The Internet is full of conspiracy stories, so how about one that’s actually true? If you still opt for a low-fat diet, you may want to sit down before you read this…
How Fat-Free Became the Hero
Back in the 1980s, nutrition and exercise experts started preaching the value of eating fat-free to prevent cardiovascular disease and weight gain. (Does anybody else remember Susan Powter?) The dieting gospel was clear: if you wanted to live longer and look good in your aerobics leotard, you needed to cut fat out of your diet.
Soon, grocery store aisles were lined with products like Snackwell's® and Snapple®. Fat-free cottage cheese and skim milk were suddenly synonymous with health food. And nothing spelled “health-conscious” like an egg white omelet and grapefruit for breakfast.
Cookie bites, freezer fudge, brownies… are you drooling yet? Want to hear the best part? All of these recipes are healthy! You’ll find them and lots more in my Sweet Treats Recipe Guide. Get the sweet, decadent, guilt-free recipes here.
The Real Truth About Fat
Here’s where the conspiracy comes in: little did we know, the research everyone was spouting to back up the fat-free trend was actually paid for by the sugar industry!1 In reality, studies performed in the late 70s and early 80s actually linked sugar with an increased risk of heart disease and other serious illness.
Sweetener manufacturers realized news like that could cost them major profits, so they hatched a despicable plan. They paid noted scientists to manufacture studies that called out fat as the culprit for those same health conditions!
They knew all too well that fat = flavor. Food without fat was going to need something to fill that flavor void, and they happily offered up sugar as a “harmless” alternative. Grocery aisles full of low-fat/no-fat products with extra sweeteners were soon fueling an obesity epidemic that still goes on today. (Fat-free honey whole wheat bread, anyone?)
What That Means For You
The truth is that you need fat in order to feel full, stay slim, and fight disease. Healthy fats are vital for:
- keeping your brain healthy and active2
- fighting inflammation3
- proper immune function4
- preventing heart disease5
- burning fat and building muscle6
Examples of healthy fats include omega-3 fatty acids and the medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil.
If you’re still eating low-fat and find yourself struggling to lose belly fat or control your appetite, you can thank the misinformation-filled 80s. The same goes for type 2 diabetes, inflammation, and premature aging. The real culprit for all those things is sugar.
Fixing Their Mistake
The fat-free myth has cost our country millions in healthcare dollars, not to mention the lives it’s affected. Let’s work together to be sure that ends now.
- Share this article with your friends and loved ones.
- Be sure you’re using fat for fuel instead of sugar.
Not sure about the second one? There’s an easy way to tell whether you’re getting enough healthy fats in your diet or relying on sugar too much. Check out this blog for details: Sugar Burner vs. Fat Burner: Which One Are You? It’s time to end the stranglehold that sugar has on our wallets and our health, and give this conspiracy story a happy ending.
There’s lots of confusing, misleading information out there. I wrote my Ultimate Health Roadmap to cut through the confusion and provide short, actionable steps you can take to lose weight, feel better, and dial up your health. Grab your FREE guide here.
The views in this blog by JJ Virgin should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please work with a healthcare practitioner concerning any medical problem or concern. The information here is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Statements contained here have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References:
1 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2548255
2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18072818
3 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11883-004-0087-5
4 http://www.kalbemed.com/Portals/6/KOMELIB/GENITO-URINARY%20SYSTEM/Obsgyn/Osfit%20DHA/495.pdf
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4153275/
6 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3499967/
