Much has been said about fats, including a good deal of misinformation. But what is true and what is false? Let ‘s start by discussing the need to consume fats. Are they necessary for the body?
Fats are a valuable source of energy, providing 9 calories per gram. They infuse flavor and texture to foods and add special nutrients such as fatty acids, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Fats allow the absorption of soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. In the body, fat tissue protects organs and joints, while supporting temperature regulation.
Therefore, it is necessary to consume fats in a controlled manner. Fats rich in Omega 3 support coagulation, improve circulation, reduce total cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol (good).
Do Fats have Benefits?
Fats provide more energy than carbohydrates and proteins, contributing to the growth of the body.
But as research shows, consuming too much fat is detrimental to health. A high fat diet will increase cholesterol levels in the body, which may result in obesity and its associated illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.
Types of Fats
A fatty substance produced by the body and present in the blood. LDL cholesterol clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart disease.
HDL cholesterol prevents blood vessels from becoming blocked.
These fats reduce cholesterol in the blood as opposed to saturated fats. They are found in fish, nuts, polyunsaturated margarines, corn oil and canola.
Found in avocados, nuts and peanut butter. These fats lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
These fats raise cholesterol levels in the blood. They are harmful when consumed in excess.
Found in ice cream, butter, red meat and processed meats (bacon and sausages). In addition, they are found in fast food, fried foods, cookies, breads and dairy products.
Trans fats are produced when liquid oil becomes fat.
They are found in processed foods like cookies, donuts and chips. Also found in products containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable fats. This type of fat is very harmful as it increases LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL cholesterol.
The recommended daily intake is about 67 grams or 600 calories. For example: a donut has 12 grams of fat and a muffin 22 grams, while a hamburger contains 69 grams.
Fat free or low fat diets should also be evaluated, as they often have a high sugar content.
Why are Trans Fats harmful?
Trans fats or trans fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fats that act as saturated fats. They are bad for the heart because they raise bad cholesterol levels (LDL) in the blood and reduce the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
Where are Trans Fats found?
They exist naturally in some meats and dairy products. It is not advisable to reduce the consumption of these products drastically because this would also imply a reduction of other important nutrients.
The most damaging trans fats are those found in refined flours such as bread, biscuits, snacks, chips, as well as all fried food and fast food.
Why are Trans Fats harmful to the Heart?
Low density lipoprotein LDL – cholesterol is an important component of fat plaques located in the inner walls of the arteries, which block or impede blood flow to the heart.
Numerous studies have shown a clear link between the consumption of trans fats and high cholesterol levels. They can also cause inflammation and intervene in other risk factors for heart disease.
Types of adipose tissue or fatty tissue
There are two types of adipose tissue, white (or unilocular) adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue, brown fat (or multilocular).
In cells, the protoplasm and nucleus are reduced to a small area near the membrane. The rest is occupied by a large area of fats.
Adipose tissue, which lacks fundamental substance, is divided by thin trabeculae of fascircular tissue in lobes. Fat in cells is found in a semiliquid state and is mainly composed of triglycerides.
Fatty tissue generally accumulates in the subcutaneous tissue, the deeper layer of the skin. Its cells specialize in forming and storing fat.
This layer is called adipose tissue, acting as an insulator of heat and cold. It also serves as a cushion and as a storage of food reserves.
Adipose tissue also functions as structural support. Fat varies in consistency, either in liquid or solid form.
Growth of this tissue may occur by cell proliferation (hyperplasia), by accumulation of a higher amount of fat in existing cells (hypertrophy). However, it never increases the number of adipocytes through mitosis. During adolescence, growth is generally rapid and throughout adulthood it is hypertrophic.
SOURCE:
Genneser Finn. Histology (2666). Editorial Médica Panamericana. Third Edition. Buenos Aires, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico D. F 1999 Chile, La Serena (2011)
Research
Obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension, and other problems associated with excess body fat.
A poor diet, particularly one high in fats, has been associated with a variety of diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other health related problems. Yet, there has been very little success in finding ways to properly treat these illnesses.
Traditional recommendations focusing on reducing fat intake have yielded very poor results, because they have merely slowed or stopped the progression of certain health issues, without truly eliminating them altogether.
Most studies of energy metabolism indicate that the carbohydrate content in what has traditionally been considered a balanced diet is much higher than actual metabolic needs.
This situation causes a massive and persistent secretion of insulin, which activates fat synthesis and promotes cholesterol synthesis. In turn, this reveals another weak point in our metabolism: blocking reproduction of pyruvate carboxylase and preventing the normal operation of the anaplerotic route of the Krebs Cycle in the liver, making the consumption of fat very difficult.
The combination of these factor produces macroscopic and microscopic fat in the body, which causes a number of health problems.
As this dietary intake is underused by our metabolism, it produces a persistent feeling of hunger that cannot be satisfied by increasing the number of meals, which aggravates the problem by producing more fat accumulation and further reducing the possibilities of its consumption.
To solve this problem, it is not enough to sharply reduce the intake of carbohydrates (as some nutritionists and dieticians have attempted) because it does not repair the metabolic inability to use accumulated fat.
IBM PHARMA will soon launch a product targeting harmful body fat, transforming it into ATP (energy), removing it from adipose tissue and preventing it from growing through a form of hyperplastic hypertrophy. Ultimately, this process seeks to reduce the risk of diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome.
The most prominent side effect is weight loss (not a cosmetic weight loss product) as a result of the health treatment.
IF YOUR COMPANY DOES NOT INVEST IN MARKETING, NOTHING WILL CHANGE
This is a truth employed by marketing experts. It applies to all types of businesses, whether small or corporate, who wish to sell anything: products, services or ideas.
The issue is that as we operate in a competitive world. An entrepreneur wishing to start a business envisions positive change and constant growth. Nobody wants a stagnant business.
In a competitive and globalized world, you cannot neglect marketing.
There are many definitions for marketing. Basically, it refers to a set of activities undertaken to meet the needs of consumers, by providing products or services at the right time and price, in order to obtain reasonable profit.
This is where interpretation issues arise. Talking openly about profits seems to cause apprehensions among certain people, especially those working in social services, such as foundations, NGOs, community centers or even those providing medical services.
Talking about profits is often taboo, as if organizations didn’t have the right to obtain them. Either way, we have to understand that profits are not always monetary in nature. In the examples cited above, profits can translate into increased social coverage, enhanced economic progress or a wider provision of services.
In any case, organizations aim to optimize the use of resources and therefore expect a utility in return. Even churches use marketing strategies to attract followers, and private companies often envy their success. In essence, they seek to better meet the spiritual needs of their followers, based on social dynamics and trends.
Medical organizations do not escape this reality, but they appear reluctant to call things by their name. Patients are actual clients, as they pay for services and expect quality and satisfaction in return. In addition, patients expect quick results and have the option of seeking services in a market offering a wide range of options.
Today, competition is evident by the number hospitals and health clinics offering a variety of services. Consequently, health organizations have to employ marketing strategies (including advertising and promotions) to differentiate their services. For instance, they now advertise and sell laboratory and medical services as a package, as part of a sale strategy.
Radio advertising now offers medical services related to heart or gastrointestinal needs, something considered unthinkable a few years ago. But competition has forced medical organizations to rely on marketing to carry out activities designed to satisfy the health needs of customers, while outsmarting their competitors.
Some of the first health professionals who applied marketing in their clinics were pediatricians, by adapting their facilities to the specific needs of children, often decorating their clinics with popular cartoon characters. Nowadays, their clinics incorporate playgrounds in order to better serve children and their families, while providing a pleasant medical service.
These activities are done with the client’s needs in mind. In the past, children where threatened with the phrase, “If you misbehave, I will take you to the doctor to get a shot.” Nowadays, pediatricians rarely apply vaccinations, as they rely on nurses and other technicians to complete certain processes. The pediatrician then appears to comfort the patient and to conduct the medical checkup in a friendly manner. Through this approach, the child does not develop a negative association with the doctor linked to an unpleasant experience, making it easier to visit the doctor in subsequent occasions. This is all part of a marketing strategy.
Nowadays, doctors are talking about target market and segmentation, and they will establish prices according to this information. For instance, a clinic located in exclusive area of town will charge higher prices than a clinic located in a less privileged neighborhood. Similarly, there are a number of other considerations to take into account when establishing the price of medical services.
Another very important aspect is customer service and satisfaction, which serves as the basis for a successful and lasting relationship (customer loyalty). The goal should never be to provide a single service, instead, it should focus on creating mutually beneficial bonds between customers and service providers. This and other aspects will be addressed in the next issue.
GUILLERMO CASTRO[:]
