phat (feet) adj Slang phatoter, phatotest Excellent; top notch: fantastic fashion; a fantastic rapper.
Do you want to increase your overall health and energy level? Are you interested in preventing heart disease, cancer, depression, and Alzheimer’s? Or maybe you would like to treat rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, or Raynaud’s disease?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, get fat!
No, I don’t mean “get fat” as in “get bigger!” I mean, stop thinking that all fat is bad for you and start including “phat” healthy fats in your diet.
Healthy fats, more commonly called “omega-3s,” are essential fats; “Essential” means that, unlike many other fats, your body cannot make omega-3s. In other words, you have to eat them if you want to be healthy!
Excellent fats?
So what makes these omega-3 fats so great? Keep reading!
- Omega-3 fats give you energy! Yes, it’s true: they help produce energy from food sources and move it through your systems.
- They govern the proper development of the brain and your general mental state.
- These essential fats help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your cells – a critical process indeed!
- Omega-3s shorten the time that tired muscles need to recover from exercise.
- They help your body create hormones.
Need more? Omega-3s have been found to:
- Helps create velvety smooth skin (who doesn’t want that ?!);
- Increases stamina and vitality;
- Accelerate the healing process;
- Increase the feeling of tranquility;
- Decrease inflammation; and
- Lowers blood pressure.
And if you’re still not convinced, omega-3s too:
- Decrease pain and swelling associated with arthritis;
- Reverse PMS and decrease water retention;
- Kill malaria (you never know when you’re going to take a trip to the Congo!) AND
- Treat bacterial infections.
Where can I find this wonderful fat?
Hopefully one or more of these benefits has convinced you to put on weight. So where can you find these amazing omega-3s? Here are some excellent sources:
- Flax seeds
- Walnuts
- Chinook Salmon and Halibut
- Scallops and Shrimp
- Brussels sprouts
- tofu
- Summer and winter squash
- Soy
- Collard greens
- kale
With a little help from my friends
Although omega 3s are truly incredible, they need help to perform all of these incredible feats. To get the most out of your omega 3s, be sure to eat foods that are also rich in vitamins E, C, B3, B6, and beta-carotene, as well as magnesium and zinc. Better bets? Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are the way to go!
One more thing: omega-3 has a cousin
The other essential fat your body needs is omega-6, which is commonly found in meats and vegetable oils. Most Americans have a large amount of omega-6 and only a little omega-3 in their bodies. The important thing is to have both in your diet. Once you have reached your omega-3s (the quickest way is to take 1 to 3 teaspoons of fish or flaxseed oil a day for several months), balance your intake of foods high in omega-6 and omega- 3 accordingly and supplement as necessary. For most people, this means increasing your omega-3 intake on a regular basis.
So, what are you waiting for? Fatten!