INTRODUCTION
Too much bad news and not enough good news about fats is reported in the news. We are constantly reminded to limit eating fatty foods, because they may lead to health problems, such as becoming overweight or heart disease. True, saying, "No," to too many cheeseburgers and french fries is probably a wise decision. But many health-conscious people are mistakenly avoiding fats altogether. "Fat-free" seems to be the best-selling logo on packaged foods nowadays. Given the amount of bad publicity fats have received, it is easy to understand why. The fact is, certain fats are needed for optimal health. The body needs them to properly function. By minimizing fat intake, many do not get enough of these beneficial fats, and the results can be similar to becoming deficient in other essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. During crucial periods of our development, not having these fats may lead to life-long consequences.This book declares some good news about fats. We will focus on one very special fatty acid, DHA. DHA is vital for developing and maintaining optimal intelligence, physical performance, and emotional stability, yet so lacking in our diet. Because DHA is highly unsaturated, it is very susceptible to free radical damage, so what little we do get may be unusable. And yet, it is crucial ...
during pregnancy, when the fetus is developing;
during infancy, when the brain is growing;
for healthy hearts, increasing good HDL-cholesterol,
for healthy minds, to maximize brain function,
for healthy eyes, improving retinitis pigmentosa,
for the elderly, to combat age-related illnesses,
for fighting and preventing cancer.
Too many people are "fighting fats" these days, as if we were in a war against fats. The cause seems good enough: to promote health. So, with the same commitment to health, hopefully we will learn to see DHA and other fats as allies, and appreciate the good they can offer us. And in the end, perhaps what we will find is the key of balance, a key which modern science repeatedly finds in nature.