Healthy Fats
Can fat be healthy? Yes, fats are very important to a healthy diet. All of Metabolic’s weight loss programs monitor fat intake to give you optimum health and boost your weight loss. What kind of fat do you need most and how much? What good does fat do? What foods contain the kind of fat I need?
What kind of fat do you need? Your body needs both saturated and unsaturated fat. Saturated fats come mainly from animal sources and are solid at room temperature- think butter or bacon. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature- think olive oil or vegetable oil. How much fat your body needs will be determined by you and your Metabolic doctor based on your weight, overall health and lifestyle.
Why not just cut fat out of your diet all together? Fat is not bad for you, too much is bad for you. Let's look at the good side of fats.
- Fat helps you absorb certain vitamins and nutrients that are only fat soluble. Vitamins A,D,E and K are fat soluble. If there is no fat, there is no absorption.
- Fats (Omega-3) are important for optimum nerve, brain, heart function and cell structure.
- Fat also acts as an "energy silo". Energy is stored in fat cells and released when we exercise or are very active, without fat there is no energy.
There is only one type of fat that you do not need, these are trans fats. Trans fat offers no benefit at all. These are an artificial fat found in partially hydrogenated oils.
What kind of foods contain good for you fat?
- walnuts
- almonds
- olives/olive oil
- avocados
- flaxseed
- salmon/fish
Be aware of your daily servings and portion sizes. If you have any questions about those, please contact your closest Metabolic Medical Center.