ABSOLUTELY / PROMOTION protein and carbohydrates, so it would seem logical to avoid fat to lose weight, and for many years this was the standard advice for slimmers. But recent studies have shown that deficiencies in essential fatty acids can actually slow weight loss. YOU NEED TO EAT FAT TO LOSE FAT.
Some dietary experts are promoting higher fat diets to help with weight loss. What’s more, many low fat products contain added sugar, the enemy of both the waistline and the skin. Fat helps boost satiety and adds flavour to our meals. However, we do need to eat the right types of fats and oils.
FAT THE TRUTH Joanna Oates, Nutritionist at the Park Club, offers some words of advice on the dreaded 'F' word he 'F' word can have a lot of negative connotations, but T both body fat and dietary fat are essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. Our bodies carry a layer of subcutaneous fat just beneath the skin, which keeps us warm and provides physical protection. If body fat falls too low it can affect sex hormone production, resulting in low libido, fertility problems and even early menopause. AGING AND TRANSLOCATION OF FAT
Body fat also helps to keep us looking young. As we age, our skin thins and we lose deep fat from our faces, resulting in more lines, wrinkles and under eye shadowing. Instead, body fat tends to accumulate around the middle and our
vital organs, resulting in increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and even dementia. This type of fat is known as visceral fat and often hidden, so that individuals with a normal BMI may still carry undesirable levels. Sugar, stress, sedentary lifestyles and alcohol are all contributing factors. SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO HALT THIS DOWNWARD DECLINE?
The last thing you should do is go on a quick fix diet, such as a juice fast or detox. Yes, you will lose weight and go down a dress size, but weight lost quickly comprises of water and muscle. Once you come off the diet, you are likely to gain back the lost weight, and more besides. Dietary fat contains more calories than
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Like our skin, oils are sensitive to too much heat and sunlight. This is why deep fried food can be so damaging. Most vegetable oils are more vulnerable, making coconut oil or butter a safer fat for cooking. Similarly we need to be careful to avoid chemically treated dietary fats such as margarines and spreads. Omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish, walnuts, pumpkin and flax seeds can help boost body fat loss as well as keeping skin soft. Coconut oil is another slimmer’s friend as it is more easily burned as energy rather than stored in fat cells. It’s also a heat-stable oil so safer to cook with at higher temperatures than olive oil and vegetable oils groups. Nuts and seeds in their raw state (unsalted, not dry roasted) along with their cold-pressed oils contain many healthy fats. Finally, don’t be scared to go for full fat dairy products: these contain fat soluble vitamins devoid in their low fat alternatives. They also taste better and keep you feeling fuller longer. For further information and bookings, please contact The Park Club MediSpa, 020 8743 1900
AUGUST 2014
25/07/2014 15:01