The F word

I’m talking about fat.

For years, we’ve been told that fat is bad.  Fat makes us fat.  Saturated fat will clog our arteries.  If we eat too much cholesterol, we will have high cholesterol.  And that will lead to a heart attack.
What if I told you it’s all been a big fat lie?

Since I have added more high quality fat to my diet (and cut out processed carbs) I’ve never felt better.  Not only do I have more energy and feel more focused, it’s easier to maintain my weight.  I’ve been living this way for over five years now, and continue to feel great.  Oh, and fat adds incredible flavor to your food.
At first it seemed so counterintuitive, since the whole fat free/low fat thing has been drilled into our heads for so long.
Listen, I’m not a doctor.  Or a scientist.  If I were, I wouldn’t have time to be posting videos on Instagram, listening to Justin Bieber, and shopping at Target.  I’m just telling you what works for me.
But there’s actually a lot of science to back up the results that I’ve been having.
And if you want to read about that science, some excellent books are It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig; Eat Fat, Get Thin by Mark Hyman, MD; and  The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.
All of these books give an excellent, more detailed explanation of the extremely faulty science that led us to believe that fat is bad for us.  Because I know you’re not reading happy, healthy and hot for science lessons!
So what exactly is high quality fat?
Some of my favorite fats include coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil (and avocados!), ghee and butter.
Some other great sources of high quality fats are fish like salmon and sardines and raw nuts.  And I have no problem eating the skin when I roast a pastured chicken.  In fact, that’s the best part!  But this post is going to focus on the fats that we cook with or add to our foods.
Coconut oil has been my go-to for years.  I actually first learned about it during my vegan days, and have loved it ever since.  Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids that are easier for our bodies to process and are less likely to be stored as fat.
To ensure that I get some coconut oil into my body every single day,  I blend it into my coffee along with collagen peptides.  This boost of healthy fat and protein keeps me going for hours.  Coconut oil is a very stable fat for cooking and baking.  It does impart a bit of a coconut taste, so keep that in mind.
Olive oil is full of monounsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid which fights free radical damage.  Extra virgin olive oil may lower rates of inflammation, heart disease, depression and dementia.  And hey, most people love the flavor.  I use it for roasting veggies and drizzling on salads.  Kasandrinos is a great tasting olive oil sourced from family farms in Greece.
Avocado oil has become one of my all time faves.  My fave is from Primal Kitchen. Like extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil contains valuable monounsaturated fats, as well as fat soluble vitamins.  Avocado oil is surprisingly heat stable.  Like olive oil, it’s awesome for roasting veggies and gives a really satisfying buttery flavor.  It’s also great on salads and I have used it to cook eggs.
Butter.  Ahhh….butter!   While I am sensitive to dairy (it makes me break out 😩  ) I tolerate butter and ghee very well.  Always look for butter from pastured cows.  It is higher in omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin K2 than conventional butter.  My fave brand of butter is Kerry Gold. Seriously, soooo good.  Totally spoils you for anything else.  Many times it is found in the gourmet cheese section at the grocery store.  Go figure.
Now you might be asking, what about canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, etc?  I thought we were supposed to be eating vegetable oils.
Here’s the thing…those oils are a highly processed industrial product.  By the time they are chemically extracted, bleached, deodorized and packed into bottles on your grocer’s shelves, your body doesn’t even recognize them as food.  The preservatives BHA and BHT are often added to increase the shelf life.  No good can come from this, believe me!
So, can high quality fats help you feel happy, healthy and hot?  This one may be hard to wrap your head around, but YES they can.
You will be so happy eating delicious, real food that tastes amazing.  Fat keeps you healthy on a cellular level, can actually help you lose weight, and gives you glowing skin.  And that gorgeous skin and body are very hot!
SHOP THE POST:
Collagen Peptides
Thrive Market 
Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil
Kasandrinos Olive Oil
Simply Ghee
The Primal Blueprint
Eat Fat, Get Thin
It Starts With Food