Eat Fat to Fight Fat

By Susan E. Sklar, M.D.
Summer is around the corner and it’s time to buckle down on our diets to lose those few winter pounds. So what do you do, reach for the fat! I know what you are thinking, did I just read to eat more fat to lose fat?
Beautiful bowl with eggs and avocado on rustic wood background
You heard it right! Fat is an important component in a healthy diet and it is very important for weight loss and weight maintenance. In fact it could be one of the most important parts of a healthy weight loss plan. Fats help you stay full longer, keep your satisfied, and helps your body digest important nutrients which are all important factors in a good weight loss plan. It is starting to become more mainstream that fats are good and now it is time to really put this information to use and incorporate more fat into your life.

What kind of fat: It is key to eat the right kind of fat and to stay away from processed fats, refined oils, or fried food. The best fats to eat are fats that come from plant sources and quality animal sources. You want to include lots of avocado, coconut, nuts, seeds, nut butters, olives, grass fed beef products, fresh caught fish, avocado oil, coconut oil and olive oil in your daily diet.

How much fat: In general, ⅓ to ½ your calories should come from healthy fat or aim to have at least 1 serving of fat in every meal. It is different for every person so start by adding in fat slowly. It is important to also decrease eating processed carbohydrates and sugars as those are the foods that will continue to increase your weight. If you increase your fat and decrease your carbohydrates, you should lose weight!

How to add more fat: Be creative! Add nuts and seeds to your salads, add coconut oil to your green shake in the morning, try Bulletproof coffee, eat guacamole and veggies as a snack, try full fat coconut milk as a base for cooking (like curries), try different sauces like tahini, snack on a few olives and use nut butter as your treat at night.

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