Warning: Low-fat is keeping us fat and sick

For years, we have been told to buy foods lower in fats to help keep us healthy. 

Back in the 1980s, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans promoted a high carbohydrate and low-fat diet.  This was due to the thought that high fat led to heart attacks, but no real proof was given behind this diet.

By 1992, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the food pyramid to the US which had all fats to be used sparingly at the top and carbohydrates at the bottom.

So as the health-conscious citizens we are, many of us went all in, swapping out our butter with margin, getting rid of our egg yolks, and drinking low-fat milk. 

But then something odd occurred, the rates of diabetes and obesity started to take off.

In an effort to become healthier, we actually have become fatter and sicker.  The charts below show the increase in diabetes and obesity since the 1970s which is significant.

HOW COULD THIS BE?

Turns out, fat is what makes food taste good.  Honestly, the best part of the egg is the yolk.  Paula Dean added butter to everything, why? BECAUSE it tasted GOOD. 

When food companies decided to jump on the low-fat train, they removed the fat from the food, but then the problem was that the texture and the taste of the food was not right.  By removing the fat, they removed the tasty part of the food.

As a result, they added sugar to make up for the taste and texture.  That extra sugar had a negative impact on our health, by causing us to gain weight and increase our risk for diabetes.  THE OPPOSITE of the desired effect.

If you are eating food that is low-fat, like yogurt or drinking low-fat milk, and have a condition like high blood sugars, you may be causing your blood sugars to spike.

In fact, there is so much added sugar in skim (non-fat) milk, that if a person is hypoglycemic (has low blood sugars) it is recommended to drink 8 oz in an emergency.  This is not the case for whole milk.

Healthy fats like avocados, nuts/seeds, coconut oil, full fat butter and olive oil can keep you full for longer and not spike your blood sugars. 

AND the best part is that they taste DELICIOUS. 

For years, I did the low-fat diet.  I found myself overweight and constantly hungry.  It was miserable.  Once I started to incorporate these fats into my diet.  I was not only satisfied but delighted to see the weight come right off.

I was not feeling deprived and loved the food I ate.  Learning to incorporate this food group back into my diet was a game-changer for my health.

Some of you may be saying, sounds great, but I don’t want my cholesterol to skyrocket…

Well, back in 2015, the US dropped the fat restriction due to the overwhelming evidence that not all fat was causing health issues. It was shown that replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates were not lowering risks for heart attacks.

So, cook those veggies in the full fat butter and garlic.  Enjoy those egg yolks.  Eat a handful of nuts!! Say yes to waiter when he offers cheese!

Watch your blood sugars stabilize, feel full, and maybe even lose some unwanted weight.