There is a common misconception in America that if you eat fat, you will get fat. Because of this fallacy, many Americans are on a low fat or no fat diet thinking that it is healthy and will help them lose weight. However, a diet low in fats can actually lead to weight gain, chronic disease and has led, in part, to the obesity epidemic in this country. Crazy, right?! Most people who eat a low fat/no fat diet think they are eating healthy, but this usually leads to an over consumption of refined carbohydrates and sugar, which in turn, can lead to obesity and cause a host of other illnesses and chronic diseases. People need healthy fats for many reasons including vitamin absorption, hormone production, sugar balancing and energy. But remember to choose healthy fats, as not all fat is created equal.
After we eat a meal, normal metabolic reactions cause glucose in the blood to be transported into the cells for energy production as ATP. ATP fuels many bodily functions including the brain. Once energy production in the cells are met, the excess glucose in the blood is transported to the liver and muscles for storage in the form of glycogen. When the liver and muscle stores of glucose are full, the liver converts the remaining glucose into triglycerides and cholesterol for storage, thus leading to diseases, obesity and diabetes. 
We are designed to eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein and fat as our primary source of fuel. Without fats, we are not satisfied by what we eat, and we end up overeating refined carbohydrates and we are more prone to snacking between meals. These refined carbohydrates such a white bread, pasta, processed foods and white flour are digested very quickly in our system causing a rapid spike in blood sugar (glucose). This shock to our system sends a signal to the pancreas to release insulin, which stimulates cellular uptake of glucose, resulting in lowering the blood glucose levels. When we are constantly consuming refined carbohydrates, we are repeatedly flooding our systems with glucose. These unstable blood sugar highs and lows are very hard on our system, specifically our pancreas, liver and adrenal glands.
When you have continuously high levels of glucose in the blood, the pancreas has to work overtime to constantly produce enough insulin in order to lower the glucose levels. Glucose levels then plummet and the adrenal glands are stimulated to release cortisol to bring glucose levels back up to normal. Between meals, the pancreas secretes glucagon to bring glucose levels back up via glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. The pancreas, the liver and adrenal glands are constantly working to maintain normal glucose levels.
Over time, these organs, and the hormones they produce, become too exhausted to process the high glucose levels in our systems and leads to a buildup of fat tissue. The body never has a chance to burn fat for energy, and overtime obesity and disease can ensue. Along with obesity, insomnia, hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue, diabetes, and mood disorders can result from compromised blood sugar handling.
When no fat is being consumed, and the diet consists mainly of empty calories that are void of nutrients, the body will constantly be hungry and craving the nutrients it needs after a meal. Fat helps to slows down the digestion process so that we feel full longer. Fat also helps to balance out our sugar handling so our organs aren’t stressed. Blood sugar dysregulation disrupts all aspects of human physiology; energy, brain health, hormones, our tissues and blood vessels. We were not created to run on refined carbohydrates. We need to eat a balanced diet of fat, protein and carbohydrates to ensure our bodies are functioning at their best ability.
