GOOD FATS
Avocado
I grew up with an avocado tree in the backyard, but at that time avocados were considered to be fattening. Second only to a pending earthquake–apocalypse, getting fat is the biggest fear we have in SoCal. Yet, as we now know, a food containing “good fat” is not fattening at all. Avocados are:
•high in fiber
•good for your skin
•rich in omega-9 mono-unsaturated fats, lipids known to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes.
•contain lutein, which is great for eyesight
eggs
I remember hearing as a kid that eggs were good for your hair. So my friend Dalynn and I got in the shower and cracked eggs over our heads. They stunk. Bad idea. Eating them however is a good idea.
Egg yolks:
•are a great source of choline which: supports brain function, memory and is thought to help prevent Alzheimer’s AND is important for the breakdown of fat and cholesterol in the liver.
•have shown to lower the risk of breast cancer.
•are high in heart-healthy Omega-3s.
Though the majority of the healing properties in eggs are found in the yolk, the white is prized for its:
•high protein content that comes without fat or cholesterol and is easily absorbed by the body.
•good source of the amino acids useful for building muscle.
Butter
Yes, butter is good for you. In its pure form, that is, but NO frying things in butter because that changes the molecular structure and will clog up your arteries. Using butter on a baked sweet potato or a touch in baked celery root purée is more than OK. Butter:
•contains lecithin, an important brain food.
•contains lauric acid which fights fungal infection including Candida
•contains antioxidants and cancer fighting Vitamin D, E and selenium
•supports healthy blood flow in the reproductive system for women
Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is a true gift of the Greek and Roman gods. Olive oil is not only delicious but very healthy, particularly in its extra virgin or even raw state. Be sure to choose olive oil packaged in dark green bottles, as it is light sensitive. Olive oil is high in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids which:
•lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol that is protective and necessary for proper cardiac function.
•reduces inflammation and helps arthritis, so go ahead and oil those joints.
•are important for general cognitive function, memory and mood
•olive oil is high in antioxidants and numerous studies have pointed that a diet rich in olive oil can lower risk for certain cancers
Coconut
Coconut got a bad rap from the same “scientists” that promoted margarine. (I put scientists in quotes because many of the people that conduct the scientific research on food, or pharmaceuticals for that matter, are paid by special interest groups. I find it hard to believe that any sensible human being could ever “prove” that factory processed margarine is better for you than what grows on a tree) We now know that margarine will kill you and not only from the taste. Hence, it is also now time to reconsider the coconut. I highly recommend that everybody read ‘The Coconut Oil Miracle’ by Bruce Fife. Unprocessed coconut oil does have saturated fats but not all saturated fats are bad. Coconut oil has both the rare short and medium chain fatty acids which have numerous benefits to our bodies. Coconut and coconut oil have shown themselves to:
•be antimicrobial
•protect against heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis
•strengthen the immune system
•increase semen. Maybe we should consider keeping a bottle of the oil in our bedside tables
•coconut oil can help stabilize blood sugar
•the oil can act as an ant-aging therapy for skin, both when ingested and used topically
I once personally used it, in conjunction with lavendar and tea tree oils to cure a skin rash that a top dermatologist wanted to prescribe a $200 ointment for. Rash was gone in a day and a half.
Fatty Fish
The fact of the matter is we live on a polluted planet. Our seas are not as clean as they should be and our fish suffer. It is important to pay attention to mercury levels in fish and even more important to support organizations and campaigns that work towards a cleaner planet with cleaner oceans. We need our fish. I mean we need to EAT our fish. Fish is the easiest to digest of all the animal proteins and provides us with many important benefits that we need to survive in our less than pure world. Fatty Fish (Salmon, Fresh Tuna, Black Cod, Sea Bass, Halibut)
•contain healthy Omega-3 fats that are important to heart health, brain health and regulation of blood sugar.
•are an obvious source of protein
•Salmon, Seabass and Halibut are high in selenium (good for your joints and for the prevention of certain cancers like colorectal) and B vitamins (brain food)
•Salmon is also very high in Vitamin D (bone strength and the prevention of various cancers like breast, colorectal and prostate)