Carbohydrates (sugars) have been introduced many times as foods that raise oxidative stress.

Among the three macronutrients, fat is the one that obese people are often concerned about. It is often thought that eating too much fat will cause the body to gain fat. Recently, however, the way we think about fat has changed. Here is an introduction along with the relationship between oxidative stress.

Isn’t fat good for you?

Isn’t it possible to gain weight by eating too much fat? You may ask, but this is a big misconception.

If you eat fat from cows or pigs, won’t it become belly fat? However, the fat that accumulates in your belly and in your cells does not come from eating fat, but from eating carbohydrates.

There was also a time when calories were thought to lead to obesity because fat has twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates in the same amount, so it is possible that people thought fat = obese.

Recently, however, it has come to be believed that eating fat does not lead to obesity, but rather that the fat that accumulates on the belly is caused by carbohydrates.

That’s what I meant in my previous article, “Oxidative Stress’s Biggest Enemy! Why does oxidative stress rise when blood sugar levels rise?”, humans make energy for their activities through sugar metabolism.

The energy that is not immediately used and stored in the body is the cause of fat in the belly.

I have already mentioned that eating sugar increases oxidative stress, but eating fat or oil does not increase oxidative stress.

In fact, fat is now considered to be a “very good” substance for the body.

Nutrients for Babies

Here is an example of how fat has come to be considered a “very good” substance for the body.

There is a famous obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Tetsuo Soda. Dr. Soda examines the umbilical cord blood and placenta of babies who are born.

He found that the umbilical cord blood and placenta were surprisingly low in glucose, which is blood sugar, and high in ketone bodies, which are made from the breakdown of fat.

This proves that fat, not sugar, is the nutrition for the very important period when the brain, organs, and various organs are formed.

This means that fat is good and necessary nutrition for babies. And fat, which is good nutrition in babies, is naturally not considered to be bad in adults. Therefore, we can say that fat is not a bad source of nutrition.

Is salt bad for you?

It is said that salt is just as bad for you as fat. Is salt also bad for you?

If you take in too much salt, your blood pressure will go up. When blood pressure rises, it can cause a variety of diseases.

For example, blood vessels in the brain and heart can become clogged, and cerebral hemorrhage can easily occur. Therefore, salt is not good for the body and should be avoided as much as possible.

From the perspective of oxidative stress, does the body’s oxidative stress level increase because you eat a lot of salt? 

However, for the sake of health, too much salt intake can raise blood pressure, so try to avoid salt as much as possible and adhere to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s target of less than 8 grams per day.

Finally.

The image of fats and the information that people used to have about fats have recently been changed by new research. There is a lot of information on health in magazines and on the Internet, but rather than just taking in what is new, you should research the information yourself and make sure it is correct. Do you have evidence? Rather than just adopting what is new, I recommend that you research the information yourself to determine if it is correct and if there is evidence.

A healthy diet is an essential part of achieving a long and healthy life. A lifestyle that does not raise oxidative stress also leads to healthy longevity. The Antioxidant Research Division of the Joint Research Department at Gifu University will disseminate information on health and longevity as well as research on oxidative stress.