Fat Burning: Eat (Real) Fat [Infographic]

Eat Fats to Burn Fat [Infographic}

The low-fat, no-fat diet is out.  Eating fats for optimal health, energy and weight loss is in.  But the nutritionists, fitness experts and diet gurus warn us that, just like calories, not all fats are equal!

Some fats, like transfats, are detrimental to health, promote weight gain, impede fat loss and contribute to a whole host of chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary heart disease and obesity.

On the other side of the spectrum, some fats - namely the omegas (Omega-6 and Omega-3), are now thought to confer a wide range of health benefits and to actually promote an efficiently functioning metabolism, increase fat burning and drive weight loss - as this short but sweet infographic so aptly points out:

✿ Helping the body absorb certain vitamins and antioxidants;

✿ Supplying the body with essential nutrients;

✿ Building lean muscle mass faster

✿ Preventing hunger and overeating by curbing cravings for snacks and junk food.

But before you go scarfing up on all kinds of fats, it is absolutely essential to understand the difference in the various types of fats, and how to shop, store and cook with each type.  Remember:  not all fats are created equal and different fats need to be stored, cooked and eaten in different ways.  The following links contain further useful information:

Healthy Fats:  Cooking and Storing
The Benefits of Vegetable Oil

Infographic source and more information:  LoveandPrimal.com

Healthy Fats - Cooking and Storing [Infographic - Poster]

Healthy Fats:  Achieving Wellness by Using Nourishing Fats
from NourishingMedicine.com

There is currently a huge divide in the weight loss and wellness community regarding fats in the diet.  This is creating a lot of confusion about which fats are healthy, which are unhealthy, which contribute to weight gain (and specifically belly fat) and which promote weight loss.

Regardless of which side of the argument you may be on, it is important to understand some basic characteristics of various types of fats and how to properly use and store each type.

For example, some type of oils (such as coconut oil) are ideal for high heat cooking, i.e., frying, broiling and grilling.  Other oils are suitable for medium heat cooking. These include avocado, macadamia nut, peanut, sesame, rice bran and olive oil.

Certain other oils, such as flax, hemp, grape and pumpkin seed oil, should never be exposed to heat but are ideal drizzled on salads or over already cooked food.

Proper storage of oils, including medicinal oils with may come in supplemental form in capsules, is just as important as proper use in order to maintain the nutritional integrity of each type of oil (or fat).

This "infographic" is actually a poster that is available for purchase from NourishingMedicine.com.  It is an easy reference and guide to cooking and storing various different types of fats and oils and includes a few basic facts about fats, including some of the key benefits of healthy fats and dangers of unhealthy fats.  Note:  regarding this poster, we are not sure how safe it is to store butter and other animal-derived fats on the counter top.

Related:

The Benefits of Vegetable Oil (Olive, Coconut, Flaxseed, Sesame, Avocado and Peanut Oils)
Healthy Oils