Animal Fat Might Not Be Bad for You

Yeh Ru-Duan, director of Jiapin Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan, pointed out that lard is sweet and pungent, and slightly cold in nature. It has the effects of tonifying deficiency, nourishing the spleen and stomach, relieving constipation, and moisturizing the skin.

While all fats are “moistening,” different fats have different properties.

Due to the characteristics of lard, we do not have to worry about “heatiness,” inflammation, dry mouth, and other problems after eating it. In the past, people working in the agricultural field had physically demanding jobs and were prone to fat and protein deficiencies, so they tended to eat pork lard mixed with rice, which can provide sufficient fat and nourishment.

In contrast, beef is warm in nature but its fat has the same properties. The nature of mutton is drier and heaty, and its fat is sweet and warm. It is not suitable for people who are prone to dry mouth and tongue. Goose meat can trigger inflammation and skin allergies, so people with skin conditions are advised to avoid foods made with goose fat.

In recent years, people have often thought that animal fats are high in saturated fat and should be eaten less, but lard does not actually have the highest saturated fat content. Yeh pointed out, “Lard itself is not bad; the problem is the quantity.”

The problem is that modern diets are full of saturated fat, such as all kinds of pastries, biscuits, fried foods, and desserts. Eating too much of these foods can lead to excess saturated fat, even if we choose not to eat lard.

Modern people consume too many calories and tend to have the three highs (blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars), so we should pay more attention to the amount of fats consumed. Yeh mentioned that the coconut oil used in the ketogenic diet and bulletproof coffee is very high in saturated fat. She has met many patients with poor metabolism and high blood lipids who did not understand the properties of coconut oil. Yet they drank a cup of bulletproof coffee every day, which can eventually lead to hyperlipidemia.

The Worst Type of Fat: Trans Fats

Fat is one of the three macronutrients in the human diet. Saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat can all be taken in moderation. However, there is one type of fat we should avoid: trans fat.

Like refined carbohydrates, trans fatty acids (trans fats) will also increase the level of small dense LDL in the body, according to a clinical trial published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

There are two main sources of trans fat in food: naturally occurring trans fat and artificial trans fat.

Naturally Occurring Trans Fat

Products from ruminants (cattle and sheep), such as milk, butter, cheese, and meat, may contain small amounts of naturally occurring trans fat. These trans fats, which are synthesized by the gastrointestinal bacteria of ruminants, generally do not cause adverse health effects.

Artificial Trans Fat

Hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oil to change its form from liquid to solid, which improves the stability of the oil and makes it more resistant to high temperatures. Such fats are found in some hydrogenated oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, etc.

Trans fat is metabolized very slowly in the human body. Among all fats, trans fat is the most harmful to human health. Regular intake of trans fats can lower good cholesterol and increase small dense LDL, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

A 2021 review found that consuming 5 grams of trans fat per day increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 29 percent.

Although many countries have established regulations in recent years to reduce or ban trans fats, this type of fat can still be found in many fried, packaged, or processed foods. They are often “fragrant, flaky, and crispy,” which include fried foods and baked goods (cakes, pie crusts, biscuits), frozen pizza, margarine, and other spreads.

It should be noted that the firmer the plant-based margarine, the more trans fat it contains. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition trial, semiliquid margarine, soft margarine, and stick margarine contain about 0.6 percent, 9.4 percent, and 26.1 percent trans fat, respectively.

Another way to avoid trans fats is to look at the ingredient list. Due to the different laws and regulations in various countries, it is more accurate to look at ingredient lists instead of the front of the packaging.

For instance, some regulations stipulate that products with less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving can be labeled as “zero grams of trans fats.”

It is recommended to avoid foods containing words like “hydrogenated,” “partially hydrogenated oil,” and “vegetable shortening.”

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