Does Eating Fat Make You Fat?

[Antonio Valladares]

I copied this response from the Elimination Diet forum where I responded to a question about why fat is important in our diet.

Please note - I am not telling anyone to go hog wild on a full fat bacon, cheese and eggs 4 times a day diet!

But this may help some of you get over the fear of eating fat.

When examined honestly and accurately, the scientific evidence doesnt support the idea that "artery-clogging" saturated fats cause heart disease.

Saturated fats from healthy pastured animals play many important roles in our body chemistry:

They protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins, including pain killers

They enhance the immune system

Our hormones are made from saturated and cholesterol. So to have normal hormonal balance (which is required for burning fat), it is important to avoid 'low fat' foods.

Saturated fats constitute about 50% of the cell membranes. They are what gives our cells stiffness and integrity.

They play a vital role in bone health. For calcium to be effectively incorporated into our bones, at least 50% of our dietary fats should be saturated.

Saturated fats lower Lp(a), a substance in the blood that indicates greater risk of heart disease.

They have antimicrobial properties. They protect us against harmful microorganisms in the gut.

They are needed for the proper utilization of essential, omega fatty acids

Elongated omega-3 fatty acids are better retained in the tissues when the diet is rich in saturated fats.

Saturated (18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon palmitic acid) are ideal foods for the heart, which is why the fat around the heart muscle is highly saturated. The heart requires these fat reserves during stress.

The fat in clogged arteries is only about 26% saturated. The rest is unsaturated, of which more than half is polyunsaturated which comes from crappy vegetables oils including salad dressings and unhealthy 'health'' food oils like soy and canola.

They make foods taste better and help w satiety and reduce cravings...saturated fats have sustained human culture for over 2 million years.

So don't be afraid of eating animals fats as long as tehy come from clean, grass fed sources ...but you may not want to eat 'low fat' foods for optimal health and fat burning.

Antonio

[Lynn]

Wow, this is very interesting in light of what I'm being told by my cardiologist, nutritionist in the cardiac rehab program, etc. I was told to have as little saturated fat as possible, and not an awful lot of the other! So I had to stop using butter, and use this non-hydrogenated olive oil margarine stuff (which wasn't as bad as I expected, not having all the artificicial ingredients, etc., that are in a lot of margarines. But it still wasn't butter! :) However, for the ED, I still haven't gone back to butter - just using olive oil.
I guess I'm afraid to, as my cholesterol levels still aren't what they should be, even with all the meds I'm on.

[Antonio Valladares]

Lyn

What you said is quite common --> 'Avoid real food and eat synthetic man made foods to heal or prevent a disease'....hmmm.

When your on meds, you need to follow the advice of your doctor.
However, doctors know very little, if anything, about nutrition.

The real issue is sugar.
Sugar isn't just white table sugar. Its cereal, bread, baked goods, processed foods, sodas and juices.

I suggest you educate yourself on the topic
Ask your doctor if they have ever studied this information....

You can also ask your Ddoc if he is doing Dax's 'Look Great Naked Challenge' and assuming your doc is a man, ask him to take his shirt off to show you his 6 pack... (Kidding of course)

I have posted some links below so you can learn more and make your own informed decisions that are best for you.

A few questions to ponder regarding this topic are this:

If saturated fat and cholesterol are so bad for us, how did we evolve over 2 million years on a diet primarily of fat and protein from animal sources? Wouldn't we have died by now if saturated fat and cholesterol are bad for us?

In the past 80 years, the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol has radically declined in our diet, yet the rates of heart disease & cancer have skyrocketed. So how could animal fats be causing heart disease?

How come certain indigenous cultures around the world, eat according to nature, eat all sorts of animal fats and have never had cancer, heart disease, obesity, arthritis, diabetes and all sorts of other diseases that are plaguing modern man (or woman)?

Here is a video from a good friend of mine on the topic:

Is God Stupid? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjdy0n_gJq8&feature=channel_page

The Myth of Cholesterol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUSEbEB7z3k&feature=related

Truth About Saturated Fat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAy_yjk3XAE


Articles:
The Hidden Truth About Cholesterol Lowering Drugs article: http://www.health-fx.net/eBook.pdf

The Skinny on Fats http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/skinny.html

Cholesterol and Heart Disease: A Phony Issue http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/fats_phony.html

Cholesterol: Friend or Foe http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/cholesterol-friend.html


Books:
The Cholesterol Myths: Exposing the Fallacy That Saturated Fat and Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease by Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD

The Great Cholesterol Con: Why everything you've been told about cholesterol, diet, and heart disease is wrong! by Anthony Colpo

A list of over 20 experts and their commentary and research on saturated fat and cholesterol
http://www.thincs.org/links.htm


If this is too much info for you.
Dont worry about it. You dont have to read it all or any of it...

Just follow your heart and use your head do what is best for you.
Education is the key when it comes to improving your health.
You cant rely on your doctor or on a web forum, so do some research yourself.
As far as meds, follow your docs advice and get him on the Elimination Diet if he doesn't have a 6 pack.

Antonio

[Aimee]

Thank you for this Antonio. I have explored the videos and links and this along with other information I have found confirms my suspicions, and my family is now only eating healthy oils (well, at least at home, the step-daughters still eat out and and with friends). I come from a farming family. We grew up on lard, butter, raw milk, eggs and red meat. I have always wondered why I had low blood pressure and low cholesterol. By what we see and hear, I shouldn't! And there is virtually no heart disease in my family. Why is that?? Now, my generation did consume a lot of sugar and crisco, too, and I regret that. But I can only go on from here, and I thank you for helping me with my decisions. Thank you for sharing so much with us.

[Piera]

Thanks Antonio!

I am going to order the books you suggested here. Such great info! Its amazing how much misinformation is out there about animal fat and fat in general. I have Udo's book : fats that heal, fats that kill and its also a great read.

I would have to add from the info and research that have read, eating FAT in the ABSENCE of SUGARS and processed foods will not promote weight gain. And as long as your not eating fat by the pound, then it won't maek you gain weight.

I'm not too keen on butter, not because its fat , I just personally am not a fan of the taste. But hand over the coconut oil jar and I can have a great time ;)

As for whole yogurt, I want to eat as little dairy as possible so will limit it for now. great article, thanks again

Piera

[Lynn]

Thanks, Antonio, for all the info! I've read the articles & watched the videos. I'm going to look for the books, as well.

Now my next worry is "what am I gonna tell my doctor at my next visit?" ...'cause I didn't fill the Rx for Lipitor he just gave me, & there isn't much point in having my cholesterol rechecked in a month, which I'm 'supposed' to do before I see him! Too bad I can't print out some of those articles to take in! (copyright)

[Antonio Valladares]

Lyn

High cholesterol is not a problem
low cholesterol is actually worse

but if you want to know the cause of the problem - its sugar and man made oils
eliminate ALL sugars and sweeteners

If you eat fruit, dont have it by itself
have some fat or protein w it

eat veggies,esp green leafy as your main source of carbs
make sure your colon is rollin at least twice a day

eliminate ALL caffeine
and just watch the magic happen

antonio

[Kelly]

I've been trying to tell my friend who is pro "low-fat/no-fat" everything for ages that it's not fat that's the problem, it's highly refined and processed SUGARS that make the difference, and what she doesn't seem to understand is that if something is low or no fat - the company will just put heaps of sugar in it to make it taste better! I've emailed your post to myself so I can take it home and show it to her just to prove that I'm not just saying it. She's pretty slim and hasn't been able to tone up very well coz she eats HEAPS of low fat/no fat food, I'm still overweight but have been peeling of the weight slowly but surely by educating myself on how the body processes foods and figuring out what my body does and doesn't like so I eat all full fat everything but only in little serves and work out nearly every day - it makes a HUGE difference. So thanks heaps for your post Antonio - it has been a big help for me and hopefully an eye opener for my friend!!

[birigik]

I agree with all you wrote, Antonio. I avoid low fat products like the plague. I'm very lean. I have low blood pressure and healthy chol levels. I eat organic full fat yogurt, butter, meat, salmon, etc and take fish oil supplements as well.

[birigik]

Antonio, Agave Nectar is fine isn't it? It has not got the effect on blood sugar that all other sugars do. I haven't tried Stevia, haven't found it here.

Antonio Valladares said:

Lyn

High cholesterol is not a problem
low cholesterol is actually worse

but if you want to know the cause of the problem - its sugar and man made oils
eliminate ALL sugars and sweeteners

If you eat fruit, dont have it by itself
have some fat or protein w it

eat veggies,esp green leafy as your main source of carbs
make sure your colon is rollin at least twice a day

eliminate ALL caffeine
and just watch the magic happen

antonio

[Antonio Valladares]

birgik

actually agave is not good
its marketed to be the new 'health food' superfood sweetener, which is nonsense

essentially its high fructose corn syrup (90% fructose)
fructose is not handled by the body like regular sugars, its managed by the liver and easily stored as body fat and converted into triglycerides

yes it is low glycemic, but it has other problems that are much more of a concern than its glycemic index

that is expertly deceptive marketing at its best

that's like saying 'this gun carrying gangster doesn't carry a knife! woohoo! how 'bout that?!!!'

your best off reducing ALL sugars and sweeteners

if you have a sweet tooth, stick to fruits and honey
you can even warm up some sliced fruit in butter or coconut oil and add a little cinnamon as dessert

in fact, I jjust made an amazing dessert which can also be used as a cereal

it will satisfy your sweet tooth but actually be super nutrient dense and improve your health and help you burn fat

I am filming it today and will post it here later

antonio

[Antonio Valladares]

forgot to add...stevia and xylitol are good sweeteners as they will not have the same harmful affects as other sweeteners

if you use maple syrup make sure its organic

a

[birigik]

Hi Antonio,
Well, that's too bad about the Agave!! I just bought a very large bottle! I do feel the need for a sweetener at breakfast sometimes but isn't honey and maple syrup a no-no on the 30-day ED? Of course I'd rather go for the least harmful sweetener for fat loss, and I drastically reduced fruit. I don't think Stevia is available in Europe; I haven't seen it in the healthfood store. So what are the problems with Agave? That it functions like fructose?

Antonio Valladares said:

forgot to add...stevia and xylitol are good sweeteners as they will not have the same harmful affects as other sweeteners

if you use maple syrup make sure its organic

a