A High-Fat Diet to Lose Weight?

For decades, we’ve been told how fat or a high-fat diet is the enemy. Like me, you will remember growing up with the rise of low-fat everything! From milk to cookies, low-fat was everywhere! We swapped butter for margarine, shunned red meat, and filled our plates with “healthy whole grains”. Now it turns out that the science we so easily trusted back in the 80’s, is all based on a lie. A carefully selected study that picks and selects only data that supports its cause. Many dietary standards are set based on studies like this. An eye opening article reveals flaws in this study and shows how important details are left out! Read it here at: Pub Med Central. As you look at the growing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, you will how see things skyrocketed in the wrong direction and why our health still suffers.

This blog post aims to debunk the myths surrounding dietary fats. It will explain how a high-fat, moderate protein ketogenic diet can actually be your ally in weight loss and improved health. So, toss out those low-fat snacks and that nasty “plant butter” AKA margarine because those are things contributing to your health issues. Even if you don’t think low carb or keto is for you, please toss the margarine and other seeds oils. They are highly inflammatory and are wreaking havoc in your body. Use healthy fats like butter, avocado oil, coconut oil, tallow or lard for cooking. Save the olive oil for your salad dressings or to drizzle over a cooked dish – but don’t cook with it!

Understanding Fat and Its Role in the Body

Not all fats are the same. They categorize fats into saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats, each affecting our body differently. Unsaturated fats, found in olive oil and avocados, are heart healthy. Saturated fats, like those present in butter and red meat, were once vilified but are now recognized for their role in hormonal health and nutrient absorption. Trans fats, however, remain harmful, found in processed foods and contributing to heart disease. These days Trans Fats are banned and consequently, you will not be seeing them as much as before. They still tell us vegetable oils are healthy, but they are really far from it, and you should entirely remove them from your diet! If you really want to see how they are made, go to YouTube and search for “how vegetable oils are made”. When you’re done, go to your pantry and toss that garbage out!

Fat serves critical roles in our bodies. It’s a dense energy source, supports hormone production, and aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Grasping and understanding these roles nullifies the “fat makes you fat.” myth.

The Ketogenic Diet Explained

The ketogenic diet significantly reduces carbohydrate intake, substituting it with fat, and moderate protein. This shift encourages the body to enter ketosis, a natural metabolic state where ketones become the primary energy source instead of glucose. The benefits? Improved insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels, and a shift towards burning fat for energy, not just storing it. It is how our ancestors lived and is the optimal diet for our bodies today. Being vegan or living on packaged junk food will not fuel our best life. Eating real whole foods will nourish our bodies and give them the optimum nutrition to be healthy and thrive.

Debunking the Myth – How Eating a High-Fat Diet Leads to Weight Loss

The fear that eating fat leads to weight gain stems from an age old misunderstanding. It’s not the consumption of fat that causes weight gain, rather it is an excess of high-carbohydrate calories and their hormonal effects. High carb intake leads to spikes in insulin, a hormone that promotes fat storage. In contrast, a high-fat, low-carb diet minimizes these insulin spikes, encouraging the body to use fat as fuel. This process, coupled with the satiating nature of fats, which leads to reduced calorie intake and increased feelings of fullness, supports weight loss. Studies have shown that low-carb, high-fat diets can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in metabolic health. And you know, fat tastes good! Say good-bye to dried out lean chicken breast and steamed veggies, hello chicken thighs, steak, and veggies with butter! Yum!

Saturated Fat and Heart Disease – What Does the Science Say?

The narrative of saturated fat being a primary cause of heart disease is old news. A landmark review in the “Annals of Internal Medicine” finds no clear link between saturated fat intake and an increase of risk of heart disease. Moreover, research in reveals that the quality of dietary fat and dietary pattern play more significant roles in cardiovascular health than the amount of saturated fat. This shift in understanding emphasizes the importance of considering the quality of dietary fats and their food sources matter more than the fat type alone.

The myth that “fat makes you fat” is a simplification that overlooks the complexities of human metabolism and the essential roles that fats play in our health. A high-fat, ketogenic diet emerges not as a trend but as a viable, scientifically supported approach to weight loss and health improvement.

Food For Thought…

It’s time to reconsider our approach to fats, embracing them as vital nutrients rather than enemies. As you navigate through the world of dietary advice, remember that quality matters and personal experience is invaluable. Explore a low carb, whole food and ketogenic lifestyle with an open mind. Do this and you will see how it will transform your health journey.

Do the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet intrigue you? Embrace a healthier lifestyle, whether it be keto or low carb. Would you like help? Look at our coaching programs. Together, we can tailor a whole foods eating plan that aligns with your health goals and lifestyle preferences. It will pave the way to a successful and sustainable transformation.