5 Reasons To Eat More Healthy Fats

Oxidized fats and trans-fats are the bad fats that cause health issues, but all fats are not evil. Healthy fats can include; saturated fats, medium chain triglycerides, omega 3’s and mono unsaturated fats. These healthy fats should not be avoided, but should be sought out and embraced!

There are a number of good reasons to include healthy fats into your diet! It is important to include a variety of sources as they all offer a variety of health benefits. Some examples of healthy fats are; nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, oily fish and grass-fed beef, cheese and butter.

Food Matters has provided you with 5 key reasons to eat more fats, including saturated fats:

1. Improved Cardiovascular Risk Factors - Fats plays a key role in cardiovascular health. The addition of saturated fat to the diet reduces the levels of a substance called lipoprotein (a) that correlates strongly with risk for heart disease. Research has shown that when women diet, those eating the greatest percentage of the total fat in their diets as saturated fat, lose the most weight.

2. Stronger Bones - Fat is required for calcium to be effectively incorporated into bone as key bone-building vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble, meaning they rely on fats to be absorbed and transported within the body. According to one of the foremost research experts in dietary fats and human health, Dr. Mary Enig, Ph.D., there’s a case to be made for having as much as 50 percent of the fats in your diet as saturated fats for this reason!

3. Healthier Lungs - For proper function, the airspaces of the lungs have to be coated with a thin layer of lung surfactant. The fat content of lung surfactant is 100 percent saturated fatty acids. Replacement of these critical fats by other types of fat makes faulty surfactant and potentially causes breathing difficulties.

4. A Healthier Brain - Your brain is mainly made of fat and cholesterol. The lion’s share of the fatty acids in the brain are actually saturated. A diet that skimps on healthy saturated fats robs your brain of the raw materials it needs to function optimally. Plus consuming omega-3 EPA and DHA fatty acids from oily fish, grass-fed beef and certain nuts and seeds supports memory and is critical for overall brain function.

5. Proper Nerve Conduction - Certain fats, particularly those found in butter, coconut oil, and oily fish are necessary for proper nerve function and protection. These nerves influence everything in the body from metabolism and muscle movement to the appropriate release of insulin.

There are so many more reasons to eat healthy fats daily, but as you can see with just these 5, consuming a healthy diet that includes a range of fats is important for so many critical bodily functions.

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