Despite what the current fad says, fats are essential to the functioning of the human body. Each cell is encased in a membrane and this membrane is composed of two layers of a fatty substance. This serves a dual purpose, namely to keep water from moving freely across it and to keep the membrane flexible. Think of the cell as a watery soup encased in an oily bubble. Fat cells are amazing in that they can grow to enormous sizes to accommodate all that extra food that we eat. So when we eat low fat foods and believe that we are going to reduce the size of our gut or lose weight, meanwhile we are over eating carbohydrates and protein, we are actually feeding the fat cell to grow. Low fat foods from that perspective, is a delusion. It is also why liposuction without a lifestyle change to reduce caloric intake often fails over the long term. Carbohydrates and proteins will be broken down and stored as fat as long as there is no immediate need for it by the body. The body is very conservative in that sense, it will store anything that is unused, as long as it can convert it to a form that can be stored. There is a very interesting body of research on the effects of a calorie restricted diet on long term health, and again, it goes beyond just weight loss and fitting into a bikini, dress, or that high school tuxedo when you are 40. The reason that the body stores excess energy as fat is that, firstly it holds more energy than protein or carbohydrates and is the lightest of the three. So the body stores a high energy molecule that weighs less than other forms; that contributes to the maneuverability of the animal and its ability to resist famine. Fat also is a great insulator, which is why people who have more fatty tissue tend to be able to resist the cold more easily and can have trouble in the warmer climes. Fats are removed from the body via bile. So liver function as well as gut function needs to be optimized in order that fat excretion is efficient and effective. So yes, a liver and intestinal cleanse will help you to be healthier, but it is not as simplistic as the ads make it sound. Doing those cleanses will not allow you to “flush the fat”, at least not in the way that they insinuate. You will lose stored fat from your body by eating less, eating differently and exercising more, there is no secret. In the coming weeks, I will continue along this series on fats and oils, from the common to the essential. I will also focus on weight loss, cleanses and cholesterol, that oft maligned beast that is central to our daily functioning. Fish oil and the omega fatty acids will also be discussed. Stay tuned as this tel (hindi for oil, pronounced “tail”) unfolds.
