The tide is finally turning when it comes to the health benefits of saturated fats. Although there are still some naysayers out there who would tell you ALL fat is bad, regardless of whether saturated or not, don’t believe them. The science on this subject is rock solid and the benefits of including more saturated fat in the diet are extensive. So, let’s do a quick review of why saturated fat is so important.
Every cell in your body has a protective outer layer called the cell wall or cell membrane. This cell wall contains both fat and water. The type of fat found on the cell wall is, not surprisingly, saturated fat. Both the fat and water are arranged in such a way to allow both water-soluble and fat-soluble nutrients to gain access to the interior of the cell through certain parts of the cell membrane. So, as you might imagine, if you are chronically dehydrated, your cells may not be able to receive the water-soluble nutrients obtained from your diet. And if you don’t have enough fat in your diet (saturated fat), the fat-soluble nutrients won’t have any way to access your cells either.
Every cell membrane requires saturated fat and even more importantly, your brain is made of 60% fat. That makes it even more important to ensure you are getting enough fat in your diet to have healthy cells and a sharp mind. In fact, there has been significant research into the benefits of including saturated fat and reduction of Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia and age-related cognitive decline.
The best sources of saturated fat are cold-pressed coconut oil, animal fats (from clean, grass-fed or pastured animals), raw cream and/or butter, and uncured bacon. To see if you have local farmers that provide quality animal products, go to www.westonaprice.org (WAP) to find a chapter leader in your area. They will be able to connect you with any quality sources in your community.
But if you aren’t able to source anything locally, consider www.butcherbox.com for quality meats, poultry and bacon, and look for raw or organic butter or cream at your local health food store.
Remember that improving your health happens one day at a time. We can’t rebuild Rome in a day, but we can make small steps every day that will build on each other over time, resulting in improved overall health and vitality!