MUFAS….Eat Fat to Lose Fat?

What the heck are MUFAS?  (pronounced MOO-fahs). 

MUFA, which stands for monounsaturated fat is becoming the current hot buzzword in health and diet.    The concept, which at first glance appears foreign and contradictory, is that by consuming several portions of MUFA a day you will not only benefit your heart health, but it will help you lose fat.  The fat lost is that so-hard-to-get-rid-of-belly-fat. Those of us over 40 know only too well how hard it is to get rid of that middle age spread (mine is more like a middle-age-comforter).

There are so many diets available to us.  High protein, low carbohydrate, low calorie, vegan, the list goes on.  Most diets will work up to a certain extent, however most will not do a lot at budging all 'that' fat.    To benefit your cardiovascular system, you have to banish the visceral fat that your body loves to hang on to.  This is not the fat  that is an inch (or several inches) thick just under your skin, but is the fat that is solidly packed around your internal organs.   This fat is deadly and can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high LDL cholesterol levels.  

Unfortunately alot of diets which we choose, do not allow any (or very little) fats, and we are not getting the full health benefit of any weight loss that we achieve.   Also in many cases, even on the strictest diet, we still can not lose that spare tire.

In a number of studies over the past few years, researchers have found that consumption of a calorie controlled diet (the more natural the better), plus the addition of  MUFAS daily, leads to
weight loss, loss of belly fat and improved cardiovascular health. 

To find out what  five groups of foods  are excellent sources of MUFAS, check out this site on MSN.com: http://tinyurl.com/23ch3a

Prevention Magazine website has an excellent feature on MUFAS and banishing belly fat.
http://tinyurl.com/yue5ne

Spec.com also has a very informative article about MUFAS and some of the research that has been done. http://www.thespec.com/go/healthfitness/article/333854

Personally I am following The Rice Diet, which allows for the addition of olive oil in your diet.  In a month, I've lost 19 lbs, my blood pressure is back to normal and my blood sugars have come down dramatically.  I still have a fair amount of weight to lose AND  a lot of belly fat.  I plan on adding a small amount more MUFAs to my diet every day.  As long as the portions are kept controlled and the rest of the diet is followed, I can only be doing my body good.

"Many thanks to our Staff Member Sue for writing this very helpful and informative entry "