Over the course of the past decade fitness regimens, nutrition plans, diets, and “health kicks” have become all the rage in our technologically driven world. Everyone tries to find the latest pill or shake to cure their disease that we in the fitness industry call obesity.
Modern day times have caused there to be a skew in the reality of what foods are good for us and which are not. Advertising for things like Weight Watchers, Herbalife, Advocare, Jenny Craig, and others have caused those wanting to lose weight to misunderstand what exactly “healthy eating” actually is. They describe that a low fat diet is the key to losing weight or simply relying on pre-frozen meals or shakes to be their primary sources of nutrients.
I want to go into a short blurb about some high fat foods that are actually good for us. It is understood that there are nine calories per gram of fat in our foods and that they are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.1 But, what exactly about these fats cause them to be good for us?
Common examples of good fattening foods:
Avocados:
These are very different from other fruits in that they are loaded with great monounsaturated fats called oleic acid. Oleic acid occurs naturally in vegetable fats and oils and is also the primary fat in olive oil. It is also known to increase collagen synthesis and aid in skin health. Avocados are one of the best sources of potassium containing 40% more than bananas which are known to be high in potassium.
Dark Chocolate:
Yes, I said it, chocolate. Dark chocolate is one of those delicious treats that actually has some great physiological benefits for the body. It is 11% fiber and contains over 50% of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Iron is needed by red blood cells for oxygen consumption. Dark chocolate is also loaded with antioxidants which are crucial for fighting off disease such as cancer and heart disease. Although it might sound like a counteractive food, those who consume dark chocolate five or more times per week are less likely to die from heart disease, compared to those who don’t.2
Whole Eggs:
You heard correct, whole eggs. Eggs are one of the most confusing items. Everyone questions themselves with yolk or no yolk. A single egg contains 212mg of cholesterol, which is 71% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake), plus 62% of the calories in whole eggs are from fat. new studies have shown that cholesterol in eggs do not affect the amounts in the blood.2 Whole eggs are actually loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and choline, a brain nutrient that 90% of people don’t get enough of.
As you can see just from the three common examples that I have listed we are greatly underestimating the power of fatty foods in our diet. Just by adding such foods as coconuts, avocados, fish, and nuts you will begin to see dramatic differences in your energy levels, skin health, and overall well being.
References
1Baechle, T. (2008). Essentials of strength training and conditioning (3rd ed.).
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
210 High-Fat Foods That Are Actually Super Healthy. (2015, January 20). Retrieved January 26, 2015, fromhttp://authoritynutrition.com/10-super-healthy-high-fat-foods/
Great blog! Fat gets a bad name in todays society. It seems like every diet plan is aimed at reducing all fats and not just the unhealthy ones. Great way to go in depth about what micro nutrients are actually in the fat sources you listed. I find it hard to believe that the yolk of an egg can be bad for you when that same yolk creates a baby chick from a single cell. Moderation is always important as well when consuming anything.
ReplyDelete