How healthy fats can help you lose weight
Telegraph
23-05-07 10:45
New research challenges traditional beliefs about fat consumption. Contrary to previous health advice, it is now considered healthier to eat fats in their natural form while avoiding low-fat options. Lab-made modified starches, synthetic emulsifiers, and sugar substitutes in low-fat foods have been shown to interfere with gut bacteria and create weight-gain. Short-term and long-term health is more likely to benefit from essential fats, which the body cannot create itself. Saturated animal fats and plant-derived unsaturated fats improve body function as well as reducing the risk of heart disease. Nutritious whole foods like nuts for polyunsaturated fat are also recommended. Olive oil, present in the Mediterranean diet, is particularly beneficial due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The quantity of saturated fat intake remains important, with existing health guidelines recommending less than 10% of calorie intake. However, the impact of saturated fat can be mitigated by the type of dairy product eaten. Dairy fat, rich in inflammation-fighting polyphenols and vitamin K2, has been linked to lower weight gain and cardiovascular disease.