Role of Fat

by Cari Jones

We have to learn the role of fat in our diets. The perception of fat, generally speaking, is that it needs to be eliminated, in order to shed pounds.The truth is, fat is required for maintaining good health.Trimming too much fat from your diet can lead to some serious health issues. Your body needs fat to function properly and is necessary for the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.Our bodies also use fat for healthy skin,reproduction,hormones, and proper functioning of all the body systems.Some fats even help curb appetite. Without fat, your body can lose the ability to burn calories.Even though the general public has reduced their caloric intake, over fifty percent face overweight and obesity issues, with the incidence of diabetes rising in tandem(statistics show that 80% of people with type2 diabetes are overweight). Imagine that! Trimming too much fat can make you fat!

But here is where we really have to educate ourselves, learning the difference between good fat and bad. Not all fats are the same. Examples of good fats can be found in such foods as avocados,nuts,cold-pressed canola oil or extra virgin olive oil, which are rich in enzymes and oxygen. Fats that are highly processed, on the other hand,found in foods such as french fries, deep fried egg rolls or other greasy foods are deficient in enzymes and oxygen has been depleted.They cannot be easily digested or readily broken down and used for energy. Instead, they are stored as body fat. For this reason the fat actually sticks together, forming clumps that clog the arteries.Saturated fats that cannot be digested can actually remain in your system and produce toxins that can increase the risk of cancer or diabetes and lead to many other serious health problems including heart attack ,stroke and premature aging just to name a few.

So, we know that fat is important in our diets. The trick is to cut down on the bad guys, because it may be unrealistic in today's environment to eliminate all processed foods, but fat is an important area where we can maintain control by choosing wisely when we are out of our homes and preparing meals at home using the good guys.
About the Author

Author currently operates 2 health related websites and blogs Empowering Healthier Choices