Do alarm bells go off in your head when you think of eating things like bacon, butter, heavy cream, or other “fatty” foods?
If so, wouldn’t be surprised.
The research on fatty foods is confusing to say the least. After decades of being a leading cause of heart disease it’s now being said that fat in our diets is NOT a contributing factor.
But does this mean fat is safe? Even the saturated fats?
The truth is, I see this as another case of nutritionism – looking at the health impacts of individual components of food instead of looking more holistically at foods and even food combinations.
Take Endotoxins for instance.
Endotoxins are toxins that in certain cases are released by bacteria into your gut. When these endotoxins are able to enter your body they can cause chronic low-grade inflammation, and ultimately insulin resistance. Endotoxins have also been linked to the development of atherogenesis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even depression.
Interestingly, a meal high in saturated fat can drastically increase the amount of endotoxins entering your body.
When researchers want to increase your “endotoxin” levels the most surefire technique is to get you to drink a 3/4 cup of heavy cream. One hour later all your markers of endotoxin damage skyrocket. ANY meal high in saturated fat is going to have the same effect.
If you only looked at the relationship between fat intake and endotoxins levels you would think the very best thing you cold do for your health is to completely avoid eating fat in order to prevent endotoxins from them entering your body.
Yet when you look more broadly you realize you don’t have to avoid eating fat and fatty foods – good news if you like bacon, butter and heavy cream!
The trick is to simply make sure you include some fruit or fruit juice with any high fat meal. This simple step will largely prevent endotoxins from crossing over into your blood, warding off the damage that they can cause.
Fruit contains compounds called polyphenols – special health promoting chemicals that have the ability to reduce endotoxin load and damage, even when combined with a high fat, high sugar meal. And while organic fruit tend to have higher levels of polyphenols then non-organic, just about any fruit will do.
So, if you’re having bacon and eggs just include some orange slices.
Creme Brule? Top it with blueberries.
Easy right?
The truth is nutrition is more than just the single components in foods – it’s also how these components interact with one another.
The problem is, the research on endotoxins, and how they affect your health and your weight, is not easy to understand and isn’t really covered very well (if at all) in the news. Which is why I did a huge research project on the topic, and ended up writing the book Good Belly, Bad Belly.
It covers all the gut health tips that are actually supported by research. And the best news I uncovered was that most of these little tricks have an immediate effect. The overall health of your digestive system is a long term project. And the book gives you everything you need to get there. However controlling endotoxins happens immediately and allows you to see the benefits right away. Which means it’s one of the best things you can do for your health starting today.
BP
