FAT is not Always Bad, Some Benefits of eating Fat

You gotta love fat? Be happy because scientific studies show that there are many benefits of eating more fat. For years Fat has been painted as an evil monster and the root cause of high cholesterol, heart disease and obesity. It’s time to rethink, for those who cut down on fats and are tended to eat too much starchy food like bread and pasta, this as essential part of our dietary management.

Fat is not always bad, read through to know some benefits of Fat.

1. Fat is essential to brain health

Did you know that brain tissue is made up of nearly 60% fat? A diet low in fat actually robs your brain of the materials it needs to function properly. Essential vitamins such as A, D, E and K are not water soluble and require fat to get transported and absorbed by the body. These vitamins are crucial for brain health and many of our vital organs.

Vitamin D is now being widely touted as an important element in decreasing susceptibility to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression and other brain disorders and omega 3 is said to sharpen your cognitive function as well as to improve your mood.

2. Reducing fat from diet raises risk of early death

A study by The Lancet of 135,000 adults found that those who cut back on fats had much shorter lives than those enjoying butter, cheeses and meats. Researchers said the study was at odds with repeated health advice to cut down on fats. Those doing so tended to eat too much starchy food like bread, pasta and rice while missing out on vital nutrients, the experts said.

Participants eating the highest levels of carbohydrates – particularly refined sugars found in fizzy drinks and processed meals – faced a 28 percent higher risk of early death. The NHS cautions against having too much saturated fat on the grounds it raises cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease. However, the latest research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, found that consuming high levels of fats cut mortality by up to 23 percent.

3. Fat reduces cancer risk

Eating good fats as part of a diet that optimizes macronutrient intake for glucose management and decreases inflammation will reduce risk of cancer. Research suggests that omega-6 oil promotes cancer progression and metastasis, whereas monounsaturated oil such as found in olive oil has a protective effect.

A higher saturated fat intake may actually be good for prevention of cancer. A 2013survey of dietary fat intake and pancreatic cancer found that a higher saturated fat intake was associated with a lower risk of pancreatic cancer in 111,416people.

4. Fat keeps your largest organ healthy

Fat makes up the bulk of the cellular membrane and our skin is made up of a very large number of cells. Without the proper consumption of fat, our skin can become dry and chapped, which can also open up pathways for infection to enter our bodies.

5. Fat keeps your lungs working properly

Our lungs are coated with a substance composed almost entirely of saturated fat. Premature babies who are lacking this substance are given something called “surfactant” to keep their lungs functioning properly.

Without enough saturated fat, our lungs can be compromised. Some studies are now looking at the link between the low consumption of saturated fat and Asthma as a result of the breakdown of this fatty layer.