in their tissue. Animal growth hormones and antibiotics don’t go away after an animal is butchered, prepared for market or cooked. The “war” against saturated fats started with the mass use of hormones, drugs and chemicals in the animal food production industry. Over 65% of all antibiotics produced are fed to animals which later become food for human consumption.
The food production industry has created an entire market out of low fat dairy products and successfully avoided the subject of the use of estrogen hormones to increase milk production. This diversion of attention to saturated fat makes allies of the food production industry and chemical manufacturers who supply the drugs for these animals.
We all know about trans-fats…right? This is where the advertising, food production industry and the FDA have done some of their best work. This is where zero trans-fat does not mean no trans-fat. In trans-fat language on a marketing label zero means less than one gram per serving. The other language used is **not a dietary significant amount.
I want to make dinner for you. One of my favorites is Caribbean Rum Chicken…yes, the chicken was humanely grown without drugs. When I finish making dinner, I show you two dishes which look identical and give you your choice. The difference…Dish 1 was sprinkled with ground papaya pepper in the final seasoning…Dish 2 was sprinkled with ground dog poop in the final seasoning. The ground dog poop is **not a dietary significant amount.
Trans-fatty acids (commonly termed trans-fats) are a type of unsaturated fat (and may be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated). Trans-fats occur naturally, in small quantities, in meat and dairy products from ruminants. Most trans-fats consumed today, are industrially created as a side effect of partial hydrogenation of plant oils. Partial hydrogenation changes a fat’s molecular structure (raising its melting point and reducing rancidity) but this process also results in a proportion of the changed fat becoming trans-fat. Trans-fats present in animal foods are of a different type than those in partially hydrogenated oils, and do not exhibit the same negative effects as the artificial ones.
By far the largest amount of trans-fat consumed today is created by the processed food industry as a side-effect of partially hydrogenating unsaturated plant fats (generally vegetable oils). These hydrogenated fats have displaced natural solid fats and liquid oils in many areas, notably in the fast food, snack food, fried food and baked good industries because plant-based hydrogenated vegetable oils are much less expensive. Vegetable shortenings are partially hydrogenated fats packaged for home use, and margarines contain a large proportion of trans-fat. Benefits of hydrogenating plant-based fats for food manufacturers include an increased product shelf life and decreased refrigeration requirement.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) advises the United States and Canadian governments on nutritional science for use in public policy and product labeling programs and this is their statement “trans-fatty acids are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health.” The NAS has concluded there is no safe level of trans-fat consumption. There is no adequate level, recommended daily amount or tolerable upper limit for trans-fats. This is because any incremental increase in trans-fat intake increases the risk of coronary heart disease. This analysis is supported by a 2006 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) scientific review that states “from a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans-fatty acids results in considerable potential harm but no apparent benefit.”
Research indicates that trans-fat may increase weight gain and abdominal fat, despite a similar caloric intake. Trans-fats are metabolized differently by the liver than other fats and interfere with an enzyme involved in converting essential fatty acids to arachidonic acid and prostaglandins, both of which are important to the functioning of cells. There is a growing concern that the risk of type 2 diabetes increases with trans-fat consumption.
There is overwhelming evidence that natural fat is not an enemy to be feared or avoided but an essential part of living well. Making peace with fat is knowing the difference between natural clean essential fatty acids and artificial trans-fats. Making peace with fat is taking personal responsibility for purchasing foods free of chemicals, added hormones, drugs and artificial trans-fats while enjoying naturally delicious meals.
Love, Light & Lots of Laughter…Joa
www.joacarter.com
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