Animal fats have played a central role in our diets throughout history, but they have been demonised as health enemy number one ever since we entered the era of indulgence. Somehow, in all of this discussion, sugar has sweet-talked its way into our meals and can be found in almost any food product that you buy, and not in small quantities. 

Our development in modern farming practices and the ubiquity of supermarkets and restaurants has seen the human diet change more in the last 100 years than in all other periods combined. We are not just talking about how much it has changed, but how often. 

The last 20 years alone have seen waves of new diet trends come and go, with many being based on scientific discovery, while others have just been popular fads. Even those that were based on scientific reasoning were later overruled by later studies, all of which leaves you, the consumer very confused. The Atkins diet is a good example. 

But, that being the case, lots of people are looking to replicate diets that are closer to what our ancestors followed, not because they had a choice, but simply because that’s all that was available to them at the time. The rationale is that the diet our ancestors followed probably represents how our bodies evolved to process food. 

In this article, we examine the health benefits of animal fats and we hope to improve your understanding so that you can enjoy animal fats, guilt-free while keeping a watchful eye on sugar, the real health threat of the modern diet. 

What are animal fats and why are they important? 

Animal fats are simply lipids – oils and fats that come from animals and the products they produce, like milk. They have generally saturated fats because they become solid at room temperature, but some are also mono-unsaturated. 

Animal fat plays a fundamental role in human dietary evolution and has been one of the most important sources of energy for humans throughout history. It is believed that animal fats have been consumed by our ancestors since prehistoric times when animal hunting and scavenging were common. It is also believed that animal fats contributed to our vast development compared to other mammals because our brains are largely made up of fats.

Animal fat is not only an abundant source of energy but also provides key nutrients such as vitamins and fatty acids like omega 3 and 6, which play an important role in regulating inflammation and supporting both cognitive and cardiovascular health.

Fast forward a few thousand years and animal fats are still one of the most important components of a balanced diet, although they have been given a bad name without just cause.  

Sugar is the sweet enemy of human health. 

Sugar has been linked to health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. 

Sugar is less energy dense than fat, but is converted into energy far more quickly. This has its advantages if you need to increase your energy very suddenly and is one of the reasons that we have evolved to like it. 

Aside from being a quick source of calories, sugar doesn’t offer many further benefits, unlike fats. Sugar, which has addictive qualities, can be very detrimental when overconsumed, which is very easily achieved because of the way your body responds to sugar when it enters your bloodstream. 

Even though the amount of fat in the average diet has been reduced over the last 30 years, the rate of obesity has increased. The leading cause of this is sugar consumption combined with poor exercise and sleeping habits. 

The NHS recommends consuming no more than 24-30 grams of added sugar per day. One can of original taste coca-cola has 35 grams. Most food products you buy also contain several grams of sugar, so it is very easy to overconsume ‘stealth sugars’ without even realising it. Excess calories that are not burned will invariably be converted into fat, which is your body’s way of ensuring survival in harsher times, which isn’t an issue in modern society. 

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Must read: Classic Roast Beef Sirloin With Béarnaise Dauphinoise 

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The benefits of animal fats  

Animal fats provide humans with a myriad of benefits. Here are 10 reasons you should consider increasing your intake of animal fats. 

  1. Humans are animals that produce and consume fat for infant development. 
  1. Animal fat is the most energy-dense food available to us and also provides fat-soluble vitamins   
  1. Animal fat promotes cardiovascular health.
  1. A diet high in animal fat, but low in sugar alleviate fatty liver disease. 
  1. Animal fats are your brain’s preferred energy source and they promote healthy cell function. 
  1. Grass-fed meat provides conjugated linoleic acid, which helps to regulate your body’s fat stores and composition. CLA isn’t available in sufficient quantities in foods containing carbohydrates.  
  1. A ribeye steak provides monounsaturated fats, which are anti-inflammatory and reduce the risk of heart disease. 
  1. Red meat is high in stearic acid, which supports the function of your mitochondria (the energy factories inside your cells), which regulates weight function.  
  1. They taste damn good. 

To put this into perspective, consider that breast milk has been a baby’s sole source of food during the most crucial and vulnerable period in its development for millennia. 50-65% of the calories found in breast milk come from animal fats produced by the mother. Considering all of the health benefits mentioned above, it seems clear that eating animal fats is just what mother nature intended and they are a vital source of nutrition throughout our lives. 

Good sources of animal fat

Animal fat can come from meat products and ingredients that derive from animal products, like milk, cheese, eggs, and butter. Cooking with animal fats such as ghee and butter is considered less toxic than vegetable fats because their molecules are more stable at higher temperatures. They are, however, more calorie-dense, so balance is key. 

The list below provides a simple comparison of meat options according to their fat density per 100 grams. You will probably find your favourites closer to the top and that is no coincidence. 

  1. Prime beef rib joint – 33.7 grams
  2. Beef short ribs – 22.6 grams
  3. Lamb chops – 21.2 grams 
  4. T-bone steak – 20.4 grams
  5. Minced lamb – 19.7 grams
  6. Rib-eye steak – 19 grams
  7. Minced beef – 17.4 grams
  8. Lamb burger – 14 grams
  9. Dark chicken meat – 13.8 grams
  10. Minced chicken – 10.9 grams
  11. Flank steak – 8.2 grams 
  12. Beef chuck – 6.8 grams 
  13. Skinless chicken breast – 3.6 grams

Final words 

We hope this article has helped you to appreciate the health benefits of eating animal fats. Now, you can enjoy your favourite dishes not only guilt-free, but with the excitement of knowing that your body is benefiting from it, but remember, like anything, balance is key, so don’t forget your fruit and veg too. 

At Halal Origins, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality ingredients for your sacred meal times. All of our products are certified organic or classified as organically reared. Our meat is sourced from local farms that maintain a high standard of animal welfare. The animals enjoy a rich diet from vast grass pastures with flowers and clovers that add to the quality of their meat. 

So, look no further and order your organic meat from Halal Origins today.