The war against dietary fat (AKA the fat in our food) was declared nearly a century ago when the American Heart Association published findings of a suspected association between dietary fat and heart disease. Since then, we’ve seen an ever-changing story urging consumers to either “limit” fat or on the flip side, go keto. A quick tip: I do not recommend the keto diet for dancers and here’s why.
Now, I’m not diving into the stats here because that only reinforces weight stigma and can also be triggering for those struggling with disordered eating or eating disorders. Instead of promoting positive health behaviors, associations between food and disease have only led to a landscape of food guilt, stress, and anxiety. And we know that weight cycling (a product of yo-yo dieting) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Here’s some more proof for your evidence library. And if that’s not enough, yo-yo dieting also lessens bone density
To help you unravel some of the confusion around dietary fat, this article will dive into the questionable conclusions on fat and how you can diminish the fear around the macronutrient. We’ll also chat about the limitations in nutrition research and why the risks associated with fearing foods might just outweigh the risks of spreading butter on your toast. Trigger warning: this article will also chat about using gentle nutrition to support heart health. If you’re currently struggling with disordered eating, in recovery from an eating disorder, or have a tendency to want to “perfect” your diet, it’s encouraged that you work with a licensed professional such as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist before implementing the tenth principle of Gentle Nutrition.
Let’s start with the research
Most food- and diet-related research is observational. The goal of observational research is to identify patterns in behavior (such as eating foods high in fat) and how they potentially links to various health outcomes (like the development of heart disease). There are some major limitations with these studies, though. Read this article to learn more about how to understand nutrition research and why nutrition research gets messy.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, in my opinion, provide a helpful way to draw associations in research. These studies examine larger bodies of evidence in comparison to only looking at one study. Interestingly, a 2018 review on nutrition and cardiovascular health concluded, “It is necessary to conduct more interventional studies with a higher number of cases and longer follow-up. To date, a lot of results obtained have produced few conclusions and sometimes, even contradictions.”
Now, I don’t want to discredit the fact that good nutrition can play a role in positive health outcomes. And while a large body of research continues to address the potential associations between diet and heart health, we need to remember that association doesn’t equate to causation. Any manipulation of the macronutrients is likely to result in some form of dieting/restriction or disordered eating. We cannot ignore the negative health outcomes of internalized weight stigma and weight cycling. And emerging research indicates that a HAES (Health At Every Size) approach (in comparison to a weight-centric intervention) is “associated with statistically and clinically relevant improvements in physiological measures (e.g. blood pressure, blood lipids), health behaviors (e.g. physical activity, eating disorder pathology) and psychosocial outcomes (e.g, mood, self-esteem, body image).”
Okay, so what’s so great about fat?
Our body needs fat for numerous metabolic functions. Fat is a source of energy, it protects our organs and helps to keep us warm. Fat is essential for the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s also a major player in the production of hormones! Without adequate fat stores in our bodies, we’ll risk hormonal deficiencies and a syndrome known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (read about it here).
It’s recommended that about 30% of an athlete’s daily intake comes from fat. If you’re following a restricted low-calorie diet, then you could be at risk for insufficiencies of key nutrients like essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. On the flip side, excessively high-fat diets (and subsequent low-carb diets) have been shown to limit athletic performance and increase the overall level of perception during intense activity (think: petit allegro). For a deep dive into why I don’t recommend the Keto diet for dancers, read this.
But I thought butter was “bad”
Diet culture has done a FAB job at labeling what’s “bad” and “good” for health. But remember: when learning how to fuel the body, the goal is to build sustainable habits without obsessing over every gram and every ounce of food (more on this here).
Now, different fats have different chemical properties that affect the body in a variety of ways. The two major fats found in our food supply include unsaturated fats (monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated ”omega-3″ and “omega-6” fats) and saturated fats.
Saturated fat is found primarily in animal products like beef, pork, and full-fat dairy (milk, butter, cream, and cheese). It’s also the main type of fat in coconut oil. Unsaturated fats are found in most plant foods like avocados, oils (olive and canola), nuts, and seeds. Fatty fish and grass-fed beef are also (pricier) sources. We can further decipher between unsaturated “omega-3” fatty acids (such as ALA, DHA, and EPA) from unsaturated “omega-6” fatty acids. Since our body cannot make these fatty acids on its own, it’s essential to obtain them from food.
Omega-3 fats have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties, which could benefit muscular recovery. In comparison, omega-6 fats are less anti-inflammatory, but when compared to a diet high in saturated fat, the consumption of omega-6 fats promotes positive outcomes. Some feel that the Western diet contains too few omega-3 fatty acids and too many omega-6 fatty acids (particularly linolenic acid, which is found in soybean, safflower, and corn oils), but this research is pretty old… take it with a grain of salt. Because omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids compete with each other for certain enzymes needed in their metabolism, the concern is that too many omega-6 fatty acids in the diet may interfere with the body’s conversion of ALA into DHA (an important nutrient for brain health).
The goal isn’t to avoid any one type of fat. Rather, it’s to try choosing sources of unsaturated fats when it’s practical, feasible, and if you enjoy those foods. Flax, chia, nuts (especially walnuts), green leafy veggies, and fortified eggs are higher in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and tend to be more budget-friendly when compared to fatty fish and grass-fed meat.
But what about the relationship between fat and cholesterol?
Here’s a quick perspective shift: disordered eating might be directly related to high cholesterol and any extreme methods to lose weight might be more detrimental for cholesterol than actually staying at a weight that is higher and more comfortable for your body (more on this here).
Weight cycling from chronic dieting has been associated with lower HDL (the “good” cholesterol) and higher LDL (the “bad” cholesterol). Weight suppression (sustaining a weight that is below your body’s set point) may also be associated with significantly higher blood cholesterol. Hormonal shifts might be to blame— including shifts in stress hormones (like cortisol), thyroid hormones, and growth hormones. Before totally swearing off high-fat foods for good, consider these interventions:
- Start the work of healing your relationship with food
- Discourage practices like restrictive dieting and weight cycling
- If accessible, incorporate sources of unsaturated fats into your diet— flax, avocadoes, and olive oil are examples (more on this below) which may help in the reduction of LDL cholesterol
- Talk with your medical doctor about additional therapies— like cholesterol-reducing medication, especially if you might have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol
Are eggs okay?
Eggs are commonly under fire when we’re discussing cholesterol in food. But there’s lots of research supporting the benefits of eggs. Most recently. this 2018 research review found that up to seven eggs per week could safely be consumed without increasing the risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Eggs are an incredible powerhouse of nutrients. In addition to being packed with protein, which can keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the day, egg yolks (where all the cholesterol is found), contain an array of nutrients like choline (critical for brain health), omega-3 fatty acids (awesome anti-inflammatory), biotin (well-known for supporting hair, nail, and skin health), and vitamins K2, E, D, and A.
So, I shouldn’t fear fat?
Nope. As I mentioned, fat plays a huge role in our health. All dietary fats promote satisfaction (AKA the fourth macronutrient of our balanced plate). But it can be easy to hyper-focus on the “heart-healthy” or anti-inflammatory fats. Instead, utilize methods of gentle nutrition to make food choices that honor both your physical health and emotional well-being (read more here).
Popular heart-healthy diets, like the Mediterranean Diet, are less offensive than most other restrictive diets. But, the mainstream often translates this way of eating into the guise of “eat less” and “everything in moderation.” This narrow-minded trajectory also ignores the vast cultural and socioeconomic differences among our population, making it impractical and inaccessible to those navigating constraints like time and money. Plus, if you have a history of restrictive eating (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t in our diet-ridden culture), then you’ll want to steer clear of labeling diet rules. Click here to learn more about this topic.
To gain the benefits of this macronutrient on your balanced plate and boost your intake of omega-3s less obsessively, consider the following tips:
- If economically feasible (and if you enjoy it), consider a fatty fish like Albacore tuna (my favorite and most convenient option!) or salmon a couple of times a week.
- Add a handful of nuts of pepitas to your trail mix.
- Swap your mom’s cooking spray with butter for a more satisfying meal experience.
- Pair your chips with some homemade guacamole.
- Cook veggies in oil and top salads with dressing.
