Fat is ok? How can that be?

[SerenFach]

Hello, I'm new to MN and have 'dipped in' to some of the low carb diet threads. However, I don't have time to read through all that information at the moment, although I do find it interesting and rather exciting! I'm having trouble getting my head around the 'fat is good' message - it seems to contradict all the usual advice about avoiding heart disease etc. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, in advance.

All I know is 'low fat' products are normally full of sugar. And your body needs fat to burn fat. (But good fats not saturated fat)

Lots of fats are healthy in moderation. From nuts and seeds and some dairy - think avocado, walnuts etc. and if course some meat.

Fat and protein are natural appetite suppressants - so you consume fewer calories overall and feel fuller for longer. It will stabilise blood sugars for slow, steady energy release.

Low carb really does work

Even the diet industry are beginning to see, through new research, that they have been getting it wrong!

Be careful of fairy tho, as some people don't lose weight so easily if they eat too much

Fairy?? Meant dairy!!!

I think there's gathering evidence that saturated fats are fine as your body knows how to deal with them.
There are a few good books on the issue (John Briffa I think). I am currently reading The Great Cholesterol Con by Michael Kendrick which is very good if you're interested :)

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. So, eat the good gats, but avoid the saturated ones. (How do the butter and cheese fit in here?)

SoulSister - do 'fairy fats' make us extra light?! :)

Schmaltzing - I usually cook with olive or rapeseed oils. Thinly spread butter for sandwiches. The 'thinly' makes me sound like the Scrooge of the packed lunch world ....

I didn't think, following what Briffa and Taubes say, that saturated fat needed to be avoided at all.

fairies are prob quite low in carbs....try them in a salad!

I use coconut oil now...a quick google shows its a very versatile oil and a 'superfood' it seems! bit expensive tho

I have read loads on all this but still dont really understand! I would second Briffas the diet trap for a good explanation or maybe try marks daily apple online. Part of the trouble is that research changes all the time. I think Briffa currently reccomends free consumption of unprocessed grass fed red meat and butter and natural yoghurts, macademia nuts, coconut oil or ghee for cooking, olive oil for drizzling. App studies have shown that people can be drip fed fat without gaining any weight. Basically it seems to be sugar and grains combined with processed fat that causes health problems not fat by itself.

If we are sticking with Briffa then cheese should be eaten in moderation as should processed meat such as sausages and bacon.

Hmm, so it's not as straightforward as it initially seems then. (Nothing ever is!). Will start on your recommended reading, ladies as the general consensus seems to be that this really does work. Plus, cheese is allowed but jacket potatoes are not encouraged. Result!

Gary Taubes' book "Why we get fat" is very good; also the blogs dietdoctor and Mark's Daily Apple (as I think someone has already mentioned).