much heat from leaving the body. An example of fat’s
effectiveness as an insulator is in the Eskimo’s ability to
withstand great cold and survive in good health.
Eskimos eat a high-fat diet, and despite this have a very
low incidence of heart disease and other ailments. In
warmer climates, fat prevents too much water from leav-
ing the body, which can result in dehydration that causes
dry, scaly skin. Some evaporation is normal, of course,
but fats under the skin regulate evaporation and can pre-
vent as much as 10 to 20 times more water from leaving
the body.- Healthy Skin and Hair.Fat has protective qualities that
also give skin the soft, smooth and unwrinkled appear-
ance that many people try to achieve through expensive
skin conditioners. The healthy look of skin comes from
the fat inside. The same is true for your hair. Fats, includ-
ing cholesterol, also serve as an insulating barrier within
the skin. Without this protection, water and water-solu-
ble substances such as chemical pollutants would enter
the body through the skin. With the proper balance and
amounts of fats in your diet, your skin and hair develop
a healthy appearance. If you’ve been looking for the ideal
skin and hair product, you can have it by balancing the
fats in your diet. - Pregnancy and Lactation.The effective functioning of
the hormonal system is important to both would-be par-
ents. Once conception does take place, fats are important
to the continued good health of the mother and child.
The uterus must maintain the health of the newly con-
ceived embryo by providing nutrition until the placenta
can begin to function, usually a period of a week or more.
If there is an adequate level of progesterone, which is
produced from fats, there should be enough nutrients for
the embryo to survive the first critical week. Without
enough progesterone, the embryo could die. The placen-
ta must also form and produce hormones that affect the
62 • IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH