Myths About Fat

In many people's attempt to lose fat many times they shy away from eating anything that contains fat. This is a big mistake for several reasons:
1. In order to burn fat we need to eat a balanced diet containing healthy fats rather than deprive the body of any and all fats.
2. Healthy fats (e.g. Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids) are essential for proper functioning of the brain and other organs.
3. There are some important vitamins that cannot be absorbed and used by the body if the fat is not present. These are called liposoluble or fat-soluble vitamins.
4. The good fats combined with exercise are key components to help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing the good cholesterol (HDL), which helps maintain healthy blood vessels and overall cardiovascular health.
While we should avoid bad fats (those from animal sources like butter, cheeses and fatty meats), we should focus on fats contained in nuts, seeds and unprocessed vegetable oils (e.g. canola, sunflower, or olive oil). Fatty fish like salmon is also a good option.