Fat: It's Not What You Think

Do you know that saturated fat is not the killer fat that it has been made out to be, but is absolutely necessary for many essential body functions? Also, that cholesterol is so important in many vital metabolic functions that your body produces its own? That the two organs of the body that use the most cholesterol are the brain and adrenal glands in that order? That nothing in your body runs properly without adequate cholesterol and proper amounts of the various kinds of fat? We were created to run on proteins, fats,and carbohydrates. Each of the three serve different functions in our bodies and are absolutely necessary for good health. Americans are fat phobic. It's understandable with the bad rap saturated fat has taken from the mainstream press, which has been spurred on by false information given out by the medical authorities. Also, healthful saturated fat has been lumped together with the killer trans fats giving it an undeserved horrible reputation. "Fat It's Not What You Think," is a well written, easily understandable, very informative and at times humorous look at the vitally important subject of fat's role in a well nourished body. I've read several great books on the subject of fat. This book's author, Connie Leas presents new information that no other book that I've read contains. It also gives all the basic information necessary to understanding the various types of fats, their role in metabolic functions, the truth about cholesterol, saturated fat, trans fat, etcetera. I call it, "Fats 101."

If there is a carton of skim milk in your refrigerator or low fat ice cream in your freezer, then you will feel like you've discovered the secret to eternal happiness after reading this book! Crud. Glop. These are just a few of the unpretentious terms you'll see employed in Leas' "commonsensical" take on fat. We often hear terms like "triglyceride" and "polyunsaturated" thrown about in the media but most of us have only a vague idea of what these terms mean. We know "monounsaturated" is somehow synonymous with olive oil, but few of us associate it with a porterhouse steak. Leas breaks down these overused terms and, in the process, fleshes out several surprising misperceptions surrounding fat -"both the kind you eat and the kind you carry around." The biggest fallacy Leas overturns is the idea that eating saturated fat makes you fat. Yes, you read that correctly. If you haven't yet heard the life-changing news, EATING SATURATED FAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FAT! As Nina Planck implores on the back cover of Leas' book, "Butter is good for you and corn oil isn't. Don't be the last one to know why: read this book!"

This is one of the most intriguing books you'll ever read in your entire life. In just over 150 pages of text along with another 75 pages of references and charts, the author arms you with powerful evidence that dietary fat is not responsible for fat on the bodies and that healthy individuals need to be consuming higher amounts of fat than they currently are to stay that way. It's counterintuitive to our fat-fearing culture that hasn't got the first clue about what fats are healthy for them and which are not. This book should be your new go-to resource for anyone who still doesn't understand why fat is healthy. Get a copy for yourself and purchase extras to give away to your doctor, friends, family and anyone else who is stuck on fat being bad. Connie Leas clearly explains why it is not.

I have acquired a library of books on health and nutrition in my own attempt to understand the link between chronic degenerative diseases and diet. There is definitely a link between the low-fat, grain based diet of the last half of the 20th century and our current epidemic of health problems. Writers and researchers like Pollan, Plank, Taubes, Enig, Fallon and Simopolous are making landmark progress towards providing a more accurate understanding how our current diet leads to disease. It is important to understand this because we have been misled. Undoing that mis-education is no easy task. Who has time or wants to read all those books? More importantly, how many people have the background in biochemistry to understand it? Leas' book makes it easy for anyone to have at least a fundamental grasp of the basics of fatty acid metabolism. She has condensed the works of over 20 reputable researchers and science writers into one book. When you finish her book, you will understand each of the various types of fatty acids in the diet and the unique and essential roles they play in managing our health. For a generation and a half, we trusted information that was not challenged until now. Anyone taking statins or those who think they have 'high' cholesterol, must read this book. After you read Leas' book you will want to make some major changes in your diet. Ones you did not think possible like drinking whole milk, eating eggs and using coconut oil. You may even come to regard crackers and rice cakes with the same contempt you once held for eggs and whole dairy. Keep the skin on the chicken and bake it in coconut oil; now you can enjoy whole real food again! Thank you Connie Leas for your concise synopsis of information about fats. I now have something I can give to my clients to read that will help them let go of their fear of fat. The references in the back of the book are a great starting point for those who want more detailed information.

It's one thing to be lied to by the medical community for their monetary gain from the pharmaceutical companies, but when the falsehoods affect our lifespan and quality of life, somone needs to draw a line in the sand. That is exactly what Connie Leas has done in this book, by compiling decades of research on all types of fat and its effects. Chapter by chapter, as I got farther into the book, the more angry I became. As a person who has fought a weight problem all her life, I realize now that the advice I was given and the diet I was told to follow did nothing but make and keep me fat. Ms. Leas' book is a must-read for anyone interested in weight-loss, better health, the control and prevention of type 2 diabetes, and the food we put into our mouths. Some people may not want to know, and will prefer to live in ignorance. Unfortunately, they will pay the price. The rest of us will read this book, and finally understand why we're not as healthy as we'd like to be.