“Low-Fat” is Making You Fat & Sick + 3 Myths About Fat

Thanks to fantastic marketing and our addiction to sugar, we’ve fallen into the trap of misguided nutrition! And unfortunately for many, it’s making us fat and sick.

In 1977, the government began telling Americans to eat less fat. They “believed fat was leading to heart disease, obesity and high cholesterol.” Then, in the mid-1980s, the production of low-fat products began replacing the fat in the product with carbohydrates and sugar. Of course, this was  a huge move for the food industry because it increased their profits as sugar is much cheaper than fat to produce.

Interestingly enough, we didn’t see heart disease, obesity or high cholesterol begin to decrease. In fact, it was quite the contrary, and not only do we now have an epidemic of all three of these health issues, but with other diseases as well, i.e. cancer, autoimmune diseases, etc.

So…why do you think that is?

I agree with what world-renowned heart surgeon, Dr. Dwight Lundell, MD, says:

The long-established dietary recommendations of low-fat, have created epidemics of obesity and diabetes, the consequences of which dwarf any historical plague in terms of mortality, human suffering and dire economic consequences.

Basically…and quite unfortunately…we got it all backwards when we wrongly accused fat and then introduced more sugar into the diet. Not only is sugar the real culprit and one of the reasons we’ve become sicker AND fatter, but by taking fat out of our diet, we now have a massive increase in obesity and illness.

Now, I know you may still need a little more convincing that fat doesn’t make you fat.

So, my friend and fellow Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Craig Fear is going to uncover 3 myths about fat to help:

1. Myth: Fat makes you fat.

Fact: Processed foods make you fat.

Fat is an essential nutrient. You cannot live without fat. 60% of our brain is fat. Fat is required for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Fat plays important roles in digestive, immune, endocrine and cardiovascular function. The low-fat campaign of the past 40 years has done little except make us sicker and fatter. During the past 20 years’ fat intake has decreased by 11% while obesity has increased by 32%.

Refined sugar was unknown in the human diet before 1600. By the mid-1800s we were consuming between 10 and 20 pounds of refined sugar per person per year in America. By the end of the 20^th century, the average American was now consuming between 120 and 150 pounds per year in the form of breakfast cereals, breads, cakes, candies, ice cream, pastries, pasta, jams, processed fruit juices, soft drinks, etc. This has become S.A.D. or the Standard American Diet. This is the root cause of our obesity epidemic.

2. Myth: The best way to lose weight is to restrict fat and calories.

Fact: The best way to lose weight is to restrict processed foods.

It is the QUALITY of calories we consume that will determine how our body utilizes them. The caloric value of food does not differentiate between organic and non-organic. It does not differentiate between processed and whole foods. It does not differentiate between animals raised in confinement and animals raised properly. Your body knows what to do with REAL food, as Nature intended. REAL food will not make you fat. Processed foods are known as ‘empty’ calories. They not only lack vital nutrients, they actually withdraw nutrients from the body and promote fat deposition over fat utilization. 

3. Myth: Cardiovascular disease is caused by fat and cholesterol.

Fact: Cardiovascular disease is caused by processed foods.

The rise of heart disease and many other chronic diseases in the 20^th century coincided with the rise of processed foods. The lipid hypothesis which is the theory that fat and cholesterol cause heart disease started in the 1950s and has since been proven wrong. George Mann, former co-director of the Framingham Heart Study said, “The diet-heart hypothesis has been repeatedly shown to be wrong and yet, for complicated reasons of pride, profit and prejudice the hypothesis continues to be exploited by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and even governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest health scam of the century”.

So, where can you start making changes today?

Here are 2 action steps:

1. Start with breakfast! I challenge you to eliminate all grains and sugar from this 1 meal each day and replace it with fat. My favorite breakfast is 3 organic eggs cooked in butter served with a side of micro greens and half of an avocado. However, if you need some more ideas, grab my 30-Day Grain-Free, Dairy-Free and Sugar-Free Meal Plan. It contains 30 different breakfast’s that have no sugar and are full of healthy fats! Also, I love this chart from Dr. Axe that lists 7 of the healthiest fats:

2. Avoid foods labeled “low-fat,” especially if they’re not naturally low-fat. Here are some of the top culprits of unhealthy, low-fat foods:

• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Milk
• Bars
• Granola
• Chips and Crackers
• Diet Drinks

Final Thoughts…

I’d love to hear about your journey of eating more fat and less sugar! I know you’ll feel stronger, healthier and happier, and your story may encourage someone else who might be struggling with making changes. Plus, I’d love to know your favorite healthy fat. 🙂 So, please leave a comment below.

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