Goya 2 Goya

Fat. It does a body good. First, it protects internal organs - cushions the blow when you get into a fight or tumbling accident. Second, it provides us with healthy looking skin and hair - fat hair? Third, it helps our brains function normally - as normally as they can, I guess.

Is fat good? Yes. And no. Of course. This is nature, not partisan politics. The good fat in food is unsaturated - both poly and monounsaturated fats are good for us. Poly and monounsaturated fats can be found in nuts and canola oil (mono), and fish (poly).

Bad fat comes primarily in the saturated form. Saturated fat is found in animal products such as meat (of course), cheese, eggs, and milk. What does bad fat (saturated) do? It raises LDL (Bad cholesterol) and raises the overall cholesterol rating (it might also raise the HDL - good - cholesterol but not as much as it raises the LDL.)

What does good fat (unsaturated) do? The opposite, of course, it lowers LDL and raises HDL.

What we are aiming at in our daily life is health and that seems to mean less saturated fat and more unsaturated fat; more nuts and fewer cheese dips; more fish and less dead cow. Generally, in order to lower LDL and raise HDL and to lower our fat consumption we need to eat our vegetables and fruit. And exercise.

This week I did deadweights for about 20 minutes a day. I feel great. I feel like Tony the Tiger. I feel... like I should do it for at least 20 days - forming a good habit.