WHY SATURATED FATS ARE THE REAL HEALTHY FATS | DR. STEVEN LIN

Dr. Steven Lin’s Blog

With all the conflicting information on healthy fats, it’s hard to know which are the healthy fats and which are the bad fats. You’re probably aware of polyunsaturated fats and their benefits and to avoid saturated and trans fats, because of their links to heart disease.

However the growing tide of research and scientific opinion is mounting that we’ve had it all wrong about saturated fat aswell as the understanding of what healthy fats are.

We’ve long demonised saturated fat as associated with many dangers and health consequences, health professionals are still advising their patients to lower their intake to improve many conditions common to the Western world including heart disease and obesity.

However many people would be amazed to know that the different kinds of fats, including saturated fats are an essential part of an array of body processes, without healthy sources of fat intake these would not be able to function properly.

A Nutritious, High Density Energy Source

Fats provide us with a concentrated source of energy, with 9 calories/gram in comparison to other sources of energy such as protein and carbohydrates, and thus only a small amount needs to be consumed to allow us to feel full and satiated.

Fat Soluble Vitamins And Bone Health

Fat-soluble vitamins are those which need fat in order for your body to access them, these are vitamins D, E, A and K. These vitamins are crucial for proper brain function, liver health, nerve signalling and a proper immune response.

Saturated Fats Boost Your Immune System

Saturated fats are an active part of enhancing the immune response, research linking saturated fats to clogged arteries and consequent heart disease has actually been debunked. Saturated fats found in butter and coconut (myristic acid and lauric acid) and other unprocessed sources such as grass fed meat play key roles in the immune response.

Healthy Sources Of Saturated Fats

In order to get the maximum benefits from saturated fats one should avoid any processed hydrogenated fats and eat foods naturally rich in saturated fats. These include:

Butter and full fat dairy

Lard– Lard is actually an excellent natural source of saturated fat and vitamin D when it is made through natural methods using pork fat. However be careful to avoid highly processed hydrogenated lard which has limited health benefits.

Duck Fat– Increasingly becoming an alternative medium for frying in many restaurants due to its health benefits, duck fat contains healthy saturated and unsaturated fats with a high proportion of the essential linoleic acid

Coconut Oil– A tropical oil with a host of health benefits including boosting your immune system, maintaining cholesterol levels and regulating your metabolism. Coconut oil contains lauric acid and capric acid which have potent antioxidant, anti-fungal.

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