About 20-30 years ago, a war on red meat and fat started. With little to no scientific backing, physicians and media began telling us how bad red meat and saturated fats were for us. Therein began the “non-fat craze.” Fat-free deserts lined the aisles of grocery stores, and people stood in line to load up on fat-free frozen yogurt. I believe this movement is a large reason that obesity and health-related problems are currently at an all-time high. I estimate that the majority of individuals begin to seriously watch their diets and begin making decisions to try and better their nutrition in their later 20s. If this is true, then many individuals who tried to make healthier choices in their diets 20-30 years ago are now into their middle age years and beyond. Working with many individuals, the amount of poor information that has been thrust upon these individuals becomes clear. Even with new research telling us the many benefits of each organic grass-fed red meat (including the saturated fats found in them,) many of these individuals are still living in the past and making the same poor food choices. The problem is compounded in that if you are not eating meats because you are afraid of red meat and the fat that is in them, you are probably substituting in an excessive amount of foods high in simple carbohydrates which has been shown to wreak havoc in the body.

I have a strong guess that a large reason for the average middle aged male having 30 percent lower testosterone than the average male 30 years ago is due to this fear. Many men who visited their physician 20 years ago might have heard to stay away from “fatty” foods and cholesterol. Whenever one of these individuals’ blood tests came back showing high triglycerides, total cholesterol, and blood pressure, they were incorrectly instructed to stay away from animal fats found in meat, and foods high in cholesterol like eggs. So many men ditched their usual of breakfast of bacon and eggs (a great choice) for a bowl of sweetened oatmeal or cereal. This was a huge mistake. First off, excess sugar in the system leads to the formation of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, NOT red meat or animal fat. In fact eating fat from natural organic animals works to promote healthy cholesterol and triglycerides in the system. Also, healthy fats such as these also work to help fight inflammation in the body which is the primary reason from arteriole and heart disease.

Last but definitely not least are the effects healthy fats have on testosterone. It is recommended that the average male eats a diets that is about 20 percent healthy fats. Fats and cholesterol are actually the building block for testosterone in the body. If you avoid fat and cholesterol you are just asking to be the next spokesperson for the “Low T” and “ED” commercials.

So with all of this being said, we are living in a new age of information. The science and research is out there so take advantage of it. If you are one of the individuals who is still living in the nutritional past, well… Just be careful not to sail off the edge of the earth.