Eating a diet consisting of fresh, whole, and organic foods is essential for optimal health. These healthy nutrients make up the cells in our body. If we have healthy cells, we in turn are healthy. On the other hand, eating a diet that is not nutrient dense, such as processed foods, fast food, unhealthy oils, excess sugar, and refined flour, negatively affects our cells which leads to disease and other health concerns. Without diverse nutrients to fuel our cells, their energy and function begin to decline.
Fats have been structured by big food companies to have a scary sound to them, but there are sub-categories leading to a more accurate definition; saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The difference between these is the amount of hydrogen atoms, or other carbon atoms, with double bonds that are attached to the carbon atoms in the fat molecule. Saturated fatty acids, have no double bonds and are saturated with bonded hydrogen atoms. Monounsaturated fats have one double bond, meaning they are not as saturated as they could be by bonded hydrogen atoms. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more double bonds. A proper amount of these fats are needed to reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and maintain healthy cell function.
Eating a diet low in fat or high in rancid or hydrogenated oils is something we should avoid. These poor fats can bio accumulate toxins in our body and cause cells to degenerate. Polyunsaturated fats are the easiest from all fats to oxidize (a chemical reaction when heated or exposed to light). This is where an electron is lost and they are no longer paired. Then, it turns into a free radical. A free radical has one or more unpaired electrons which is highly reactive and tries to find another atom to bond with. The more this happens, the more the body is comprised of unbalanced atoms or molecules instead of stable full atoms, leading to oxidative stress. If this continues then the cells continue to be unbalanced, leading to a variety of health concerns like aging, wrinkles and diseases.
A low fat diet also prevents our cells from getting the nutrients they need. Our cell membranes are composed of fats, and eating enough fats help them maintain a healthy structure so they can perform their cellular function. If our cells are deprived of this, they begin to fail. Weak cells lead to weak organs which will start to compromise our bodily systems. When our systems begin to weaken and toxicity accumulates because of damaged cells, disease starts to form.