Everyone knows fat is bad, right? Eat even a fraction too much and, at
best, you'll wobble around with a spare tyre; at worst, you'll you'll
be whisked off to hospital with a coronary.
At least that's the idea you get from being bombarded by the so-called
benefits of low-fat and fat-free diets. But in actual fact, it's not true
at all; eat too little fat and you risk causing the very health problems
you're trying to avoid - and you could even gain weight.
When people can cut down drastically on fat, they can suffer various health
problems. Even a small fat deficiency can result in dry skin, lowered libido,
or mood swings. Researchers at Sheffield University in the UK have found
that volunteers given a diet providing less than 25 percent energy from
fat registered significantly higher anger/hostility ratings than those
subjects who ate a similar-tasting diet that was higher in fat. It's suspected
that prolonged fat deficiency can make you feel constantly cold and even
lead to osteoporosis. If it got to the stage where you weren't eating any
fat at all, your cells would eventually disintegrate and lead to your death.
Bizarrely, too little fat may actually make it
harder for you to lose weight as well. Udo Erasmus, author of Fats
That Heal Fats That Kill (Alive
Books $36), claims that people who eat low amounts of fat have a more sluggish
metabolism and a greater tendency to gain weight than those who eat the
correct amount. This is because foods naturally rich in oils, such as olive
oil, nuts and oily fish, provide essential fatty acids that help burn fat.
Indeed, some
fat is essential, as it maintains cell
membranes and helps the
production of hormones, including those
that regulate your menstrual cycle and
sex drive. Fat is also critical for the
absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including
vitamin D (which helps make strong bones)
and vitamin E (vital for maintaining
a healthy heart).
Drastically cutting back on fat also
reduces your protection against cancer,
as it prevents the absorption of carotenes
- some of the most potent anti-oxidants...
But of course, too much fat, especially
fat of the wrong type, is bad for you
and may lead to obesity, heart disease,
and diabetes...
