Will eating fat make me fat?

Let's dispel the myth - eating fat does not make you fat. This statement is almost as ridiculous as saying; eating vegetables will turn you green! I think that all of us have been told by someone - (in newspapers, magazines or by friends and family) that fat is BAD. It's not true! Many fats are vital - we need fats for our immune health, digestion and metabolism. They act as antioxidants and get rid of toxins in our systems and are essential for overall good health. 

Fats, proteins and carbs all have corresponding appetite hormones which act as messengers to our brains to control our hunger. So instead of getting fat; we get FULL - fat activates our metabolisms by processing several important vitamins such as vitamin D. Eating good fats can actually help you to lose weight!

What are 'good' fats?

Natural fats such as eggs, oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, nuts, seeds, oils (olive, coconut) and avocados all contain fatty acids which are essential for good health. Every cell in the body has an outer layer that is made up of fat, so we need to consume good fats to keep these cells strong and healthy. Some saturated fats found in red meat and butter are not as bad as previously thought and there really isn't any evidence to support the theory that these increase heart disease. Butter should be used over any mechanically produced 'spreads' and 'margarines' but in moderation. Don't buy processed red meats such as ham, salami, sausages and mince and eat organic red meat occasionally. 

Why are we so scared of eating fat?

Look back 50 years ago when people didn't know about the level of fat in their food. During the post-war era, home-cooked food which was bought from the local butcher, baker or greengrocer was the staple of many homes and the amount of fat or calories which may have been in it wasn't even thought about. 

In the 1950s, the Government encouraged us to consume vegetable oils which were added to packaged food such as margarine and mayonnaise. In the 1960s, we were told that consuming fat increased our risk of heart disease and made us fat, so we began to fear natural foods such as butter, red meat and eggs. And so it began...

Fast-forward to the 80's - the decade when new attitudes to food changed dramatically - full-fat foods were replaced with 'fat-free', 'low-fat' and 'lite' processed alternatives. This was the period where the obsession of calorie counting and weight-watching was 'in' and the food industry were there ready and willing to meet this demand. They seized this profit-making opportunity and produced low-fat versions of everything-  yogurts, sauces, microwavable meals and fruit juices. These made their way into households all over the country - foods laden with chemicals, hydrogenated fats and sugar. 

The message that fat was bad was misleading to say the least. We began to eat less fat than ever before yet we were getting fatter which impacted on our health. I'm not saying "eat lots of fat!" - there is nothing wrong with naturally low-fat food such as chicken, fish and vegetables - but there is a huge amount wrong with processed low-fat foods such as yogurts, margarines, spreads, cereals, juices and ready-meals. These foods have had the fat taken out but replaced with sugar, sweeteners and additives. Excess sugar gets converted into fat. Fact!