Fat Deficiency Kills More People Every Year Than Breast Cancer

Did you know that your low-fat diet could secretly be killing you? You might think that you’re on the path of the virtuous by cutting calories and oil molecules at every turn, but the truth is that a deficiency of healthy fats kills more people every year than breast cancer.

Sure made me stop and think – and I’m already an out’n’proud fat advocate. Can’t get enough of the stuff, in fact. My daily staples are coconut oil, omega-3 capsules, grass-fed organic meat (including the fat!), avocado, and raw nuts (mainly in nut milk or spread, just ’cause that’s how I like it). But despite my hearty grease intake, I have to admit that I’d never quite thought about the big picture effects of avoiding fat. Sure, I know that a lack of fat leads to a veritable smorgasboard of potential health disorders, including every type of inflammation (of which cancer is one), to poor brain development and function, to an imbalanced hormonal system, and even to unstoppable weight gain, but I guess I’ve focused my research on the positive benefits of adequate fat consumption.

So I have to say it knocked me for six to learn the results of a recent Harvard Uni study showing that fat deficiency (specifically Omega 3 deficiency) kills up to 96,000 Americans each year. And when you consider that the typical mainstream diet encourages you to reduce fat of all kinds, often advocating only a token amount of even these essential fats, coupled with the fact the obesity, heart disease and diabetes are all (seemingly unstoppably) on the rise, well – you’d be crazy not to question the true wisdom of conventional nutrition.

So How Can You Increase Your Omega 3?

Supplements are an obvious choice, although you usually need to take far more than the recommended dosage. It’s also crucial that you choose a brand of Omega 3 that is derived from fish oil (preferably from Iceland or Canada), and is mercury-free. But no matter how diligent you are with your supps, it’s probably not going to cut it. According to hormone expert Charles Poliquin you need at least 35-40 grams of Omega 3 daily. That’s based on what you eat in nature. So unless you plan on swallowing upwards of 30 pills each day – and that’s a pricey endeavor, not to mention fairly off-putting – then you’re going to need to seek out foods rich in these good fats. Here are some ideas.

• Oily fish such as anchovies, mackerel, sardines (avoid tuna due to high mercury and minimize salmon unless wild)
• Raw nuts and seeds, especially walnuts, brazil nuts, and flaxseeds
• The obscure but incredibly powerful acai berry (not only does it contain over 50% Omega 3’s, but is also packed full of fibre, protein, and has an antioxidant rating off the scale)
  
• Legumes, especially kidney beans
• Certain green veg such as spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous veggies
• Grass-fed organic meat (cattle fed on grain are depleted of naturally occurring good fats)
  
• Organic free-range eggs
• Mango and papaya (yum!)
  

I don’t mean to sound smug (well, maybe just a little) but as I write this I’m eating a delicious breakfast of poached eggs, wild salmon, avocado – okay so that’s not O-3, but still good – and I downed 5 quality O-3 caps. Not a bad start to the day if I do say so myself! And considering the implications of a lack of the stuff, I certainly see no reason not to include at least one of the above foods in my diet every day. If not every meal. Wouldn’t you agree?

\