Dumbest idea of the Week: "Fat-Free Living"
According to the USDA, which has never been exactly a "thought leader" when it comes to food and nutrition, January is Fat Free Living Month.
This is probably the worst idea the USDA has ever come up with, with the possible exception of the 1992 Food Pyramid.
Virtually every health professional now understands that fat is vital for our health. But since apparently the USDA did not get the memo, let's repeat some of the many ways fat is essential in our diet:
And that's just the beginning. Without fat, major vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K are not absorbed (which is why they're called the 'fat soluble' vitamins). Neither are important carotenoids- like the eye-protecting lutein and zeaxanthin. Even calcium needs some fat for maximum absorption!
Dietary fat helps us to feel full and to feel fuller longer, thus decreasing the likelihood of cravings and overeating. Unlike carbohydrates, dietary fat has virtually no impact on the fat-storage hormone insulin. In fact, adding fat to a meal lowers the overall glycemic impact of the meal-- and low-glycemic diets have been linked with lower rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity and even Alzheimers. To make matters worse, any fat-free diet foods typically replace fat with carbohydrates, usually of the worst kind. Research has shown that this substitution has significant negative consequences for our health.
Dietary fat is the starting material from which we make all sorts of important chemicals in the body called eicosanoids which, among other things, help regulate clotting and inflammation.
One particular type of fat- omega-3 fatty acids from fish and flax- bears special mention. Omega-3 fats lower blood pressure, improve mood, and- possibly most important of all- lower inflammation. Inflammation is now recognized as a major component of every degenerative disease we know of including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimers. And omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most anti-inflammatory compounds on the planet.
The "Fat-Free" month is an idea whose time should never have come in the first place. It's time to say good-bye to such idiocy for good.
This is probably the worst idea the USDA has ever come up with, with the possible exception of the 1992 Food Pyramid.
Virtually every health professional now understands that fat is vital for our health. But since apparently the USDA did not get the memo, let's repeat some of the many ways fat is essential in our diet:
- Fat is an important part of cell membranes.
- Fat is our main source of energy.
- Fat cushions our organs and tissues and protects them from injury.
And that's just the beginning. Without fat, major vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K are not absorbed (which is why they're called the 'fat soluble' vitamins). Neither are important carotenoids- like the eye-protecting lutein and zeaxanthin. Even calcium needs some fat for maximum absorption!
Dietary fat helps us to feel full and to feel fuller longer, thus decreasing the likelihood of cravings and overeating. Unlike carbohydrates, dietary fat has virtually no impact on the fat-storage hormone insulin. In fact, adding fat to a meal lowers the overall glycemic impact of the meal-- and low-glycemic diets have been linked with lower rates of cancer, diabetes, obesity and even Alzheimers. To make matters worse, any fat-free diet foods typically replace fat with carbohydrates, usually of the worst kind. Research has shown that this substitution has significant negative consequences for our health.
Dietary fat is the starting material from which we make all sorts of important chemicals in the body called eicosanoids which, among other things, help regulate clotting and inflammation.
One particular type of fat- omega-3 fatty acids from fish and flax- bears special mention. Omega-3 fats lower blood pressure, improve mood, and- possibly most important of all- lower inflammation. Inflammation is now recognized as a major component of every degenerative disease we know of including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimers. And omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most anti-inflammatory compounds on the planet.
The "Fat-Free" month is an idea whose time should never have come in the first place. It's time to say good-bye to such idiocy for good.
Labels: diet, fat, fat free, fat soluble vitamins, inflammation, insulin, omega-3
Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S. is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health and is the author of several best-selling books.
good blog, that is rediculous, and i want to say not that surprising, but their fat free month is so stupid i am actually surprised even at them for something that rediculous. why dont the have a no white bread/HFCS/white potatoes month, probably because the people selling that crap own the FDA in some way or other. it's no surprise that you're not a fan of the FDA... good for you Johnny!!
the FDA should be completely ripped apart and rebuilt. i have actually personally solved the health care funding crisis. stop putting poison in the food, educate people about health and nutrition, dont subsidize garbage like corn, stop overmedicating, investigate supplements officially and officially regulate their purity so you know what you're getting and separate the ones that do something from the ones that're bullshit, and people wont even need so much "health care", costs will be less, and everyone will be able to afford it
Hilarious and tragic, thanks.
One question, though? Do you have a link for the USDA's Fat-Free Living Month thing? I may be a bad researcher, but I scanned the USDA site and couldn't find any mention of Fat-Free Living Month.
it's hidden- i'm running out right now, but here's a link you might be able to trace... they've been promoting it through spots like the one mentioned here:
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/blogs/enelkay/3406-january-fat-free-living-month.html
warmly
jb
This is way back in September of 2008, but it references Fat Free Living Month:
January Celebrations
Did you know? January is also...
Bread Machine Baking Month
Fat Free Living Month
National Wheat Bread Month
Pear Month
Prune Breakfast Month
http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=2131&level3_id=6591&level4_id=11034&level5_id=0#January%20Health%20Observances%20and%20Holidays
Maybe they decided to abandon the stupidity, as it doesn't seem to be listed on the current January page.
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