What is Body Fat?
Most people are under the impression that body fat (adipose tissue) is inert tissue, but in fact, it is a complex metabolic organ. In addition to fat cells, body fat contains connective tissue, nerve tissue and immune cells. It also produces hormones including leptin and estrogen. A complex interplay of factors determines how much body fat an individual will store, where fat distribution will occur and at what rate it can be burned.
Where the Human Body Stores Fat
Body fat in humans is stored in five main fat “depots”: subcutaneously (beneath the skin), viscerally (around internal organs), in bone marrow, muscle tissue, and breast tissue. Where fat is stored helps determine what it does and how it affects your health. Visceral fat, which is also known as intra-abdominal fat, is deposited between vital organs and in the abdominal cavity and excessive accumulation can cause health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, insulin resistance and some forms of cancer.
Subcutaneous fat, which tends to be located in the thighs and buttocks (particularly in women) is less metabolically active than visceral fat, and less harmful to overall health. However, in the presence of high levels of subcutaneous fat, visceral fat tends to be excessive as well. Research from as far back as the 1940’s proved that certain types of foods contributed to fat accumulation and specific types of foods did not. We need to do a u-turn with our current dietary advise and apply what we’ve known for over 6 decades – Carbohydrates trigger fat storage.  Dietary fat does not!
What’s Considered A Healthy Diet?
We’ve been instructed to follow a “low fat diet” and exercise regularly in order to lose weight and maintain our health. I would like to bring to your attention something that might shock you.  A healthy diet can’t be low fat. As mentioned by Zoe Harcombe, the author of the Obesity Epidemic there are essential (i.e. nutrients that must be obtained through diet) amino acids, essential fatty acids, but there are no essential carbohydrates. If mankind never ate another processed or starchy carbohydrate, we would be just fine. I agree with Ms Harcombe when she says, “Nature has no vested interest, no profit to be made from us and no reason to provide us with anything other than nutritious food.  Therefore I believe that the human race must return to eating food in the form closest to that provided by nature.” This would include basing our diet on vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy from naturally raised animals and some whole grains.
Science has proven time and time again that fat accumulation is regulated primarily by insulin and dietary carbohydrates and history supports this as we have grown fatter and sicker with the introduction of dietary guidelines recommending we base our diet on this macronutrient.
What We Should Be Eating Instead of 55-60% of Our Diet As Carbohydrates
Healthy Fats
Natural occurring fats are an essential part of a healthy diet
All dietary fats are not beneficial to the human body and that’s mainly due to the implementation of man made forms, like trans and hydrogenated fats and processed vegetables oils.  What most people aren’t aware of is that all natural sources of fats, both from vegetables and animal sources contain both saturated and unsaturated fat. Breast milk, for example is mostly saturated fat and cholesterol, which is necessary for the proper development of an infants nervous system, brain function and energy, so that the protein consumed can be used for development. Women on low fat, high carbohydrate diets tend to have lower fat content in their breast milk. If a diet rich in health sustaining fats is essential for a growing infant, why would that same diet all of a sudden be harmful for adults?
If you’re interested in learning more about body fat and how to eat to control it and your health, we invite you to contact us.