The title alone may have already scared you and made you question my judgement...but fear not. I have a point here.
For years Americans have been plagued with being a very fat nation. Let's face it. Walk down the streets in the US and you'll find plenty of overweight people. So about 10 years ago we were at the height of the "fat free" craze where everything was "light" or "diet." Because of this we are branded with the thought that all fat is bad fat. This simply is not the case.
Bad fat does exist in the form of Trans Fats. What the heck are Trans Fats? Trans Fats occur when hydrogen and vegetable oil are added together through a process called hydrogenation which makes the oil less likely to spoil. So any time you see the ingredient "Partially hydrogenated" anything in your food...boom...trans fat. I should know from working in the snack food industry that this stuff is everywhere. Now, my company has done a lot to take these oils/fats out of our products but the reality is that they are still used in certain foods. Why? This oil helps food not to spoil easily, leaves foods less greasy, and can be recycled in manufacturing processes very easily because of its chemical composition. These fats raise your "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and lower your "good" cholesterol (HDL) creating a nutritional double whammy.
Recent studies have shown these fats to be the worst by most doctors. Saturated fats, however, are mostly naturally occurring fats in animal products (meat, milk, etc.). Saturated fats are actually very necessary for human function, here's why:
1. Improved cardiovascular health
2. Stronger bones
3. Improved liver health
4. Healthy lungs
5. Healthy brain function
6. Proper nerve signaling
7. Strong immune system
8. High protein diet (great for weight loss/muscle gain)
The all important thing to remember is that if you go to Texas Roadhouse and eat a 32 oz. steak you're going to be feeling it afterwards. The point is, don't be scared of saturated fats and animal products. Moderation is key in everything, but saturated fats don't have to be something to avoid so strongly.
~MB
