It is next to impossible to eliminate every single source of fat from our diets, and as previously stated, there are actually good fats that need to be included in our diet daily, even when we are working with the goal of weight loss in mind. Actually, including the foods that are sources of these good fats may not only help us to lose weight, but will also keep us healthier in the long run.
When we eat any type of fat, the body must work to break it down to a usable form, in this case, fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty acids are often used as fuel for resting muscles. Glycerol can be converted back into glucose for energy if needed, but only after a long chain of events takes place.
Certain types of fat have no benefit for the body whatsoever – they are dangerous and should be avoided. These include the animal-based saturated fats which are transported to the body’s storage tanks and dumped off. A diet that is high in animal-based saturated fats will lead to thickening of the arterial walls, as well as thickening of the blood. The combination of thick blood and thick arteries produces more work and stress for the heart. This, in turn, can lead to scarring and heart attack.
Beneficial fats like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and the Omega 3’s can help prevent and reduce the effects of heart disease. CLA has been shown to be very helpful in preventing damage caused by cholesterol in and around the heart.
When lipid metabolism is working properly or when it is enhanced, the body will either use the lipids for immediate energy or flush them out instead of storing them. When a fatty meal is consumed, some insulin will be released, although not nearly as much as with a high carbohydrate meal. The more insulin that is released by the body, the more likely it is that there will be some body fat storage. With lipids however, the insulin release is not as high unless some carbohydrates are eaten as well (most fatty meals contain some carbohydrates). The body will tend to focus on the carbohydrates first. This means that by adding beneficial fatty acids to the diet it is possible for the body to whisk the excess fats away before it is finished processing the carbohydrates.
Excellent food sources of Omega 3’s include: fatty fish like salmon, trout, and halibut; walnuts; and olive oil. CLA is found typically in beef, lamb, veal, poultry, milk, and cheese.
These fatty acids are commonly found in supplements and other fat pills or lose weight pills. Realistically, it is can be difficult to ingest enough of these fatty acids without also ingesting larger caloric amounts of protein as well. As a result, they make for top weight loss supplements, or components of health and lose weight pills.
by Dr. Emeka Okwuje
