Role of Saturated Fats in Adrenal Fatigue

Fats in the diet are controversial and complicated. Saturated fat, found in animal fats, coconut oil and cod liver oil, was deemed harmful to health beginning in the 1950s. By the 1970s, the American Medical Association (AMA) and American Heart Association (AHA) said that saturated fat should be kept to a minimum. However, members of the Weston Price Foundation, among others, advocate eating saturated fat for optimum health, including adrenal health.

History

In 1953, physiologist Ancel Keys found that in six countries there was a correlation between saturated fat consumption and heart disease. This began the idea of a connection between fat and disease. Although at the time there were 22 countries with data that could have been used, Keys only used six countries. When all 22 were used, no correlation was found between heart disease and fat.

Significance

Since then, there have been studies both backing and refuting the idea that fat intake is bad for health. According to an article in Men's Health magazine, many of the studies trying to link saturated fats to poor health have been flawed. At least one health advocacy group, the Weston Price Foundation, encourages saturated fat intake.

Function

The three most common saturated fats that humans eat are stearic acid, palmitic acid and lauric acid. Scientists agree that stearic acid is benign or beneficial to health, according to the article in Men's Health. Dr. Mary Enig notes that we need these three saturated fats for many important bodily functions, immune system health, hormone production and for energy.

Types

Saturated fats, according to an article by Enig and Sally Fallon, include fats that are highly stable, do not go rancid, and are usually solid at room temperature. Your body makes them from carbohydrates or you get them from animal sources or tropical oils such as coconut oil or palm oil. Stearic acid, one of the saturated fats, turns to oleic acid, which is the same fat that is in olive oil.

Considerations

The adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of our kidneys and work in a complex symphony to produce the sex and steroid hormones. There are two sections to the adrenal glands. The cortex is where the steroid hormones are produced, and the medulla is where the "fight or flight" hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, are produced. Adrenal fatigue refers to the theory that by keeping the body in a constant stressed state--by eating too much sugar, processed food and refined flour, or by drinking too much coffee and enduring too much emotional and mental stress--your adrenal glands can get overtaxed.

Benefits

Saturated fat is high in cholesterol. Cholesterol is the precursor to the steroid and sex hormones produced in the adrenal glands. Most of our cholesterol is made within our body, but the rest we get from eating saturated fats. We need saturated fats for the cholesterol they provide, which will keep our adrenal glands healthy, according to Boost-immune-health.com. Eating saturated fats could support adrenal function. According to John G. Connor, a licensed master acupuncturist, supplementing the diet with saturated fats can help resolve adrenal fatigue.