Boost Your Metabolism with Healthy Fats

For decades we did everything we could to cut fat out of our diet. The end result is that we were getting fatter and fatter in the western world. Dietary fat was cut out of our foods in an effort to reduce bad cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Instead we gained weight, and with it created a slew of health problems including more cases of heart disease than ever before. It’s time to slim down, protect our bodies, and rev up our metabolisms. And there’s no better way to do it than to bring back the healthy fats.

Fats keep our metabolism going

As it turns out, our bodies need fat to let go of body fat. Without the addition of fatty foods to our diet, and particularly when we go on a low calorie, low fat diet, our metabolism goes way down. The body goes into starvation mode and burns as little energy as possible. That’s why people often feel cold and tired when they are on this type of diet. It’s hard to find the energy to get up and move because the body things it’s time to conserve as much energy as possible. The end result is that even while consuming much less calories, the scale won’t budge.

The key to cranking up that metabolism is to make sure you eat enough food and that you include plenty of healthy fats. A good rule of thumb is to get at least 30% of your calories from sources of healthy fats like olive oil, grass-fed butter, avocados, almonds, or natural peanut butter to name a few. That’s right, you can indulge in delicious full-fat foods and still lose weight.

Start your day with healthy fats

Make sure you eat early in the day and include some healthy fat with your first meal. Eating early insures that your body’s metabolism starts cranking into high gear and keeps burning calories all the long. This breakfast with healthy fats also provides you with the energy to keep going strong all day. You won’t feel cold and sluggish. Instead you’ll find yourself full of energy, ready to tackle whatever live throws your way. You’re going to want to move more and get through your workouts.

Eat healthy fats with every meal

Above all, make sure you include a source of healthy fat with every meal. Top that salad with an avocado and an olive oil based dressing. Pick up some regular salad dressing instead of the light kind. Replace your fake butter spread or margarine with the real deal. Enjoy a little full fat cheese and a few olives. Throw another avocado into your green smoothie. Start embracing these healthy fats. These small changes alone will make a big difference in how you feel and how good your food tastes.

Stay away from low fat foods

Stay away from low fat foods. Skip the turkey bacon, the low fat or non-fat salad dressing and dairy. Instead, go for full fat versions and the real thing when it comes to bacon. Let those healthy fats back into your life. Not only will your food taste much better, each bite will be much more satisfying. You’ll end up eating less overall and your body will be primed and ready to release the access body fat it no longer needs to hold on to.

Meat is another area where you can incorporate more fat into your diet. Start embracing fuller fat cuts. Replace your grilled chicken breast with chicken thighs every once in a while. Go for a higher fat content in your ground beef and enjoy a marbled steak. Bring pork back into your life and enjoy fatty fish like salmon. Buy the highest quality meat you can afford, ideally organic and grass-fed. If that’s not an option, stick with leaner fish and meat and top it with some healthy olive oil or a bit of quality butter.

Something interesting happens when you start to add more foods that include healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and avocados for example. Your skin starts to look better, as does your hair and nails. Your eyes have more shine to them and your dark circles start to fade as you start to sleep better. You have more energy during the day and start moving around more. That exercise in turn helps you look even better.

Stay active

Moving more and staying active throughout the day while refueling your body when you get hungry, will ensure that your metabolism keeps burning high all day long. When that happens you’ll be able to eat enough healthy food to stay satisfied and still lose excess body fat.

So what healthy fats are you eating? Are you seeing a difference in your weight and metabolism? Share in the comments about how things are working for you.