Healthy fats are important for physical functionality and can assist in weight loss.
The right kinds of fats help:
* Increase satiety
* Maximize metabolism
* Protect against heart disease
* Speed nutrients through the body
* Improve fat-soluble vitamin intake (A,D,E,K)
Sources of healthy fats include:
* Avocado
* Coconut
* Olive
* Nuts – macadamia, peanut and almond
* Seeds – sesame, flax and hemp
* Ghee (clarified butter)
Omega 3’s are considered essential because they are not made in the body and are a good anti-inflammatory.
There are actually three different types of “omega-3s”:
* ALA (alpha-linolenic acid),
* DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and
* EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).
The preferred sources of omega-3s are DHA and EPA, the kinds found in seafood sources like nutritious salmon and sardines.
ALA, on the other hand, is found in some plant foods, including certain nuts (walnuts) and seeds (chia), as well as high-quality cuts of meat like grass-fed beef.
Supplementing with Omega 3’s help neutralise and balance out the high inflammatory omega 6 (from saturated fats e.g. margarine) fats.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in a double blind, randomised placebo-controlled study, published in the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. The study found that approximately 3.4grams of CLA per day is the level needed to obtain the beneficial effects of CLA on body fat. It’s benefits are thought to be the influence on reducing body fat and preserving muscle tissue.
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