Fat and cholesterol are related and your body needs both.  For most of us, consuming fat helps us maintain healthy cholesterol levels.  Although “common knowledge” says that lowering cholesterol reduces cardiovascular disease, that’s a myth.  At least 50% of heart attack patients have cholesterol levels (including so called “bad” LDL) that are at, or below, normal laboratory values.

You don’t make fat by eating fat.  In fact, we want to make fat your principal energy source and burn up the storage “pantries” from your waist, thighs, hips, etc.  Using fat as your primary fuel also helps satiate hunger and turn off cravings… hormonally!

Cholesterol is a major ingredient in hormone production and is important for the formation of sex hormones, blood pressure hormones and others.

There’s confusion about good vs bad fat.  But, there are more important things to understand for now.  However, trans fat is an unhealthy, mostly artificial product to avoid, so get rid of it now and we’ll talk about why in another blog.

Help turn off cravings hormonally with cheese, nuts, eggs, bratwurst, sausage, bacon and other “fatty” foods.  If you like fried food (not fried carbohydrates like french fries!), just use long-chain fats like butter, lard and extra virgin olive oil.  Don’t fry with short-chain fats like corn oil.  While this contradicts what you’ve been taught for decades, fat is your friend.

Fat, fat, fat…  Eat it!