Eat fat, lose weight

The longest lasting fuel for the body is fat as it gives much needed instant energy. But what you need are the saturated fats

Since a few decades now we have been told that fat is the evil that contributes to weight gain, heart diseases, and overall poor health. We grew up in an era where we equated health with low fat or zero fat diets. Now the most feared food fat is the food that is absolutely needed for vibrant health and weight loss.

We can actually turn off our fat genes and reduce our stress, sugar levels, and cholesterol by eating fat. A low-fat diet does not work over a period of time as it can lead to a host of problems. Fats are integral parts of cell structure, a vital source of energy they help carry out many metabolic functions too.

Remember that all fats are not good and what you need to eat is saturated fats especially cows ghee, coconut and white butter. Omega 3 fats found in walnuts, flax seeds are beneficial to eat and fish oils as they are anti- inflammatory. Another good fat is extra virgin olive oil which is a monounsaturated fat.

Add seeds like pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds as snacks to get your polyunsaturated fats. The longest lasting fuel for the body is fat as it not only gives much needed instant energy and satiates you but it can also be stored for future use.

Adding fat to your meal helps food stay in your stomach longer thereby keeping you full for longer preventing binge eating.

Additionally, fat helps in overall well being making you feel on top of the world mentally and physically which automatically satiates and you land up eating a balanced diet preventing you from reaching out for high caloric dead food.

Good fat:

• Regulates your body temperature.
• Helps absorb Vitamin A. D. E. K. and beta-carotene.
• Regulates hormones and are necessary for the production of estrogen, cortisol, testosterone, progesterone among other hormones.
• Lubricates the joints and gives a good padding to the organs that would be susceptible to every little jolt.
• Helps protect against heart disease and blood sugar spikes
• Helps protects against cancer.
• Prevents chest congestion asthma and bronchitis.
• Improves digestion and prevents hemorrhoids and piles.
• Prevents premature graying of hair and sagging of skin.
• Saturated fats especially coconut prevents the malfunction of the thyroid gland that controls the weight.
• Prevents mood swings and the onset of depression and Alzheimer’s.

Recent scientific studies have recommended including oils and fats with a high content of saturated and monounsaturated fats as part of a balanced diet.

These studies show that fat is needed for the brain to function and improve performance and memory.

Put this in perspective and a very evident link is seen between the innumerable academicians, from Southern India, one of the best examples being Dr. Abdul Kalam where traditionally the most commonly used fat was coconut and cow’s ghee.

Realise a diet without fat is like ringing a death knell. Re-introduce fat in your life by cooking loads of vegetables in ghee, pour it on your rice, spread it on your roti, garnish with coconut and snack on seeds and nuts.

Snack on it or toss it on your salad.