FOCUS ON VIBRANT HEALTH

PRINCIPLE 4 OF GOOD NUTRITION: Fats as 30-80% of calories

The amount of fat to eat depends on climate, metabolic needs, individual and seasonal variation. The healthy ratio is 50% saturated fat, 46% monounsaturated fat, and 4% polyunsaturated. Butter, beef and lamb are the closest to this ratio. Animal fats provide the critical fat soluble vitamins, and these are not in coconut oil or vegetable oils. Use butter, ghee, tallow and lard. Meat contains fat, as do full-fat dairy products.

Polyunsaturated fats should be only a small part of our diet, and should come from real, unprocessed foods. Omega 3 and 6 fats are polyunsaturated fats. The proper ratio of these is 1 to 1. When you eat processed foods you are consuming high amounts of omega 6 in the vegetable oils. This may be the most dangerous aspect of modern diets. These oils are processed using toxic chemicals, they are damaged by heat, and are implicated in obesity, depression, asthma, cancer, autoimmune diseases, digestive problems, ADD/ADHD, learning and behavior problems, and more.

Chickens (meat and eggs) and pigs that are confined and fed unnatural diets have higher amounts of omega 6 fats. Vegetables raised with chemical fertilizers are higher in omega 6. And eating too many nuts (including nut “milks”) and seeds can unbalance this important omega 3 to 6 ratio.

In 1865 vegetable oils made up ZERO part of our diet. People ate meat, eggs and dairy and they were much healthier. We now know that the information we were told since about the 1950’s, to consume less cholesterol and less saturated fat, was simply wrong.

Avoid vegetable oils (canola, corn, soy, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, Crisco). Eat unheated olive oil and avocado oil in small quantities. Beware, as these are often cut with cheaper vegetable oils and it will not be on the label. Get most of your fats from animal sources, just as your ancestors did.

Dr. Veronica Tilden is a doctor of osteopathy. Osteopaths are fully licensed physicians, and additionally they learn how to diagnose and treat using their hands. She has helped people regain vibrant health with a holistic approach since 1997, using traditional hands-on osteopathy and lifestyle counseling. (931) 295-3115 or DrVeronicaTilden.com.