Читать книгу The Alkalizing Diet - Istvan Fazekas - Страница 17

Fats have received a bad reputation in the popular press. Some health educators have suggested that this is a purposeful ploy to hoodwink you into buying fat substitutes, thinking they are a more healthful choice. In most cases the faux-fat is worse for you than the real thing. It is recommended that you just eat the real thing, but in modest quantities.

What is so great about fats?

1. Fats carry the flavor of foods, and your body registers the message “I’m full” with digestion of these valuable nutrients. There are special receptors in the tongue, stomach, and small intestine that send signals to your brain that you are satiated. If you eat fat, you feel full faster with a smaller amount of ingested materials. Because of this, a little quality fat goes a long way. It is much easier to overeat when you are consuming foods made with fat substitutes or artificially engineered to be non-fat.¹ Your body does not register full as fast, and your spoon just keeps on scooping. Eat fat. It is good for you, and your body needs it. Consult the list of quality fats below for the best nutritional choices.

2. Fats are a very rich source of energy, more than double that of proteins and carbohydrates. They are absorbed more slowly than the other two nutrients, staying with you longer. If you have a short time to eat, like a short break at work, it is best to have some good quality fat; it will sustain you for a longer time than empty carbohydrates, and you will likely not eat as much when your next meal opportunity arises. Of course, you always have the free will to override your body’s natural signals, which causes problems in the long term. If you are not very hungry, eat only a little. If you are not hungry at all, do not eat just to be social. If you have a short time to eat and need sustaining energy, include good fats.

3. Fats transport and store the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Taking these vitamins as a supplement without the presence of a quality food source of fats is essentially a waste of time and money, as your body will not utilize them well.

4. All your cells are made of fat. Together with protein, they constitute the structural framework of your body, from smallest to biggest. Certain fats assist with membrane suppleness, as well as help normalize nutrient transfer into and out of cells. They act as insulators, energy conduits, and nutrient reserves for your nervous and circulatory systems. In order for your nervous, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems to function optimally, your body requires good quality fats; the emphasis here is good quality.