Even if you are on a diet or looking to lose weight, fats are an essential part of a healthy diet and a play a critical part in your weight loss goals.

New research points to the critical role mono and polyunsaturated fats play in weight control and maintaining weight loss. There’s more and more evidence that many fats are good for us and actually reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Good fats raise HDL (good cholesterol), which is extremely important in an age where many Americans are struggling with their cholesterol levels and fighting heart disease and obesity. They also help our sugar and insulin metabolism, and therefore contribute to our goals of long-term weight loss and weight maintenance.

Both Omega 6 and Omega 3 are the essential fatty acids (EFAs) needed in our diets — what we call the “good fats.” But it is important that we consume them at the right ratio. They should be consumed at a ratio of 2 to 1. However, the American diet today has a much higher ratio, more like 25 to 1.

Omega 6 is only considered a good fat when consumed in moderation, and in proper proportion to Omega 3.  When too many Omega 6s are consumed, they become pro-inflammatory and your body becomes toxic. Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory. 

The bad fats are saturated fats (in most cases animal fat), but some vegetable foods like coconut oil and coconut cream are also high in saturated fat.

The worst fats are Trans fats.

Trans fats are vegetable oil that has been through hydrogenation. Manufacturers add hydrogen to the oil in order for it to last longer and be more stable.

Stay far away from hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. They are very toxic. 

However, fat is only part of the problem when it comes to the obesity epidemic now plaguing our nation. Obesity is much more complicated than just over eating a single nutrient. People who get little physical activity and eat a diet high in calories are going to gain weight. Genetics, age, sex, and lifestyle also contribute to weight issues. That said, dietary fat still plays a significant role in overweight America. Studies have shown the more fat we have cut out of our diets, the fatter we have become! So, it’s time we get educated and read labels.

If you are looking for help with your eating habits or need to lose weight, I can help. I offer several weight loss programs designed for every individual. No points, no calorie counting, no gimmicks. It’s all about the food, not about you.

For more information on these programs and links to additional FREE articles and downloads, please visit http://www.intuitivehealth.com. Launching November 2008: Exciting New Weight Loss e-Book and Affordable Take Home Study Course with complete 90-day step-by-step weight loss plan, including shopping list, menus, supplements and online support.

Exercise is a big part of weight loss, but not as big as many want you to believe. The most important thing is that you find something you love. If it becomes stressful just to get to the gym, and you do not enjoy what you are doing, I say find something else. We are all so busy, and I realize it is hard to fit everything in. I suggest having a small trampoline at home. You can use it any time of the day for just a few minutes at a time. It is the best workout you will ever have.

Rebounding as it is called, (the motion of bouncing on a mini trampoline) is an exercise that reduces body fat, strengthens muscles, increases agility, provides an effective aerobic workout and rejuvenates the body. It will firm your legs, thighs, abdomen, arms and hips, increase your balance and put you in an overall state of health and fitness.

Anybody can do this exercise. Young and old, even the sick. You don’t need to jump per se, to get the benefits of rebounding. Your feet don’t even have to leave the mat. Just the up and down motion you get with a gentle bounce is enough to stimulate your immune and cardiovascular systems and improve your health. Even better, you can exercise for hours without getting tired, which makes it a great way to burn off calories and lose weight.

As we age, our bodies generally become more toxic due to the pollutants in today’s world. When you rebound, you are helping your cells metabolize, cleanse and renew and your helping your lymph system to pump and drain out the body’s waste. The lymphatic system rids you of toxins such as dead and cancerous cells, nitrogenous wastes, infectious viruses, heavy metals and other toxins carried into the body. The rebounding movement pumps the lymphatic system which drains away these potential poisons. There are only 3 ways to activate the flow of the lymph: exercise, massage and gravitational pressure. Rebounding does all three.

People who jump on a mini-trampoline a few times a day for a minimum of 10 minutes each time find they’re able to work longer, sleep better, and feel less tense. The effects of Rebounding are both physical and psychological. The action of bouncing up and down against gravity, without the trauma to the musculoskeletal system, is one of the most beneficial aerobic exercises ever developed.