Myths & Facts

Once condemned for being a Saturated Fat, animal fats are making a comeback as we better understand the myths and facts about the benefits of Tallow and Lard, as well as the health risks of vegetable and seed oils.

Interested in learning more? Below you will find some additional information about Animal Fats and links to some excellent resources on this topic:

  • This natural source of fat adds major taste, flavor, and texture components to all foods, and gives our bodies the daily energy and fuel it needs.
  • Tallow and Lard are rich in Monounsaturated Fats which increase your body’s good cholesterol, reduce the risk for coronary artery disease, and promote heart health.
  • They contain balancing levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6, essential fatty acids which our bodies need for cell protection and development, and have to be consumed in the diet.
  • Animal Fats are very resistant to high-heat cooking temperatures. This reduces oxidation of the oil, which breeds free radicals that damage cells, tissues, and organs in the body.
    • Reduced oxidation of the oil also means you will have a much longer oil life. Using less fat to cook more food will ultimately allow you to extend the life of your oil, reduce costs, and improve the quality of your food.
  • Animal Fats naturally contain zero artificial Trans Fats or Partially Hydrogenated Oils.
    • Partially Hydrogenated Oils, or PHOs, are highly processed and rich in artificial trans fats, which have been proven to be far more detrimental to our health than Saturated Fats. These dangerous trans fats are contributing to the obesity and high-cholesterol epidemic.

PHOs are so risky to our health that in 2018, the FDA banned the manufacturing of products containing Partially Hydrogenated Oils, opening the door for animal fats to return to prominent use in restaurant and home kitchens.

Links & Resources: 

Article: Don’t be scared of lard: It has less saturated fat than butter by Lynne Rossetto Kasper @ Splendid Table 

Article: Lard: A Health Food That Will Shock You by Kelley Herring @ Healing Gourmet

Book: The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat & Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet by
Nina Teicholz

Article: The EAT-Lancet Commission’s Controversial Campaign @ EFA News – European Food Agency

Video: The Truth About Alternative Cooking Oils Dr. Oz @ http://www.doctoroz.com

Article: Chicago’s best french fries under $5 — our 20 top picks after trying 106 restaurants by Louisa Chu and Nick Kindelsperger @ Chicago Tribune

Article: Lardcore: Southern Food with Hard-Core Attitude by Josh Ozersky @ TIME

Article: Pork Fat Is Officially One Of The World’s Most Nutritious Foods by Jean Jacobs @ elitereaders.com.

Podcast: McDonald’s Broke My Heart by Malcolm Gladwell @ Revisionist History

Article: Lard: The New Health Food? by Pete Wells @ Food & Wine.

Organization: https://www.nutritioncoalition.us/

Article: Americans Follow The Guidelines, But Their Health Has Not Improved