3 Reasons Why You Don’t Need To Fear Dietary Fat, According To Experts

For years, diet-culture and the media has demonized dietary fat. The 80s ushered in the low-fat diet craze, and our societal fear of fat has been prevalent ever since. Although fat is currently not as vilified as it’s been in the past, there are still many people who experience anxiety and guilt surrounding the consumption of high-fat foods. Additionally, fear-mongering surrounding the source and type of fat is increasingly common. For instance, there is an emerging trend of labeling some types of fat as “good” and others as “bad.”
As a psychotherapist who specializes in treating individuals with eating disorders, I know the danger of labeling specific nutrients and food groups as “good” and “bad.” This “black and white” mindset can contribute to disordered eating, eating disorders, and may lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes.
I reached out to some nutrition experts to help debunk the myth that dietary fat should invoke a sense of fear. The following are four reasons why you don’t need to fear fat.
1. Fat helps us to absorb important vitamins.
Fats are not something that you need to fear, rather they play many important and beneficial roles in the body.
Rachel Wallace Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, of Avocado a Day Nutrition, explains, “Dietary fat plays critical biological roles in our body including the formation of neurotransmitters, hormones and allowing our body to absorb the fat soluble vi...

Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - October 20, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news