The Skinny On Fat

Photo by Loop_Oh

Twice in the last week I've read that some scientists are rethinking the "saturated-fat-is-bad-for-you" story. Word on the nutrition street is that saturated fats (animal fats) can actually improve our health.  When you think about it, it makes sense - as animals we're made up of saturated fats! In fact, over half the cell membrane of every cell in our body is made up of saturated fat. It helps us utilize essential fatty acids, helps us absorb calcium in our bones, and gives us a boost in our immune system.

Excuse me a moment while I take a long slug of whole milk...

All kidding aside, we do need to be watchful of how much fat we are ingesting, so that does not mean we should wash a bacon cheeseburger down with a milk shake everyday for lunch. But for me, upgrading my yogurt from fat-free to 2% sure feels darn good!

Here's an interesting article in the New York Times on the subject: Good News on Saturated Fat.