The irony of fat being stigmatized is that people have resorted to eating more sugary, processed food instead. This has only made people sicker and obese. Since more research has been done on the health effects of fat, we’ve realized that saturated fat in particular is not nearly as bad as it was made out to be.
As a result, more fatty foods are being put back into the healthy category, with some even becoming superfoods. Granted, you won’t find any foods here that are purely included for their fat content. These foods are all great for your health and come with a number of other benefits thanks to their high vitamin and nutrient content.
Cheese
Apart from being delicious, natural, unprocessed cheese is also highly nutritious and comes with a number of health benefits. This is explained in-depth in the book The Big Fat Surprise. Did you know that to make a single slice of cheese, an entire cup of milk has to be used?
This contributes to the nutritional content, which includes a healthy dose of vitamin B, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, and so much more. The fatty acids in cheese contribute to a decreased risk of heart disease. A slice of cheese also contains the same amount of protein that you’d get from a glass of milk.
Dark Chocolate
Granted, one should avoid sugary white and brown chocolate like the plague, but dark chocolate is an exception to this rule. The smooth, tasty texture of dark chocolate is home to tons of fiber, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium. Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of heart disease, protects your skin from sun damage and improves brain function.
Eggs
For many years, whole eggs have been put aside due to their high fat and cholesterol content. However, the cholesterol contained in eggs doesn’t actually affect your blood, eliminating any negative effect that this would have. Eggs provide the best protein to price ratio, along with a plethora of other nutrients.
Nuts
By now, everyone should know that nuts are extremely healthy and chock-full of nutrients. Many healthy fats, fiber and protein can be found here. There’s also tons of magnesium and Vitamin E. Health benefits aside, natural, salt-free nuts also taste great and make for the perfect healthy snack.
Olive Oil
There’s a reason olive oil is so much more expensive than canola or sunflower oil. Extra virgin olive oil is an essential component of many diets thanks to its high levels of antioxidants, along with Vitamins E and K. Olive oil can help lower blood pressure levels, improve your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease as well.
Other healthy fatty foods to considered include fish, coconuts, full-fat yoghurt, chia seeds and avocados. They’re all tasty, highly nutritious foods that make for a complete and healthy diet. What is your favorite fatty food from our list? Let us know what it is and why you love it in the comments below.
