WHY FAT-FREE IS NOT A HEALTHY CHOICE!
WHY FAT-FREE IS NOT A HEALTHY CHOICE!
My clients are often surprised to hear that I am not going to encourage them to limit their fat calories and actually discourage them from eating fat-free “diet” foods. I don’t stress about quality fats or fats from whole food forms, in fact I don’t have clients monitor calories either. I work with structured timing and specific portions of clean foods, no number obsessing anymore! You’ll never hear Naturally Nourished RD advocate for Fat-Free anything and here’s why:
When we opt for fat free products we are selecting foods that are more processed, which provides more artificial binders, fillers, emulsifiers, etc. and these products also tend to have more sugar! In America, we have seen the fat-free craze of the 80s-90s backfire as our country tops the charts with obesity. How is this happening? Truly there are many reasons but here is two important reasons to keep in mind when we are grocery shopping.
1. Eating fat does not necessarily equal fat on the body. Our body can make fat out of any excess energy source and actually our body is quite efficient at packaging excessive sugar into fat stores. Keeping fat out of the diet may lower calories but it can also allow for more elevated blood sugar levels which in turn may promote fat storage!
2. Fat encourages satiety (feeling of fullness) and helps us to properly gauge our appetite. Fat stimulates the release of Leptin, a hormone in our brain that inhibits or blocks hunger signals. So for the additional calories you may get in a couple of nuts vs. a whole grain cracker, you will be satisfied for a longer period of time thus creating less calories eaten throughout the day!
Beyond fats being an important part in maintaining optimal metabolism and weight, fats also contribute to our hormonal function, insulation of our organs, and preventing fatty acid deficiency. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s play an integral role in preventing inflammation and aiding in optimal nerve/vessel function.
Keep in mind: Fat soluble toxins are stored in fats and oxidized fats can cause damage to our vessels! So we want to select quality, unprocessed, organic fats whenever possible!
Check out our Optimal Eating Virtual Class for more Food-As-Medicine Information on healthy fats!
