By: Dr. Keith Kantor

 

Fat free foods that are not naturally fat free. Examples of these foods include fat free dairy products like yogurt and milk, fat free butter or margarine, fat free cookies, etc. Not only are these items loaded with sugar to replace the flavor that the fat contributes they cause spikes in insulin levels resulting in more cravings for sugar and can increase the risk for Type 2 Diabetes and weight gain. Fat is an essential nutrient that is needed to nourish the brain, improve memory, skin, provide essential vitamins and it helps regulate your appetite naturally without increasing insulin levels. Fat is also healthy for us as we age to keep our brain nourished and sharp.

 

Sugar. Sugar is related to most chronic diseases including Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. Sugar can ruin your liver, if your body is unable to store the glycogen from sugar then your body absorbs it as fat and it settles around the liver causing non-alcoholic fatty liver syndrome. It causes physical stress on the body; actual stress levels are affected by the amount of sugar in your diet. For example, when you eat a chocolate bar, your blood sugar spikes quickly and then plummets, causes the body to discharge a series of stress hormones (i.e., adrenaline, epinephrine and cortisol), which trigger your fight or flight response (aka: nerves). It can also decrease the health of your immune system. Studies link diets high in refined sugar to bodies that produce excess bacteria and yeast, which feed on sugar and result in various infections, illnesses, and diseases.

 

Trans Fatty Acids (hydrogenated oils). These are chemically altered unsaturated fatty acid of a type occurring in margarines and manufactured cooking oils as a result of the hydrogenation process, having a trans arrangement of the carbon atoms adjacent to its double bonds. Consumption of such acids is thought to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Originally developed to increase the shelf life and flavor of processed snacks. This type of fat is the fat that clogs your arteries not natural occurring saturated fats, dramatically increasing your risk for heart disease. Read the ingredient list and look for hydrogenated oils, this is the “code” name for trans fat.

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824150/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2606986/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2974200/