By Eric Martinez
March. 2012-
Saturated Fats are bad for you, they increase your cholesterol, and they pretty much make you fat, and a whole lot more, right? Therefore, saturated fats are the devil. Wrong ladies and gentleman! This myth needs to get homered out of the park and into outer space once and for all. Saturated fats are great for the human body, and let me make this clear; we must have good fats along with saturated fats in our daily diets. Our body does not naturally produce these EFA’s (essential fatty acids) such as Omega-3 AND 6 and Linoleic Acid; these are very optimal for growth and most importantly brain development. Without cell membranes, nerves wouldn’t conduct properly, and we wouldn’t have energy stores that tell you how important these EFA’s are. Most saturated fats come from animal products such as: Meats, dairy, eggs, oils, and cheese. Pretty much all the good stuff the American Diet has to offer. Most importantly these fats keep our satiety levels high, meaning they keep us full throughout the day and not feeling like were dying from starvation. Now I can go on and on about why saturated fats and other healthy fats benefit our bodies, but that’s not what I am here to explain. I want to talk about saturated fats and that son of a bitch that is in everything, yes that SOB called “Refined Sugars.”
What happens when one consumes Saturated fats along with refined sugars?
While saturated fats are still considered the “red headed step child” of the lipid (fats) family. For some odd reason, people still think saturated fats are bad for you. Why? Hell if I know, maybe their family medicine doctors, gurus, and Dr. Oz are telling them this non sense. Once again, saturated fats are not bad for you! It’s refined sugar that kills and causes heart diseases. Refined sugars do absolutely nothing for the human body, maybe a little gives you energy, but the rest is usually stored as fat. When both combined, this can be very detrimental to brain structure and function, studies show. Possible mood disorders, fatigue, and brain fog can occur. So for those cheesecake lovers out there, sorry to break it to you, but that is probably the worst dessert you can put in your body.
Does Oxidative Stress and Inflammation occur when consuming too much saturated fat and refined sugar?
Absolutely! Inflammation and oxidative stress start to build up and eventually leads to a ton of health problems along with aging. You see the reason why the human body likes to take in sugar and convert it to fat is because fat can be stored without water, as opposed to glycogen, which needs water. Saturated fats aren’t used to store body fat, they are used for cell membranes, hormonal production, nervous system, and play huge roles in all other systems in the human body. It’s that SOB sugar I tell you!
What can Oxidative stress eventually lead to?
When oxidation of saturated fats and oxidation of cholesterol begin, plaque starts to build up and become unstable in your body and arteries, which can rupture and lead to coronary syndromes such as: Type II Diabetes, acute strokes, and heart attacks. Saturated fat is most likely to be oxidized in the environment of refined sugars. Blood sugar levels spike after eating sugar. Oxidative stress starts and increases the potential of fat oxidation or aka “Beta Oxidation.” When this occurs, arteries can be blocked, and that is no bueno. Oh ya and not to mention that the famous “Insulin Resistance” can occur if saturated fat and sugar is in your diet for years and years, that is also no bueno. It’s like saturated fat and sugar go hand in hand together and make love, but screw you in the long run.
Are all sugars bad?
Sugar is pretty much everywhere, cane sugar, sucrolose, simple sugars, and high fructose corn syrup. Fructose, which is found in fruits, is a natural sugar that your body knows how to metabolize. All sugars and sucrulose break down into the base of blood sugar, which is “Glucose.” If you are not burning glucose than how does your body store that extra energy? It obviously stores it as fat. So, to answer this question, all sugars can become body fat and increase our two friends oxidative stress and inflammation if not careful. Refined sugars have been so overly processed that they overwhelm the body’s normal metabolic pathways. When pathways are overwhelmed, the bodies systems back up into oxidative stress and inflammation, which eventually creates that demon called “body fat.” Bottom line is sugar is either burned or stored as fat, enough said!
Are Artificial Sweeteners ok?
Artificial sweeteners are ok in moderation, key word moderation ladies and gents. At the end of the day they are still chemicals and we don’t know what they are doing to our bodies when consumed. Insulin spike will still occur because the body thinks sugar is coming. The human body does not know how to measure the artificial sweeteners; some are “Neuro Toxins,” which can destroy brain cells. The best thing to do is just stay away from them, but if you absolutely need something sweet than keep the stevias and splendas in moderation.
Wrap up time!
With all that said if you really still believe that saturated fat is the enemy, than you are really doing your body a disservice. If you think refined sugars doesn’t really harm the body, than you are insane. Saturated fat plus refined sugars equals a recipe for disaster. Before I end this saturated fat vs. sugars battle, just take a moment and think back to early human civilization, ancestor diets, and health history. Caveman survived off killing their prey for meals, which were animals, and animals provide saturated fat. Also, cavemen were not over weight and did not have diabetes and heart disease, why? Because there were no damn refined sugars in those days, they ate natural sugars such as fruits. Refined sugars cause heart disease and many other coronary diseases, not saturated fats. If you don’t agree with me on this, than continue watching the Dr. Oz show and continue using his advice. I rest my case! Peace and god bless
References:
1.) Dr. Michael Smith, Life Extension.