Does eating fat makes me fat?
For the past few decades, there has been an outpour in misleading information that eating fat will make you fat and that you should follow a low-fat diet to lose weight. In fact, in 1977 the United States government made its very first dietary recommendation to “eat less fat and cholesterol, and more carbohydrates.” Thus, the dawn of low-fat foods spread throughout the country like wildfire, and the obesity rate in America skyrocketed. The recommendation was a big fat fail. Since then, research has proven that avoiding fat is non-sense. It just so turns out that the amount of calories from fat is irrelevant and replacing fat with refined carbs and sugar is far worse.
And…. Here’s why eating fat actually helps you lose weight…
EATING FAT HELPS YOU EAT LESS
Fat is satiating, which means you become satisfied from eating it pretty quickly. The body detects fat consumption and signals are sent to the brain, suppressing appetite, and the stomach starts to empty more slowly, leaving you feeling full longer. On the other hand, when you eat low-fat foods, your brain isn’t being signaled that enough fat (energy) stores are coming in, which makes you want to eat more and digest the food quickly. So although the foods may be low-fat or reduced-fat, more calories are consumed and fat is stored in the body. In addition, most low-fat foods are packed with sugar.
EATING FAT BOOSTS YOUR METABOLISM
Getting enough fat in your diet conditions your body to burn fat. When you eat a low-fat diet, your body produces low levels of a fat-burning hormone called adiponectin. Increasing adiponectin levels is important when you want to lose weight because it increases the rate in which fats are broken down, curbs appetite, increases muscle efficiency, and increases insulin sensitivity.
EATING FAT HELPS YOU EAT LESS CARBS
Displacing carbs with fat helps with weight loss because of the effect on insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is released by your pancreas in proportion to the amount of carbs you eat. The more carbs you eat, the more insulin is released. But the more insulin released, the more weight gain. Keeping insulin levels low helps you lose weight. Fat in the diet helps keep insulin levels low and allows your body to use fat as energy.
It’s true! Fats are good for you and they can help you lose weight. But keep in mind that not all fatty foods are created equal. Fat from pizza, French fries, and potato chips are not going to have the same health benefits and will just make you gain weight. Here’s a list of healthy fatty foods that will help slim you down:
Top Fatty Foods For A Slim Waist:
- Almond Butter
- Avocado
- Coconut
- Dark Chocolate (70% cacoa or higher)
- Grass-fed beef
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Wild salmon
Are you enjoying this article?.. To illustrate that eating fat can help you lose weight, I wrote an entire weight loss program (based on my own body transformation and the latest science) called The French Paleo Burn. Please click on the image below to know more.
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