Low fat diet plans. They’re everywhere, aren’t they? Count your Calories and the inches will disappear… won’t they? Most low fat diet plans come with lots of (mainly complex) carbohydrates. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Now surely I’m not about to tell you that fruits and vegetables are bad for you?
No, of course not. But I am concerned at how many diets simply seem to focus on putting as little fat into your system as possible, but don’t really think too closely about what you should be putting in instead.
As you may have seen from some of the other posts here, I don’t believe we should view fat as our enemy! You need to be sure that you are getting enough of the essential, healthy fats to keep all sorts of systems running efficiently and healthily. Low fat diet plans often incorporate low fat versions of foods. These have usually been processed, refined and/ or chemically changed in order to reduce the fat content. The more processed and refined the food is, the less accessible the nutrients in it become, so your body can’t utilize them. In the case of fats (like low fat spreads as opposed to butter), the processing can actually render them much more harmful to your body than their full-fat cousins. This is because the fats are transformed into trans-fats which block the body from breaking down the healthy, essential fats.
Also, what if you’re a protein type (from a metabolic typing point of view)? This type of metabolism needs a higher level of fat in the diet in order to operate optimally. And what if you feel bad on a low fat, high carbohydrate diet? Should you persevere anyway? If you’re a carbohydrate type, this way of eating might suit you very well, but if you’re not, then you will almost certainly experience cravings for salty, fatty foods in particular, and you may feel hungry a lot of the time.
On any diet plan, if you’re feeling hungry and deprived, it’s not the right plan for you. Your body does what it can to show you what works well and what doesn’t. If you’re feeling great, energized and satisfied, you’re probably eating right for you. If you’re hungry, drained, or your energy levels swing up and down, take a look at what you’re eating and change it!
So, low fat diets have their place, but focus on the quality of the food you’re eating, and how you feel after you’ve eaten it. Whole, raw fruits and vegetables are delicious and healthy and wonderful to eat. But if your body functions best on a high protein diet, then those popular low fat diets are not the best way forward for you. Explore your metabolic type (see the links below for more information about this way of eating), and of course eat plenty of whole, raw foods. But avoid artificially low fat foods, and balance those fruits and vegetables with the right amount of well sourced, preferably organic, proteins and fats. If a low fat diet works well for you, and you feel great on it, try to ensure that the foods you’re eating are whole, natural, healthy foods, not highly processed, manufactured, low fat versions of the real thing.
And whether it’s a low fat diet plan you’re following, or any other way of eating, you should not feel hungry or deprived. Your body knows what it needs, and feeling hungry means it’s not getting everything you require. You don’t necessarily need more food… just different food.
For more information about metabolic typing, take a look at these articles on my website:
Take care and stay healthy
Leah Salmon – The Naturally You Coach
After spending years as a nurse and medical secretary, Leah Salmon realised that orthodox medicine didn’t work and became a Naturally You Coach, helping people to use their foods and natural remedies to improve their health, instead of drugs, chemicals and surgeries. Now a published author of 2 books, a speaker, teacher and dedicated homeschooling mother to her 4 children, listen to Leah share the number one secret to great health at http://www.numberonesecrettohealth.com
No, of course not. But I am concerned at how many diets simply seem to focus on putting as little fat into your system as possible, but don’t really think too closely about what you should be putting in instead.
As you may have seen from some of the other posts here, I don’t believe we should view fat as our enemy! You need to be sure that you are getting enough of the essential, healthy fats to keep all sorts of systems running efficiently and healthily. Low fat diet plans often incorporate low fat versions of foods. These have usually been processed, refined and/ or chemically changed in order to reduce the fat content. The more processed and refined the food is, the less accessible the nutrients in it become, so your body can’t utilize them. In the case of fats (like low fat spreads as opposed to butter), the processing can actually render them much more harmful to your body than their full-fat cousins. This is because the fats are transformed into trans-fats which block the body from breaking down the healthy, essential fats.
Also, what if you’re a protein type (from a metabolic typing point of view)? This type of metabolism needs a higher level of fat in the diet in order to operate optimally. And what if you feel bad on a low fat, high carbohydrate diet? Should you persevere anyway? If you’re a carbohydrate type, this way of eating might suit you very well, but if you’re not, then you will almost certainly experience cravings for salty, fatty foods in particular, and you may feel hungry a lot of the time.
On any diet plan, if you’re feeling hungry and deprived, it’s not the right plan for you. Your body does what it can to show you what works well and what doesn’t. If you’re feeling great, energized and satisfied, you’re probably eating right for you. If you’re hungry, drained, or your energy levels swing up and down, take a look at what you’re eating and change it!
So, low fat diets have their place, but focus on the quality of the food you’re eating, and how you feel after you’ve eaten it. Whole, raw fruits and vegetables are delicious and healthy and wonderful to eat. But if your body functions best on a high protein diet, then those popular low fat diets are not the best way forward for you. Explore your metabolic type (see the links below for more information about this way of eating), and of course eat plenty of whole, raw foods. But avoid artificially low fat foods, and balance those fruits and vegetables with the right amount of well sourced, preferably organic, proteins and fats. If a low fat diet works well for you, and you feel great on it, try to ensure that the foods you’re eating are whole, natural, healthy foods, not highly processed, manufactured, low fat versions of the real thing.
And whether it’s a low fat diet plan you’re following, or any other way of eating, you should not feel hungry or deprived. Your body knows what it needs, and feeling hungry means it’s not getting everything you require. You don’t necessarily need more food… just different food.
For more information about metabolic typing, take a look at these articles on my website:
Take care and stay healthy
Leah Salmon – The Naturally You Coach
After spending years as a nurse and medical secretary, Leah Salmon realised that orthodox medicine didn’t work and became a Naturally You Coach, helping people to use their foods and natural remedies to improve their health, instead of drugs, chemicals and surgeries. Now a published author of 2 books, a speaker, teacher and dedicated homeschooling mother to her 4 children, listen to Leah share the number one secret to great health at http://www.numberonesecrettohealth.com