Back in the 80's scientists recommended that the US adopt a low fat, low calorie diet in order to lose weight. Unfortunately, the very next year obesity skyrocketed and has continued to climb steadily ever since. Why exactly did this happen? “Fat calories speed up your metabolism. Fats have to be burned. They don’t spike insulin and aren’t easily stored in the body,” Dr. Mark Hyman explains.
Weight loss is mainly about controlling your insulin levels. When insulin levels spike, it's essentially telling your body to hold onto weight. Then, your insulin levels crash leaving you feeling exhausted, cranky and with intense cravings. What spikes insulin? Processed foods with gluten, sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Back in the 80's when these "claims" about eating low fat came out, food companies and marketers jumped on the opportunity to push out low fat, low calorie, processed foods to Americans. But, when you take the fat out of food that contains fat naturally, it has to be replaced with something. What replaces it? Sugar and/or gluten. Everyone assumes that fat makes you fat, but it's really the sugar and grains in our diets we need to watch out for.
"Carbohydrates and sugar are converted into fat by your liver, and this is the easiest type of fat for your body to store as adipose fat tissue (a.k.a. belly fat). So the piece of low calorie white toast you had for breakfast is probably more likely to be the source of stubborn belly fat than the grass-fed butter that you spread on top of it," says Hyman.
Our bodies crave and need healthy fats to function. Have you ever experienced extreme brain fog at work or that 3PM crash? This is most likely due to a lack of healthy fats in your diet. Fats keep you feeling full, power your brain and train your body to burn fat. Yes, healthy fats are that amazing! Now, what are healthy fats? Read on for some of the best fats to eat to burn fat:
Avocados
Avocados are the holy grail of healthy fats. I probably eat an avocado a day. That's how amazing they are. They are full of monounsaturated fats which are anti inflammatory, reduce cholesterol and blood sugar.
Grass Fed Butter
Grass fed butter like Kerrygold is a fantastic way to get more healthy fats into your body. Grass-fed butter is full of saturated fat which plays a huge part in our health. Our brains are mainly made up of saturated fats as are our cell membranes, making saturated fats an integral part of nearly every function and organ in our body. Butter also helps you fight fat. Butter is made up of short and medium chain fatty acids making it a quick source of energy for your body. This leaves you feeling fuller longer, reduces cravings and helps eliminate toxins. But remember, not all butter is the same. Go for grass-fed.
Egg Yolks
Eggs have gotten a bad rep because of the amount of cholesterol they contain. Well, what science has recently shown us is that the cholesterol they contain is actually good cholesterol, not bad cholesterol. And yes, there is a big difference. Egg yolks have been shown to actually reduce overall cholesterol. They are also packed full of choline which 90% of Americans lack in their diets. Choline helps you think more clearly, so cook some up before a big meeting!
Coconut Oil
A recent publication in PubMed revealed that coconut oil is more energizing for the body than any other healthy fat out there. It's packed full of medium chain triglycerides that help fight fat. Not only that, but it's also a great antibacterial. So add some to your coffee in the morning or try cooking with it to get all of the body healthy benefits.
These fats are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of fantastic foods to eat. So, start out by adding these to your diet every day and notice the difference that you feel. I'd love to hear how you incorporate healthy fats into your meals. Share in the comments below!
