he Foundation of Fats

Over the years the truth about fats has been suppressed and they are coming back to the light. Saturated fats like tallow contain many beneficial vitamins that make it a skin and heart-healthy choice, contrary to many conventional beliefs. The type of fats you eat makes a difference in your health but the answer is not to eliminate them from your diet. Your body actually needs dietary fats to thrive. Let’s make the truth known – saturated fats are NOT the bad guys! Those who have been indoctrinated by the American Standard Diet (SAD) probably heard “saturated fats” and squirmed. 

Understanding Saturated Fats & Trans Fats

I think it is important to explain some of the differences between saturated fats and trans fats. Trans fats, unlike saturated fats, increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. High levels of LDL can cause heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and death. Most trans fats are man-made though few naturally occur. The process of making trans fats started by picking industrial liquid oils like cottonseed, grapeseed, rapeseed (canola), sunflower, safflower, or soybean, to name a few. These are all byproducts and are sometimes known to be toxic. They undergo multiple chemical and mechanical extractions. After extraction, some are purified, refined, chemically altered, bleached, and deodorized. Some of these oils are then used to make margarine or shortening which is done by the process of partial hydrogenation. This process turns the liquid oils into a solid state by mixing it with hydrogen. This is an inexpensive process that makes for a longer shelf life but at the cost to your health. It’s not real food. 

Saturated fats are solids at room temperature that naturally occur in many foods. The three main categories they are found in are high-fat dairy, meats, and tropical oils. First, high-fat dairy includes butter, ghee, milk, sour cream, and ice cream. The best quality of saturated fats from high-fat dairy will be from grass-fed animals that spend time under the sun. This will maximize the vitamins A and K from eating grass and vitamin D from the sunlight. I have to mention it here but will go into it further in another post but dairy should be consumed unpasteurized to get the natural vitamins and nutrients available in the milk. Pasteurized milk is dead milk, lacking all the beneficial bacteria naturally found in raw milk. Second, grass-fed meats like beef, pork, and chicken contain saturated fats. This is where we get the types of fat from. Tallow comes from the cattle, sheep, and venison family, lard from pork, and schmaltz from chicken. There is also fish liver oil that contains saturated fats like cod liver oil. Third, tropical saturated fats include coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel. These oils are naturally occurring and will add much-needed nutrients to your life!

In general, sticking to animal and plant fats will result in greater beneficial nutrients for your health. Consider getting grass-fed tallow and other fats from a local farmer or butcher. You can often get these fats from a local Co-op or health foods if you don’t have access to a local farmer or butcher. Supporting local farms and stores promotes food freedom while giving you a greater connection to the food on your table.