Eat More Fat! Your Body says Thanks!

Eat More Fat! Your Body says Thanks!

FAT – is it good? Is it bad? There is so much information out there and it can be quite confusing. But here’s a simple way to know what to do. Ready….Eat more Healthy Monounsaturated Fat.

You’re Welcome.

Oh, you wanted more? Well, keep this important tip in mind: your body burns either fat or sugar for energy. Fat OR sugar – not both. It will always burn the sugar first. Sugar is like pouring lighter fluid on a campfire (yay s’mores!). It makes a powerful fire for certain, but it burns out quickly. This means you must keep adding lighter fluid again and again to keep the fire going. This is the same with sugar…your body will keep asking for sugar in order to keep up the same level of energy.

“But I don’t really eat sugar”, you are thinking. Well, sadly, carbohydrates become sugar in the body. Complex carbohydrates take longer to make this conversion which is one of the reasons they are better for your body than are simple carbohydrates. But if you are eating crackers, white rice, white bread…you are eating a quick burning sugar.

You can break this sugar, sugar, sugar cycle by adding fat into your diet. This burns slowly, more consistently, and has the added bonus of making you feel fuller when eating. Cravings fade away as do those crazy mood swings! Select healthier fats – olive oil, avocado, nuts, fish to name a few.

Sustained Energy is just one primary reason to eat more fat. But truly, our bodies NEED fat for maximum heart, brain, and cellular health. I mentioned earlier to eat more Monounsaturated Fat. This type of fat is known to increase our good cholesterol levels (our HDL, which I like to call the happy DL) while lowering our bad cholesterol levels (also known as our LDL). Monounsaturated fats are found in olive, avocado, peanut and canola oils, fish (like Salmon) and some nuts like almonds and peanuts.

 

In another post, I will talk about Saturated Fat and meat, which maybe isn’t as bad as you think and watch for a post on PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids). PUFAs are the ones to watch out for, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, here is a simple hummus recipe using Olive Oil. Start with the measurements, but add the Olive Oil while blending until you reach the consistency you like. And have fun experimenting with “add-ins” for flavor – nuts, seeds, paprika, green chilis…..

  • 1 can garbanzo beans
  • 4 T lemon juice
  • 2 T tahini
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 t salt
  • 2 T olive oil

BLEND all ingredients in a food processor and serve with crudités (fancy word for vegetable sticks) from your local farmers market.

Would you like to learn more about healthy alternatives? Schedule a free 25 consultation with Health Coach, Amber Stevens.

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