Getting the right amount of fats is also critical to our well-being. Fats provide us with energy. In fact, gram for gram, fats are the most efficient source of food energy.
Every single gram of fat provides nine calories of energy. In comparison, carbohydrates and proteins provide only four calories.
Fats help build healthy cells and, believe it or not, fats build brains as they provide the structural components of cell membranes in the brain, and contribute to the myelin, the fatty insulating sheath that surrounds each nerve fibre, which enables it to carry messages faster.
Fats also help our bodies use vitamins. The A, D, K and E vitamins are fat-soluble, which means the fat in foods helps our intestines absorb these vitamins into our bodies.
Fats make hormones and help us have healthier skin. It even forms a protective cushion for our organs.
Fats are pleasurable. They add an appealing texture, appearance and taste to food. They carry flavour, which is why cookies melt in our mouths, French fries are crispy and apple pie has a nice, flaky crust. The bad news is that it’s often cheaper and easier to cook with vegetable oils or margarine, which wreak havoc in the body. They can ruin liver function and destroy insulin sensitivity. Coconut oil is a great alternative to cook with and ghee is fantastic to use in cakes and cookies instead of margarine.
The most important fats and oils that we need to eat are called essential fatty acids or EFAs. Just like the essential amino acids they are called essential because the body cannot produce them, so we need to find them in the foods we eat. Eating these EFAs will help to regulate our appetite so it is important to get enough of them if you are on a diet. They also help with the absorption of nutrients and help to protect the organs. Here are some of the best sources of EFAs:
Avocados
Flaxseed Oil, Hemp Oil or Virgin Olive Oil
Walnuts and Brazil Nuts
Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds
Oily Fish such as Tuna or Mackerel
Leafy Green Vegetables