Function Ability Through Healthy Fats

Fat. Aside from what I consider to be the other 2 most feared words in the English language, "Pool Party," its probably one of the scariest words someone hears. People quickly run from this term before coming to an understanding that there are different types of fats, good and bad. I'm here to discuss good fats. Known as Omega's or Healthy Fats. Derived form natures most natural sources, it is by far one of the most important nutrients you can put into your body. I'm going to take you on a short learning expedition for your own personal understanding of why we need these fats on a daily basis. 

There are all kinds of healthy fats in all different physical forms. Avocados, nuts, seeds, coconut, olives, fish and many more. The way we consume these fats play a major role in our central nervous system, heart and brain function, and digestion of the nutrients we intake from the foods we eat. MCT's (Medium Chain Triglycerides) are the best healthy fats you can consume since they don't contain chylomicrons. Coconut is a MCT. I was just informed by a family member that Italian farmers were known to have a few "shots" of olive oil every morning before work, and this family member also does the same. 

Good fats also aid with a very well known hormone in our body called Cortisol. It is a stress hormone in the human body that is released when we go into starvation mode, lack sleep or are just stressed out about something. Its a hormone that actually enables your body to cling to fat when you consume foods. If you don't consume good fats, instead of the nutrition from the foods you eat being transported to the muscle tissues where the nutrition needs to go, it is quickly transported to the fatty areas of your body and stored as fat when it should be burned off as fuel. Consuming good fats with most of your meals helps slow down and properly transport the nutrients being consumed. Without these fats, the transportation process is much quicker and nutrients are stored in those fatty areas I mentioned above. Here is a short excerpt from an article I posted yesterday about good fats and CNS (Central Nervous System) 

"Low levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are linked to hair loss, low blood platelets, impaired vision, altered mental states, learning problems, and growth retardation in children." 


There's a reason these two fats are known as essential. If we have a deficit, multiple bodily processes, including those required for the brain, central nervous system and cell membrane functions, will be slowed down, or halted" The human central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. These lie in the midline of the body and are protected by the skull and vertebrae respectively. This collection of billions of neurons is arguably the most complex object known.

The central nervous system along with the peripheral nervous system comprise a primary division of controls that command all physical activities of a human. Neurons of the central nervous system affect consciousness and mental activity while spinal extensions of central nervous system neuron pathways affect skeletal muscles and organs in the body."



As you can see in the above article, from the brain to eye sight to blood platelets, there is a serious need for good fats to be consumed other than just transportation of the nutrients we consume. However, too many people aren't getting enough healthy fats in their diets because they believe that these fats will make them fat. Its a completely overlooked aspect of a healthy diet & needs to be addressed more than it is. As I have been researching over these past couple years I learn more and more about nutrition than I ever considered and have seen a drastic change in my health by utilizing the information I absorb and applying it to my life every single day. It is important and vital to one's health to incorporate all aspects of being healthy into daily routines. Do not think good fats make you fat. They actually enable your body to burn fat.

I prefer a MCT healthy fat with whatever I am eating, my recovery meal (post workout) usually consists of low glycemic nutrition such as a sweet potato with sautéed veggies or a Shakeology, to aid in muscle repair, my dinner includes Extra Virgin Olive Oil and my last meal of the day, which is a Papa Steves No Junk Raw vegan protein bar, which has coconut in it because the coconut has the essential fats my body needs to slow and transport the protein to my muscles where it belongs. It enables me to become leaner by burning the fuel and take care of my Central Nervous System at the same time. Enabling my ability to function at my very best and having the energy to make it through a workout or my day, means I need to have those good fats incorporated with my meals.

I have so many people come to me and ask why it is they lack energy or functionality throughout their day, including before, during & after a workout? One of my first concerns of course is what they consume on a daily basis as far as food goes and if they are getting enough sleep for recovery of the body. Its a science. Your body & the function ability of it is dependent on what you are consuming, your sleeping patterns and daily activity. From enzymes, vitamins to food, what you do on a day to day basis will depict what your energy levels will be, how much weight you want to gain or lose, proper function of the central nervous system and more. Good fats are a KEY component to be consumed if you aren't already making sure you eat them everyday. Start getting those good fats into your routine. You will literally feel a change in your energy levels and feel able to function properly by consuming a variety of good fats.