Dissolving the Myths about Fats
Facts and Fictions about Fats
Fiction: Body fat is "bad."
Fact: You need body fat. It allows you to absorb fat- soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), which help maintain eyesight and destroy harmful chemicals. Fat also cushions and protects your inner organs.
Fiction: You have to lose all your excess fat to improve your health.
Fact: Even a few pounds can make a big difference. For every 2 pounds of excess fat lost, blood cholesterol drops by an average of 3 points.
Fiction: You don't need to exercise if you're dieting.
Fact: You have to eat fewer calories and exercise aerobically to lose fat. A strict diet with no exercise will only lead to larger fat cells, more fat cells, less muscle tissue and a slower metabolism.
Fiction: Trying to lose lots of weight quickly is the best way to lose fat.
Fact: Strict diets usually lower metabolism because they cause loss of lean body mass (muscle tissue) rather than loss of body fat. A strict diet with insufficient carbohydrates will cause the body to use up its important protein sources.
