Raw Fats: What Are They And What Good Are They?

brazil nutsRaw fats, quite simply are fats that are not cooked. Most of us eat fat in its cooked form because we use fat, such as oil etc., as a cooking medium and rarely eat fat in its uncooked form.

Some examples of eating uncooked or raw fat is eating oil rich nuts such as walnuts, peanuts and almonds that have not been roasted, cooked, fried or heated in any way.

Avocado is another, well known source of raw fats eaten in their natural state.

So the question obviously would be, why should you take raw fats and are they any better for you than cooked fats?

The problem with cooking fats is that this change them structure and makes them unstable, which in turn reduces their health giving properties considerably. This is the reason that nutritionists tell you to not to eat those tasty but nutritionally depleted fried salted peanuts, cashews and almonds.

Not only do they contain large quantities of sodium, their fats are also rendered less nutritionally efficient due to the cooking process and consequent raising of the temperature of the oils contained therein.

Another theory about why raw fats are more beneficial is that the fat molecules increase considerably in size when heated and since the size is so much larger, it is difficult for the body to break down the fat resulting in the fat circulating through the blood stream.

It is also understood that raw fats are rich in an enzyme called lipase. This enzyme performs certain essential roles in the digestion, transport and processing of dietary lipids (e.g. triglycerides, fats, oils) in most, if not all, living organisms.

It is also thought that lipase can help break down stored bad cholesterol or LDL. For all these reasons, it is thought that consumption of raw fats can lead to weight loss.

Raw fats can be obtained from a variety of foods such as nuts: walnut, almond or brazil nuts eaten raw are extremely beneficial.

Coconut is also recently seen to be very beneficial for health because of the quality of fat it contains. Olives are also a source of raw fats as are avocados. Raw seeds such as sunflower, sesame, pumpkins seeds etc are also very beneficial.

It is also recommended that one use cold pressed oil, which is extracted from the source without heating or raising the temperature or altering the essential nature of the oil or its nutrient value.