Fat
Most of us are focused on fat. It is all that we hear
about these days. Since the time we are kids we are told that fat is
bad for us. Some people are more worried about calories than
fat. To be honest you should be worried about both. You need
to make sure that your diet isn't full of junk food. You should be
getting your calories from foods that are good for you. Who cares about
not eating any fat, if all your calories come from sweets? I'm not sure
how much I believe fat is the bad thing we make it out to be. I'm
starting to believe that carbs are the real evil in
the diet empire. I really do think this is why so many people are
overweight in this world.
Think about it like this.
How many cultures in the world eat bread? Most of them eat some sort of
bread. Bread for some people is the focus of the meal. In the old days,
women spent all day long making breads. This is also true with pasta in
some regions of the world. A lot of places eat some sort of pasta with
every meal. What about rice? The same thing. The Irish and potatoes?
The same thing. These are all carbs.
Most people eat these every
day of their lives.
I think we are addicted to carbs. I know I am. I eat so much bread and
other carbs that I don't know what I would do without them. That, adds
a tire around the waste line. I'm not saying that carbs are worse than
fat per se. I mean, fat has its problems too. You eat too much of it,
you are getting yourself ready for a heart attack. I mean, your body
can only handle so much of them. We have all seen young men get heart
attacks at an early age. So, we know that fat is bad.
Not all fat is the same
though.
Some fat is worse than others. Let's talk about these
different kinds of fat. We have items that are lower in saturated
fat. These would include meats and cheeses. They don't have as
much fat as the items we will be talking about next. On the other hand,
you have items that are more saturated than meats and cheese. These
tend to be anything deep fried. They will include, donuts, french
fries, potato chips.
The second is what you need
to stay away from.
These are high in calories. They also will clog your arteries.
I hate to say it, but the good stuff in life has its risks. I'm not
saying that you shouldn't ever eat these items, but eat them in
moderation. That is the key. Don't eat them every day, but once per
week. Don't go hog wild on a whole bag of chips. Instead, get a small
bag that is enough for one or two servings. This way, you won't be
tempted to eat the whole bag.
Oils such as olive oil
are low in sat fats.
You should use these when ever you can. Keep in mind though, you should
only use a little of oil. Make sure to always use non stick cookware.
This is a must and a great investment for your health. By using non
stick cookware you won't have to use as much oil when cooking. If you
get the good stuff, you might not have to use any at all. I think that
you should watch your caloric intake as well as your fat. I would say
that they should go hand in hand. I would pay close attention to how
much carbs you are eating each day. I know that I sound like a broken
record, but I do think people are too dependant on them. They are a good
source of energy, but you will feel burnt out if you eat them
too much. I think you know what I am talking about. You feel like you
need a nap all the time.
There are also health risks
involved with a diet high in fat.
You are at higher risk of having sugar problems and heart
disease. Plus a whole host of cancers that most people don't
have a risk for. People who eat high fat diets also have skin problems.
I think people who eat too much fat have very bad complexion.
Their skin almost looks like leather.
I hope that you don't finish reading this and think that you should cut
out all of the fat in your diet. That isn't my intent. Instead, you
should look at the big picture. You can eat some fat, just don't go
licking a block of lard as a refreshing snack on a hot summer day.