Fat is one of the most misunderstood nutrients. Fortunately, fat-phobia seems to be coming to a close, though the implications of it have taken a toll on the health of millions. For years people have been told that dietary fat leads to physical fat and all sorts of other ailments, but it isn’t true! As a result of this human experiment, inflammatory diseases have INCREASED, making us sick and overweight.
Two of the biggest culprits are highly processed and hydrogenated oils like canola/vegetable oil and margarine. Fat from these sources behaves differently than fat from sources that are less processed and taken care of properly, so it becomes problematic for your body to use.
An example of this is in our cell walls. You are made up of ~37 trillion cells, and each of those has a cell wall. Cell walls are flexible, 
strong, and play an important role in keeping cell contents safe and secure — and they’re made of fat!
When you consume processed fats (hydrogenated oils), they become integrated into your cell walls, hormones, and more; however, they don’t behave the way natural fats do. Cell walls made from processed materials lose their flexibility and integrity, so the body begins to malfunction.
Here are a few roles of fat:
• long-lasting energy (these calories burn slowly, so you don’t get hungry as quickly)
• building blocks of hormones and cell walls
• absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Healthy sources of fat:
• avocados
• butter from grass-fed animals
• eggs from pasture-raised chickens
• wild-caught fish / fish oil
• nuts
• high-quality oils – avocado, coconut, olive, etc
• full-fat yogurt or cottage cheese from grass-fed animals
Shelby O’Hagan, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP)
Rebel Yum Nutrition
