Fat Question

[Guest guest]

Since we are on the topics of Fat (I am not sure if this has been discussed) I

read (and of course can not find the link) about the benefits of seasonal

avocados (of course not the processed guacamole). I read there were essential

oils in this fruit, but again eaten when in season. Your thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Our bodies need some fats so things like avocadoes, nuts and seeds are good for us in moderation. "ttbeachbum" <ttbeachbumTue, 09 Feb 2010 19:48:00 -0000 Fat Question Since we are on the topics of Fat (I am not sure if this has been discussed) I read (and of course can not find the link) about the benefits of seasonal avocados (of course not the processed guacamole). I read there were essential oils in this fruit, but again eaten when in season. Your thoughts?

[Guest guest]

ttbeachbum wrote:

> Since we are on the topics of Fat (I am not sure if this has been

> discussed) I read (and of course can not find the link) about the

> benefits of seasonal avocados (of course not the processed

> guacamole). I read there were essential oils in this fruit, but

> again eaten when in season. Your thoughts?

 

I'll quote Dr. McDougall on that at the end of this post, but until

then, have another recipe. :-)

 

*Easy Chickpea Curry*

 

1/2 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp. coriander

1/2 tsp. fenugreek

1/2 tsp. salt or seasoned salt

1/2 tsp. cumin

2 carrots, sliced

3 small thin-skinned potatoes, cubed

2 cups (or 1 can) cooked chickpeas, drained

 

Sautee onion and garlic in water (or oil; your choice) until onion is

translucent. Add spices and carrots. Add just enough water to cover the

carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover the pot, and cook

about 5-10 minutes. Add potatoes. Simmer another 20 minutes, covered.

Add garbanzos and cook, uncovered, until heated through.

 

 

 

Dr. McDougall on avocados:

 

For healthy, trim people I have always said unprocessed, high-fat foods,

like avocados, nuts, seeds and olives, can be a delicious addition to

their diet—and may be important for those with high calories needs, such

as athletes and active children.

 

Our requirements for essential fats are very small—no more than 0.5 gram

daily. Only plants can synthesize essential fats—so eating plant-foods

is the obvious source of these necessary nutrients. Because body fats

(adipose tissue) store these essential fats efficiently, even if

overweight people were placed on an artificially manufactured fat-free

diet, they would have little risk of becoming deficient in essential

fats over their entire lifetime. Note: a diet made of unprocessed plant

foods, like the McDougall diet, naturally contains about 7% of its

calories as fat—and about half the total fat found in plant foods is of

the essential variety—the kind we need

 

People struggling to lose excess body weight will want to avoid all high

fat foods and especially oils—/the fat you eat is the fat you wear./

Optimum absorption of nutrients has been reported to occur with as

little as 3 grams of added fats (27 calories) per meal.^2 In this

experiment, where people consumed whole avocados or the oil extract,

they ate 21 grams of fat which translates into 189 extra calories per meal.

 

There is a big difference between fats consumed in their natural

packages as avocados, nuts, seeds, and olives; and fats consumed as

extracted oils. Fats found in foods are combined with other essential

nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fibers, and thousands of important

phytochemicals). These naturally balanced combinations allow the fats to

safely and efficiently work when they enter the cells of your body. Free

fats, stripped away from the other ingredients found in grains, fruits,

seeds or nuts, become medicines, at best, and toxins, at worst.

Consuming free vegetable oils easily makes people fat, and the fats

suppress the immune system (increasing the risk of cancer and

infection), and encourage bleeding. These free oils easily spoil,

becoming rancid—a condition where harmful free radicals are plentiful.

 

Low-fat plant foods provide all the carotenoids the body needs. Consider

the possibility that an excess of these nutrients caused by adding

avocados and other oils to a low-fat meal may result in nutritional

imbalances that encourage disease. It is possible.

 

If you want to believe that there is a health advantage from more

nutrients entering your body, then at least act conservatively. For

maximum carotenoid absorption the amount of fat required is as little as

1/7^th of an avocado—about a tablespoonful per meal. Also heating and

blending fruits and vegetables enhance nutrient absorption^3 —and these

are much safer approaches than stuffing your overweight self with fat.