After working through the steps in this module, I want to ensure that everyone has a firm grasp on the role of quality fats in our health and how important they are to access in our diet. In my clinical practice, the most common nutritional deficiencies that I see are fat-soluble nutritional deficiencies. This is in part due to the past several decades of the low-fat and fat-free push that has happened and has resulted in a nutrient deficient, high-carbohydrate diet that has created many health problems for people including many cases of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression and other health problems. It is so important to recognize and really understand how important lipids are in our diets and in our bodies. They are literally the building block of all of our cell membranes and really determine the structural and functional integrity of our cells thus our tissues and organs. Plant-based diets which have an emphasis on vegetables and fruits are great and are a great message and reminder for all to incorporate but plants foods also lack cholesterol and certain protein and other nutrients that need to be accessed from animal foods. Through the research of Weston A Price, we see that all indigenous cultures eating their traditional diets have always had some form of animal products in their diet, it could have been eggs, fish, dairy, or meats but these animal foods were of high quality and were considered sacred foods. We will continue to explore this concept next week in Module 6 on Proteins. As we have discussed from the first week, food choices are very personal and this is where ensuring, based on personal food preference, that everyone understands the role of fat and especially the role of high quality animal products which offer many essential nutrients including cholesterol and active forms of fat-soluble nutrients is critical for optimal health moving forward. These fat-soluble deficiencies are also in part due to the change in the way we raise and feed animals. This has drastically altered the health of the animals and the nutrients found in these animal foods. This is why trying to access meat from local farmers, if at all possible, makes a huge difference on many levels. Also avoiding trans fats (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil)s, and also avoiding refined vegetable oils such as corn, soy and canola oil, can also help prevent inflammation and many chronic diseases. Let me know if there are any questions regarding lipids. It is a very important subject.

Assignment #1 -Due 2/28

1. Explain at least 7 major roles for lipids in the body. (For example- cholesterol is required to build the myelin sheath in our nervous system)

2. List at least 8-10 nutrient-dense food sources for lipids (For example- eggs- best quality you have access to, outside on grass if possible)

3. List 3-5 actions of Omega-3 essential fatty acid in the body

4. List 4 food sources of omega 3 in our diets