3 signs you’re not digesting fat well…
If you have ever eaten a low fat diet, been vegan, had your gallbladder removed this post is for you! Below are 3 signs of fatty acid deficiency which can either be from not eating fats or not digesting them well.
Dry skin, dandruff or eczema
Every cell in your body relies on fatty acids to make healthy membranes. When there is not enough fat in your diet or it is not being digested well, your body cannot build healthy cell membranes. Unhealthy cell membranes cannot effectively let nutrients in or remove waste thus affecting overall wellness.
Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E or K
In order to absorb and use fat soluble vitamins, you must be consuming enough fat. Not only are these nutrients naturally occurring in healthy fat sources like butter, egg yolks, fish, etc, but the nutrients require fat to be absorbed. Egg yolks in particular can be helpful for vitamin D. Your body makes vitamin D in response to UVB sun exposure as it reacts with cholesterol molecules. Egg yolks are a great source of many nutrients, including cholesterol! You also need cholesterol for healthy hormones which brings me to the third sign…
Hormone imbalance including amenorrhea
This is a 2-fold problem. A reduced fat diet forces the body to break down it’s own fat tissue for energy, this is a stressful and taxing process for the body which requires an elevation in cortisol. When the body is making more cortisol, it is making less progesterone which you need for healthy periods and optimal fertility. The second fold to this particular issue is cholesterol. Without enough bioavailable cholesterol, your body cannot make enough of the sex hormones you need: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone as they are sterol hormones meaning they are made from cholesterol.
All of these symptoms and more can be an indication that you are either not consuming enough fat in your diet or that you are not digesting and absorbing the fat you are eating. If you suspect digestion is the problem and you still have your gallbladder, you want to support bile flow with an arugula salad dressed in an olive oil and vinegar dressing before a meal, eating a raw carrot every day either just peeled and whole, or made into raw carrot salad (insert recipe). You can try eating beets a few times a week and supplementing taurine and whole food vitamin C. There are herbal tinctures you can try as well as roasted dandelion root or milk thistle teas.
Working on improving digestion can feel overwhelming, but I suggest trying one thing at a time and seeing what works for you. If I had to choose one thing to start with it would be the raw carrot or arugula salad. If you want personalized advice or 1:1 support, please use the link at the top of the page to book a discovery call with me, I would love to guide you on your journey to improving digestive and overall health!
*All of the products linked are affiliate links and I do earn a commission on them, but they are all products I have used and love myself. If you have questions about these products feel free to reach out to me via email kelsey@thebarefootntp.com.
