Do Fats Make You Fat?

Seems like an obvious deduction to make, doesn’t it?

But not actually correct.

Fats are a nutrient which our bodies need to function healthily and consuming a certain amount is fundamental for a balanced diet. Our bodies need fatty acids and many of which they cannot make so are dependent on getting them from the fats we eat. Certain vitamins, which we also need, like D and E, can only be absorbed with the help of fats.

Obviously, certain fats are bad for us – namely saturated ones. These can cause our cholesterol levels to rise and then we are more at risk of getting heart disease, diabetes or other ailments – so it’s best we keep these to a minimum. Saturated fats are usually animal fats so we need to be mindful about how much red meat and dairy we consume.

Trans fatty acids are another group to avoid – these are probably the worst culprits for damaging our health and clothes size. These are present in foods that have hydrogenated vegetable oils – in simple language, fried food like chips, baked food like cakes and processed snacks like popcorn. Again, we need to keep these to a minimum.

Now let’s look at the good fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ones. Despite their hard to swallow names, fortunately for us they are found in delicious foods.

Monounsaturated fats are present in nuts, avocados, oils and butters such as almond and peanut.

Polyunsaturated fats are so good they are actually nicknamed “essential fat”. Our bodies cannot create these alone so depend on us getting them from plant based foods.

Both these fats help lower our cholesterol levels so minimising our risks of heart disease.

Omega 3 is a particularly good fat to try and include in our diets. It is generally found in fatty fish like salmon and trout and as well as protecting our hearts, it also can bring down blood pressure.

Knowing the difference between good and bad fats is key in having a healthy and fat free body.

Check out our menu and stock up on all our delicious good fat products.