Truth BOMB: A FAT that flattens diabetes
I’ll come right out with it…
The people that tell you that diabetes CAN’T be stopped with food are also the same ones that say FAT is the devil.
But here’s the thing… that’s complete BS!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…
The skyrocketing cases of type 2 diabetes are a byproduct of more and more people ingesting processed, refined sugar (which just so happens to be a staple of the common Western diet).
And, eating healthy fat IS good for you!
So today, I’ve got something that’s going to 1) squash the perception that food CAN’T heal type 2 diabetes and 2) once again prove that FAT isn’t the enemy.
Oleic acid is a member of the fatty acid family… but it isn’t widely ‘popular’ compared to other fatty acids (like the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil).
But this fatty acid is actually abundant in common foods like cooking oil, cheese, nuts, eggs, pasta, avocados… and even mouthwatering meats like beef, pork, and chicken.
So what’s the connection between oleic acid and diabetes?
The results of a Spanish study found that unlike the saturated fat, palmitic acid, the monounsaturated fat oleic acid has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and type 2 diabetes.
This is thanks in large part to oleic acid’s anti-inflammatory actions. Consuming oleic acid helps regulate the amount of insulin released, which keeps excess glucose from your lingering in your bloodstream (blood sugar levels are the amount of glucose in your bloodstream).
Simply put, this FAT reduces the risk of haywire blood sugar spikes… which, over the long haul, could send your type 2 diabetes packing.
The best way to ensure you’re getting enough oleic acid is through diet: cooking oils, cheese, nuts, and meats are all high in oleic acid.
My go-to source is olive oil.
Olive oil is the most bang for your buck when it comes to high amounts of oleic acid. In fact, upwards of 80% of olive oil is comprised of it!
So, go ahead and use olive oil as a cooking oil, or even as base for a salad dressing.
In Your Corner,
Dr. Allan Spreen
Sources:
PubMed.gov. “Palmitic and Oleic Acid: The Yin and Yang of Fatty Acids in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29290500/
