DEAR readers especially Seniors. When your grandchildren twist your arm to bring them to McDo or Jollibee, what do they order most? Most likely, fried chicken, yes? Is it the chicken? Supposed for the sake of discussion, the chicken was steamed or in a tinola broth, would you think your apos would order them as much as the fried chicken? Depending on your status in life or how deep is your pocket, how come to slather your bread or your sliced pandesal with either margarine or butter, or insert a slice of cheddar into your sandwich? Do I hear a loud collective answer/response of, “for taste", of the six food groups, fat makes our food tasty, yes, delicious and to borrow ‘lil kids lingo, yummy.
Lipids are the greasy substance either in the form of liquid- oils- or in the solid form- axes. Like carbohydrates, they are made of a carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, but in a linear structure. The fat is considered "saturated" if the carbon-hydrogen units are connected by a single bond whereas if the bond connection is composed of two or double bonds, the fat is unsaturated, which are the so-called good fat, because they provide the HDL - high density cholesterol- the good cholesterol because they pick up fats in the blood and bring them to the liver and is rid of the body together with the bile. These good fats provide the Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which are ingredients in what you always see on TV as good for you - EPA eicosa pentaenoic acid and DHA docosahexaenoic acid- substances that maximizes the growth and development of the brain cells. Cooking oils of vegetable origins- the top choice is a toss between Canola and olive oil, although safflower oil, corn oil, sunflower oils are also healthy choices.
On the other hands, the bad guys- LDL or low density lipoprotein and the VLDL or very low density lipoprotein- considered bad because they raise cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels in the blood increasing the probable risk of stroke and heart attack. Examples are the palmitic and stearic acid which are sourced from animal fat, e.g. the kalabkab our mothers buy in the meat section of the market. At this point, it is well to emphasize again that beef - on a weight per weight basis- has more fat than pork.
Truth to tell, one gram of fat has 9 kilocalories or 9 Calorie, more than 100% more than one gram of carbohydrates can provide. Logic therefore would tell household to use fat as the number one source of energy because of the hefty kilocalories it provides. However, your family doctor, nutritionist/dietitians of whatever stars and stripes they have, will tell you that, it is conventional , and standard practice to have carbohydrates as the preferred source of energy in the form of ATP- the unit used by all cells in the human body. and why not fat?
Which brings to the fore the so-called ketogenic acid- which among others encourages consumption of very little carbohydrates, moderate amounts of proteins and lot and lotsa fats- is is a big deviation from the norms in terms of food selection for the diet.
Please allow your columnist to simplify the concept. By decreasing significantly tissues, and the visceral fat intake of carbohydrates which as Ive said, should be the number 1 source of energy, the body, the body is forced to utilize the stored fat- triglycerides - in our subcutaneous tissues or in the band of fats enclosing our internal organs. However, in the tedious process of extracting substances for energy purposes from our fats, we encounter ketone bodies- acetone, acetoacetate and betahydroxy butyric acid- which if excessive may change the ph of the blood leading to more metabolic abnormalities.
Your columnist is not about to discuss, much less argue with those who claim to have had "impressive weight loss" but to repeat what experts and doctors warm about the possible side effects of the ketogenic diet not only in their nutritional status butmore so in their health in general.
The take home message here is, the ketogenic is not a one-size-fits-all strategy to lose weight. Not because it worked well with Maria that is should do wonders with Juana. Talk to your doctor, ask your questions, liberate your mind then decide if it is for you.
Next Week: More Basic facts about Food and Diet