Let’s Talk About FAT – by Eric Noyes

For most people, the word fat is an ugly word. We all want to lose fat, look better and feel better about ourselves. So the answer should be really simple, if you don’t want to be fat, DON”T EAT FAT right??? Well it may come as a surprise but this is not true. Fats are extremely beneficial to our bodies, as long as we are eating good fats. Fats are used as an energy source in the body, provide a protective layer around our internal organs, and transport fat soluble vitamins to tissues. So if fats are so beneficial, why does everyone think they’re bad for us? Fat is often not to blame, it’s the amount of calories that come from fat that is the issue. Fat is the most calorically dense nutrient yielding 9 calories per gram of fat. So we can see how the calories are going to add up when consuming even good fats. Let’s look at good vs bad fats.

Good Fats The good fats that we want to stick too are the Unsaturated fats. Certain types of these fats have actually been found to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. So what are some good sources of fat to eat? Fish, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and avocados are a few great sources of good healthy fats.

Bad Fats The bad fats that we want to avoid are the Saturated and Trans fats. These do the complete opposite to what the good fats do for us. They raise our cholesterol levels and increase our risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Sources of saturated fats are: Baked goods, ice cream, fast foods, animal products, and fried foods.

When it comes to nutrition, it can get extremely difficult knowing what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat it. The weight loss battle can be extremely challenging, with many people left confused because of all the myths around nutrition. Breaking it down to what is going to help you reach your goal vs what is not going to help you reach your goal is often the best advice I can give. So the next time you think about opening that bag of chips or package of cookies, I want you to think to yourself, is this helping me achieve my goal?

Eric Noyes If you would like to learn more about how working with a coach can help you reach your goals, please contact Eric at eric@bodyfit.ca