We Need More Fat

[Berzerker]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22630214.900#.VVvwu1JHA50

Or a magic pill... Apparently the idea goes something like this (and feel free to correct me), crappier food produces more inflammation (not in the article) and free radicals bounce around grabbing electrons from other cells. A thick layer of good fat around these cells, preferably combined with heavy hydrogen bonds, protects the cell better - insulation I guess.

So it becomes more difficult for the free radical to grab electrons. Its like the wiring in a house or car, or power grid. Insulation is good, fat is good. They're trying it out on people with a certain ailment that, from the description, sounds like electrical misfiring of some sort. I wonder now if replacing good fats in our diets with low fat stuff loaded with sugar set us up for this.

I need to learn the mediterranean diet asap



In other news, a study recently found people eating organic pissed far less pesticide than people on the Monsanto diet.

no link for that one

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I know a few heads that could be cracked open for an abundant supply.

 

[El_Machinae]

So, not 'more fat', but a different type of fat.

When we use the word 'fat' colloquially, we are referring to the excess calories stored in the adipose tissue. This stuff is, in general, bad. It causes increased inflammation. It causes you to be too ashamed to go swimming. We don't like it.

Every individual cell though, both burns fat (as a form of energy) and also incorporates fats into the cell membrane. There are many different types of fat in the cell membrane. Lipid peroxidation is a phenomenon where a reactive oxygen species (ROS) goes on to affect one fat molecule, but then that molecule goes on to affect the molecules near it in a chain reaction. Amusingly, the 'healthy fats' still cause less lipid peroxidation, since burning them is apparently cleaner (and burning fats is one way the ROS are generated in the first place)

It's like how a fence board can catch on fire (becoming in appropriately weak), but then the burning board can cause the next board to catch on fire too.

This guy is saying we should eat a different type of fat (a heavy fat) that will then be harder to convert into a free radical. It's like making ever 7th fence board out of fire-resistant wood, so that the amount of fence is lower.

 

[Berzerker]

Well, they're gonna sell a pill so I imagine its a concentrated form of fat. The article mentions their invention of an Omega 6 oil and a trial on people with severe motor problems. But in general the same principle should apply, the healthy fats might protect cells whereas the not so good fats (and sugar) erode the protection faster.

But you think the idea has merit?

 

[CavLancer]

Fish oil, say no more.

 

[bhavv]

You can already buy cod liver oil or omega 6 pills from every health supplement store.

 

[Borachio]

There was a guy in the C19th tried to live on nothing but lard. He died after about a month, iirc.

But his system was pretty wrecked by a long series of crack-pot diets in any case.

Still, it's a common misconception that fat is necessarily fattening. I blame the use of the word "fat". It's misleading. So less "fat" and more lipids?

 

[El_Machinae]

Well, they're gonna sell a pill so I imagine its a concentrated form of fat. The article mentions their invention of an Omega 6 oil and a trial on people with severe motor problems. But in general the same principle should apply, the healthy fats might protect cells whereas the not so good fats (and sugar) erode the protection faster.

But you think the idea has merit?

It might, I just don't know. The pill's fats would partially incorporate into your cell membranes to set up firewalls, I guess. Though you'd probably metabolize most of it. I don't know what percentage of incorporation would be sufficient

 

[Hygro]

why would u take omega 6s?

 

[onejayhawk]

Lipid soluble vitmins.

J

 

[Berzerker]

why would u take omega 6s?

I was a little surprised by that, I was under the impression we want a higher ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6

 

[Hygro]

Lipid soluble vitmins.

J

so to safely absorb more fat soluble vitamins you can supplement with fat? interesting.

I was a little surprised by that, I was under the impression we want a higher ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6

Yeah, same, and why not omega 3s for fat soluble vitamins?

 

[bhavv]

I liek lurpak.

I liek to eat a tablespoon full of real butter when making my sandwiches with 5x the amount of butter any sane person would normally use.

And I'm not dead. Butter is gloriously yummers.

 

[warpus]

I have a friend who has recently "gone hippie" and now takes fish oil pills all the time. I looked up the health benefits of doing such a thing, and some studies seem to say that it's inconclusive, some say that minor benefits exist, and others say that it could actually be detrimental to your health if you take so much. So for now I'm skeptical.

 

[Narz]

I liek lurpak.

I liek to eat a tablespoon full of real butter when making my sandwiches with 5x the amount of butter any sane person would normally use.

And I'm not dead. Butter is gloriously yummers.

I love butter myself. I somehow managed to be vegan for about 3-4 years. I still don't eat much meat, do love me some butter though, I try to get grass-fed (better lipid profile & more humane).

In other news, a study recently found people eating organic pissed far less pesticide than people on the Monsanto diet.

People who ingest less poison, piss less poison, who would've thunk it!?!