Healthy Fats Improve Your Health

Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy

Not all fats are bad for you. Healthy fats improve your health! A diet high in healthy fats may slow down the progression of some diseases. Diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Common Myths

For decades we heard to avoid fat, any kind of fat. Doctors recommend people lower their fat intake and increase their carbohydrates. People took it to the extreme cutting out all fats including healthy fats. They also started eating a high-carb diet of refined sugar and carbs.

The food industry went crazy with low-fat or no-fat labeling. We went from real butter to margarine, skim milk, diet sodas, to ‘you name it’ – it was low or zero fat.

Fast forward to today and we are a nation addicted to sugar and carbs. With more chronic diseases, obesity, cancer, and heart disease than ever before.

Eat More Healthy Fats

Not all fats are bad for you, your body needs some fats. Even the American Heart Association recommends eating healthy fats. It’s a source of energy and rebuilds cell membranes. It’s especially important for the myelin sheath that protects the nerves.

Harmful fats are man-made trans fats. They increase the “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce the “good” HDL cholesterol. You can find them in baked goods like bread, crackers, microwave popcorn, and more. According to Harvard Medical School, they have “no known health benefits.”

Researchers discovered countries eating a diet high in fats also had a low rate of heart disease. How can this be? They were consuming good fats like olive oil and fatty fish.

There are two different fats you should be eating, saturated and unsaturated. They are both needed in a healthy diet.

• Saturated fats – animal fat, coconut oil, and ghee
• Unsaturated fats – olive oil, fish oil, nuts, and seeds

Omega Fatty Acids

Your body needs good sources of omega-3s, omega-6s, and omega-9s. They protect our cells by maintaining brain and nerve function. Also controls blood sugar, lower inflammation improves brain fog, and prevents heart disease.

Unfortunately, our unhealthy diets produce more omega-6s than omega-3s. This increases inflammation and messes with hormones. Removing processed foods and eating more omega-3s brings the balance back to normal.

Researchers discovered MS patients who were supplemented with omega-3s had few relapses and progression. Although, researchers are still debating whether omega-3 is beneficial or not.

The most important takeaway for people with MS, omega-3s repair the damage to the myelin sheath. If you don’t consume enough omega-3s it will take longer for your body to heal.

Best sources of Omega-3:

• Avocados
• Chia Seeds
• Fatty Fish, herring, trout, mackerel, salmon,  sardines, tuna
• Flaxseeds and Flaxseed Oil
• Walnuts

Nuts also have omega-6 so don’t start eating lots of nuts, instead eat them in moderation.

Omega-9s aren’t classified as essential fatty acids. They are, however, still important for reducing heart disease and some cancers.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are an important part of a healthy diet. Instead of focusing on low-fat focus on high-healthy fats. Although you don’t want to go overboard and start consuming too much fat.

Listen to your body, if you need to lose weight then you should watch your calorie intake. Changing your lifestyle by eating healthy. Fats, unconventional meats, vegetables, and fruits will help you lose weight.

Healthy fats fill you up so you eat less!

If you’re like me and can’t afford to lose weight, you should increase your healthy fats. Add avocados to your smoothie or instead of steaming vegetables cook them in coconut oil. But the most important thing is to focus on healing your gut. Then your body can start absorbing more nutrients.

Healthy Fats to Add to Your Diet:

• Avocados
• Coconut Oil
• Full-Fat Coconut Milk
• Grass-fed Beef
• Nuts (in moderation)
• Olives and Olive Oil
• Omega-3’s

Supplements

Your body needs healthy fats to reduce inflammation. To repair the myelin stealth it’s essential to eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, diet alone can’t do the job without the help of supplements.

I highly recommend talking to your doctor to get the recommended dosage of omega fats for you.

Reaching Your Goal

The first step is stopping the disease progression. Cut out any inflammatory foods and nourish your body real foods. Nourishing your body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants will help it to heal.

The second step is getting the old symptoms to reverse. It’s not going to be easy, you’ll even have some tough days. I’m right there with you! Continue nourishing your body. Add supplements, and if possible go see a functional medicine doctor.

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UPDATE:

The American Heart Association announced that coconut oil was unhealthy due to saturated fat. Unrefined coconut oil is healthy. It decreases inflammation which causes heart disease, lowers cholesterol, and helps with obesity. Check out these resources for even more benefits, Dr. Axe and Dr. Mercola.

 

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