Chief's Tip of the Day - Fat
Over the past two decades, we have been bombarded with the idea that saturated fat will harden your atteries, and cause heart failure. We were told to avoid fats, especially animal fats, and eat a mostly whole-grain based diet.
There is now complelling evidence that the advice from the last two decades was just wrong, and had led to a host of dietary problems. See these -
Saturated fat not linked to greater risk of heart disease, new research finds - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
No link found between saturated fat and heart disease - Telegraph
Don't Fear The Fat: Experts Question Saturated Fat Guidelines : The Salt : NPR
Carbs against Cardio: More Evidence that Refined Carbohydrates, not Fats, Threaten the Heart - Scientific American
The last article is the one I believe the most. As a diabetic, I have been watching what I eat for 15 years now. I find that when I indulge in high-glycemic load foods, I feel worse, my blood sugar goes up, and gain weight. When I eat foods rich with soluble fiber, and more meat, and yes, I choose well marbled meat and drink only whole milk (less carbs per unit serving that low fat milk), by blood sugar is more easily controlled, I feel better and lose weight. The article also shows that whole milk appears to benefit the heart.
The main thrust of all of these articles is that animal fat is neutral, and doesn't hurt the heart. But the most important idea put forth is that controlling carbohydrate intake, especially limiting processed, simply carbs, like sugar, corn syrup, processed grain, and products that use those ingredients, such as soda-pop, granola bars, sweetened, or unsweetened, highly processed cereals, white rice, etc. do negatively affect the heart, and obesity.
I will continue to eat high-quality, well marbled meat, drink full-fat milk, use butter, and animal fat in cooking, and eat whole grains, and fiber-rich veggies and fruits. Most of all, I will eat a wide variety of foods. This will minimize the bad substances, while insuring that I consume as many healthy foods as possible.
Caution, fats are still calorie rich, and will cause weight gain if eaten excessively. This isn't a free ticket to gorge on meat. It's simply a guideline that points to a healthier, more intelligent, IMO, way of eating.
All of my past family ate meat at every meal, but a sensible amount. Except for heavy smoking, and a fair amount of alcohol, which both shortened my Dad's life, they all lived long and healthy lives. My family ate a wide variety of foods, including a good steak every now and then, bacon, pork chops, etc. I have to admit my mother died in her 60's, but her heart was strong. She had contracted a liver disease from a blood transfusion she got in the early 1960's before blood was properly screened as it is today, after a difficult child birth. It eventually destroyed her liver. There was no cancer, or heart issues with any of my ancestors that I know of.
Moral of the story, ballance your diet with fiber-rich fruits and veggies, such as apples, berries, legumes, and sweet potatoes. Eat a sensibe chunk of good meat. Use herbs and spices for flavoring. Enjoy your food.
Sad part of this, I have to limit my consumption of World Famous Pancakes with real maple syrup to a couple times a year, instead of every weekend. But then again, I already do that.
Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North
I mean, I even ate a mini orange, cold from the fridge, hoping that the strong citrus would mask the aroma coming from the slow cooker. It didn't. Getting back to sleep is going to be a challenge.
