Don't Fear Fat

Before I break it down, let me first ask this question…

How can someone be stocked up on meat, eating a rabbit a day and still be nearly starving to death?

In the popular reality series, Alone, season six, Jordan Jonas catches a surplus of rabbits. One would assume enough to feed him for quite some time. However, during a medical checkup the health team nearly pulled him out of the competition because he was so malnourished. Jordan had lost a whopping thirty pounds.

So how is this possible you ask?

To eat but still be starving?

The term used to describe this phenomenon is ‘rabbit starvation’.

Rabbit starvation occurs when a person fails to consume enough fat or carbohydrates to support their energy expenditure.

In a 3-ounce serving of rabbit meat, there is only about 3 grams of fat, which is not sustainable for prolonged periods.

Our bodies are much more efficient at utilizing fats or carbohydrates as their fuel sources.

If we have too much protein and not enough fat, our body can't absorb the nutrients it needs to generate fuel or support cellular function.

Fat Consumption is Crucial

Fat is essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and plays a vital role in maintaining healthy cell membranes, protecting organs, and providing insulation.

A lack of fats in the diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies and other health issues.

In the past, there was a widely held belief that consuming fat, especially saturated fat, was the primary culprit behind clogged arteries and heart disease. However, more recent and comprehensive research has revealed that is not the case.

It is now understood that arterial clogging, also known as atherosclerosis, a process involving the buildup of plaque inside the arteries, is caused by inflammation.

Hence, we understand the importance of consuming fat.

Now, let's return to the claim that eating fat will not make you fat; rather, it can help you lose excess fat.

When you eat a donut or even some steak your glucose levels rise. When your glucose levels rise this triggers the release of insulin, which inhibits the body's ability to burn fat. Instead, any leftover glucose is stored as fat in the body.

Here are some illustrations to represent this…

Fat is the only macronutrient that doesn’t cause your blood sugar to rise.

The body becomes very efficient at using either fats as its fuel source or carbs, but not both simultaneously. 

As a result, by reducing your carb intake and increasing fat consumption, the body becomes more effective at converting fat into energy and is able to use stored body fat as fuel.

Don't get me wrong—the release of insulin is not inherently bad. It's a natural function of the pancreas. However, constant carb consumption and blood sugar spikes often lead to a condition called insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance occurs when cells stop responding to the released insulin, and the body requires more and more insulin to maintain normal functioning.

This is bad.

Storage of Macronutrients

When it comes to carbs, any excess carbs in the body are broken down into glucose and stored as fat.

As for protein, what you consume is broken down into amino acids. If you consume more protein than your body can use, the excess amino acids cannot be stored and are ultimately excreted in your urine.

Fats are essential and play a crucial role in various bodily functions, just as the essential amino acids derived from protein. 

Side note: There are essential fats and essential amino acids but there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate.

Additional Benefits to Eating Fat

Just when you couldn’t be more excited - there’s more.

Vitamins and minerals are stored in the fat cells in our bodies. As fat is burned, these nutrients are released and absorbed by the body, including essential vitamins like vitamin D. Freeing up these vital components provides the body with increased energy levels and an overall improved sense of well-being.

Fat helps keep you satiated, meaning you feel full for longer. This helps reduce the constant desire to snack which leads to constant glucose spikes and ultimately to insulin resistance.

Eating fat also supports cognitive function, allowing for clearer thinking and better decision-making.

Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

Good fats include saturated fats—yes, I said SATURATED fats—from MCT oil, quality meats and dairy sourced from grass-fed cows, as well as unsaturated fats like in avocados and olive oil.

Examples of bad fats are seed oils like soy, cottonseed, canola and vegetable oil. These oils are genetically modified and oxidize quickly, causing inflammation in our bodies. Not good for our bodies.

So, as it turns out, we need fat not only to survive but also to thrive.

Go grab that stick of butter (preferably grass-fed)!