Topics: Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Modalities: Biofeedback / Neurofeedback, Detoxification, Holistic Nutrition Therapy, Quantum Touch Healing, Reiki, Swedish Massage
Confused about fats? unsaturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, hydrogenated, trans fats, omega fats . . . help! It's actually not that complicated.
Bad fats can lead to serious health problems, such as free radical damage, inflammation, weight gain, to mention just a few. Here are some ways to avoid them.
1. Watch for "hydrogenated oils" in grocery store products (such as crackers and processed foods). These are trans fats and are very unhealthy.
2. Don't cook with vegetable oils, EVER. They are polyunsaturated and are chemically unstable when heated, and turn into "bad" fats.
3. Cook with cold-pressed olive oil only at low to medium temperatures. It is more stable than vegetable oils, but not stable enough for high heat.
4. If you are cooking at high temperatures, use only saturated fat such as butter or, better still, coconut oil. You heard it right! Saturated fats are the most stable fat for cooking. Any other oil will go rancid and potentially create havoc in your body.
5. Don't allow vegetable oils to become rancid. Keep in the refrigerator at all times, and not for more than about two months after opening. If you have any older oils in your home, throw them out!
6. Use only organic, cold-pressed oils.
7. Make sure you eat enough good Omega-3 fats; these help to prevent and undo damage caused by bad fats. Eat organic hemp seeds (or hemp oil), ground flax (or fresh flax oil). These contain Omega 3 and Omega 6. Keep these seeds refrigerated too.
8. We all need some saturated fat in our diets, but avoid excess red meat and butter. Too much leads to inflammation and high cholesterol (although sugar and refined carbs contribute to high cholesterol as well).
9. Keep all nuts and seeds in the refrigerator, as the oils contained in them can go rancid.
10. Avoid fast foods and try not to eat out too often. Since we all from time to time eat in a restaurant and can't control the fats used, take antioxidants regularly (or eat antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, and other fruit). Antioxidants will protect your body from free-radical damage.
Check in soon for a list of your best sources of antioxidants.
This article was written by
Vibrancy Inc.