What functions does fat have to our Health?
Energy
Fat is a concentrated source of energy for our body (twice that of protein and carbohydrate) and should be eaten with every meal. Fat is also stored and used in our body when our energy reserves are low, and we need fuelling. When it is used in this way as a primary energy source it helps preserve muscle tissue and leanness.
Brain Function
Fats are essential for our brain function supporting focus, memory, concentration, and our mood. Most significantly the two primary Essential Fats, Omega 3 & Omega 6 (which can only be obtained from nutrition,) are linked with the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s.
Inflammation
Fat plays a significant role in downregulating inflammatory responses in our bodies. By lowering inflammation, fat supports joint health, heart health (maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels) and prevention of other inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Metabolism / Hormone Synthesis
Fats are the building blocks of all our hormones. Fat speeds up our metabolism by stimulating fat burning (as well as increasing satiety). Healthy fats, in the right ratio have been linked with improvements in body composition (ratio of fat to lean tissue) and enhanced athletic performance.
Stress / Healthy Nerves
Fats are important in helping us manage and improve our stress response by ensuring healthy nerves. This is because fat forms part of the outer layer of our nerve cells that are constantly sending messages around our body.
Skin and Hair
Fats are required for glowing healthy skin and glossy, healthy hair. I can often tell if a client consumes a diet low in fat by the appearance of their skin!What are the different types of fat?
There are three main types of dietary fat: saturated fats, unsaturated fats (monounsaturated & polyunsaturated) and trans fats.
Saturated fats
These are typically solid at room temperature and include Meat, Full-Fat Dairy, & Coconut oil.
Unsaturated fats
These are typically liquid at room temperature and there are two types of unsaturated fats:
Mono-unsaturated fats which include Olive oil, Avocados, Nuts and Seeds.
Polyunsaturated fats which are further are broken down into:
Omega 6 and include Sunflower oil, Rapeseed oil, Soya bean oil.
Omega 3 which include Oily fish, Flaxseed, Walnuts, Chia seeds.
Trans Fats
These are created by artificially hardening unsaturated fats to improve the texture and prolong the shelf life of processed foods and include biscuits, sweets, margarines, pies and pastries and fried foods.
UK guidelines state that fat should be no more than 35% of your total daily calorie intake and saturated fat no more than 11%. Instead ensure that you have a source of healthy fats at every meal which will also help you absorb all the nutrients from the rest of your plate. (A rough guide for oils and butter is a thumb-size full.)
Get most of your daily fat intake from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated sources such as:
Olive oil (only buy in dark glass bottles & store away from daylight to preserve quality of oil).
Oily fish such as wild salmon, mackerel, sardines & fresh tuna.
Nuts and seeds including their butters (e.g. cashew and almond butter), and oils e.g. Flaxseed oil
Avocados.
Focus on increasing your Omega 3 sources of fat. Although Omega 6 is an essential fat helping us fight infection and inflammation, UK diets typically have a higher Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio.
This is largely due to the fact that Omega 6 oils are used in most processed foods as they are cheap to produce but as they are unstable at high temperatures, they can leave us in an inflamed state.
Eat more of the foods that are higher in Omega 3 which include:
Eggs, mackerel, wild salmon, sardines, anchovies, flaxseeds, chia seeds, algae (e.g. seaweed flakes, spirulina).
Saturated Fats:
Choose full-fat products e.g. full fat yoghurt, as low- fat products have all the best nutrients sucked out of them and are higher in sugar, sweeteners and additives.
Eat only organic grass-fed meat which is hormone and anti-biotic free (as well as higher in Omega 3) so enjoy a good quality steak but avoid processed red meats such as sausages, bacon, salami which are known to have a negative impact on our health.
Trans Fats:
Avoid industrially processed and artificially created trans fats which are found in baked goods, convenience and packaged foods, snacks and desserts and are linked with inflammation and impaired health. Replace with natural, whole, and pure fat foods which are full of flavour and fill you up – a handful of nuts is far more satiating than a bag of crisps!
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