The Benefits of Healthy Fats: Nutrient Absorption

By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director

Did you know that in order to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K, you need to consume fats...preferably the healthy ones?! Don’t eat that salad fat-free! Instead of using conventional dressings that may have sugar or soybean/canola oil, add some avocado or olive oil to your salad to increase the fat soluble vitamin absorption.

Here’s a research study on this concept: “Essentially no absorption of carotenoids [precursor to Vitamin A] was observed when salads with fat-free salad dressing were consumed. A substantially greater absorption of carotenoids was observed when salads were consumed with full-fat than with reduced-fat salad dressing.” (3)

Next steps: Trade out any unhealthy salad dressings with better alternatives. Need help with knowing what options to avoid and choose? Contact us to set up a Nutrition Session!

Sources:

(1) doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht163

(2) doi: 10.1080/16512235.2017.1281916

(3) doi: 10.1093/ajcn/80.2.396