Should You Ditch the Fat?

There is a real misconception around fat. Some say we should ditch the it, others say we should add more.

Let’s get one thing absolutely straight. We need fat. Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body cannot make itself. Fat helps the body absorb vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. Let me put this another way; these vitamins are fat-soluble, meaning they can only be absorbed with the help of fats. But they need to be the right ones.

Any fat that is not used by your body’s cells or turned into energy is converted into body fat. And just so you know, unused carbohydrates and proteins are also converted into body fat.

So what is deemed ‘healthy fat’?

There are four major dietary fats in the foods we eat and they are:

1. Monounsaturated fat. The best source is avocados and nuts and these are deemed to be ‘good’ fat.
2. Polyunsaturated fat, also a ‘good’ fat, in fact, a ‘great’ fat as it is an omega 3 fat found in flax seeds, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
3. Saturated fat is not so good for you. It’s found…