Two days ago we started a conversation about FAT: what it is, whether it is good for us, etc. Today we will continue talking about the topic to find out whether plant fat is the same as animal fat, and which one is better for our well-being.
Plant Fat and Cholesterol
In the last several years Cholesterol has become a buzz word, especially with all drug ads running on TV, radio and printed media. People are now starting to read labels. Let me help you to save time:
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Did you know that There is NO cholesterol in PLANT foods?!
Cholesterol is made in the liver. Animals produce cholesterol, humans do as well. We need the cholesterol that WE produce to live healthy lives. Even strict vegans will produce about 800-1500 milligrams of cholesterol a day internally.
If you follow the logic here, you will realize that since we produce our own cholesterol we don’t need to bring an outside [animal] source to help us with the process. Animals have a different DNA than we do, so their cholesterol is harmful to our bodies!
When we ingest dietary cholesterol from animal products we increase levels of cholesterol in our bodies, and with that the chances of heart disease, obesity, and high-cholesterol.
If you eat plants, even "fatty" plants, your body will not be invaded with foreign cholesterol and will make enough of its own, picking and choosing what it needs from the plants to produce needed amounts.
However, let me emphasize this again—this does not mean that you are going to run out and get a bottle of olive oil to have a bread-dipping party! When I talk about natural fats, I am referring to the ones that have not been altered and are consumed in their unaltered state. Need an example? Nuts, seeds, whole olives, whole coconuts, avocados etc. We do use occasional olive oil, hemp seed oil, coconut oil for salad dressings, sauteing and skincare, but we should not overindulge in any concentrated fat, no matter how GOOD they might be.
Will Plant Fat make me FAT?
Let me start with a disclaimer: if you’re overeating anything, with a possible exception of green juices or greens, you’re not going to feel too great, and you may retain weight. Whatever the origin of food is: plant, animal, raw or cooked, our bodies are not created to have an excess of it. Food is meant to be eaten to provide energy and sustenance to our bodies. It is our fuel, if you will. Just like a car, we should fill our "tank" only until it gets full; otherwise everything extra is going to be a waste. The only difference with this metaphor is that in our case, instead of spilling on the ground, extra "gas" will be settling on our waistline. So, let’s think of moderation when we talk about any food intake, including healthy plant fats.
With that in mind, thinking that the fat in avocados or other plant-based sources will make you fat reveals a serious misunderstanding of what does and doesn’t contribute to weight gain.
Overeating and bad fats do contribute to weight issues, but since we are talking about moderate intake of healthy fats, we should look at more than the number of grams or calories of fat we consume. We need to look at the accumulation of waste and toxins in our bodies that results from poor, mainstream diets, and our inability to process what we eat efficiently.
When we consume poor diet that consists of highly acidic foods (animal and processed sources) we begin to store and accumulate waste matter. Even if we think we’re eliminating normally, we’re not! Chances are, we’re clogged up from years of eating bad, junk foods. Given, some of us eat better diets than others, in which instances there is less waste accumulation. However, most modern day people, especially those living in "developed" countries eat highly acidic diets, which create highly acidic bodies. With acidic bodies comes waste accumulation, and it comes with consequences: gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and excessive bloating, low energy, and weight retention, in spite of exercise and efforts to eat well. There are other severe side-effects that might be experienced: chronic colds and flu, yeast infections, acne, eczema and psoriasis, fatigue, depression, migraines, etc.
To break the cycle of waste accumulation and weight retention we need to create alkaline environment in our bodies, which is achieved through a plant based, easy to digest diet. This includes: greens, vegetables, vegetable juices, avocados, nuts, legumes and other delicious foods. These foods do not only help to raise our bodies’ alkalinity, but, due to their high enzyme (in raw foods) and fiber content, also act like brooms and rough sponges, sweeping and scrubbing through our systems, removing the waste and toxins we’ve been storing. The effect of these foods, along with occasional regular colonic irrigation, if available, will help you end the weight retention and provide you with a renewed capacity to assimilate foods efficiently—fats included.
The key to a slim, supple body is not avoiding fats. It is avoiding dense, acidic foods! Avoiding healthy fats is not going to keep you slim if you’re still eating tons of grains, soy, and dairy. It’s wise to avoid animal fats, but along with that you also should avoid other offenders, especially in their processed and refined forms: soy, grains, fried foods. These all might contribute to acidity and weight retention.
The good news is that eating moderate amounts of healthy fats will not make you gain weight. If anything, avocados and young coconuts will help to alkalize your systems and keep you satiated, which can contribute to weight release. This is not a joke, I promise! I stay slim effortlessly, without counting calories or figuring out how many grams of fat are in my food.
In Conclusion
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Let’s recap everything to make sure that you walk away having learned a lesson.
1.Not all fats are bad
- animal fats are acidic and need to be avoided
- raw plant fats are essential for our health
2. Concentrated fats are not as good as unprocessed fats
- olives or avocados are better than olive or avocado oil
3. Avocados are not evil!
- in a properly structured diet it is hard to overeat on avocados and gain weight
- avocados are rich of vitamins, minerals and nutrients and should not be feared
4. Cooked fats are dangerous
- heated fats, especially when they rich a smoking point, release carcinogens
5. Plant fats will not make you fat!
- when foods are eaten in their natural (original) state, you will be unlikely to overeat on them
- however, if you eat a plant based diet that is highly processed you are likely to have weight and health problems
6. Don’t count calories, consider foods you eat
- Ask yourself these questions: "Is this good fat or bad fat? Will it be easy to digest and eliminate or will it clog my insides?"
We don’t have to be slaves to mainstream mentality that l would shackle us to label reading and fearing avocados for their high fat content. We can enjoy fats in healthy quantities without suffering any ill effects. Fats in a properly structured alkaline diet will not hurt you but help you.
So, get up, go get yourself a couple of avocados and make a great guacamole!
Eat whole foods and live an UNPROCESSED enjoyable life!
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What do you think about FAT now?
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