Question about Fat

So I was talking to my know-it-all non-DS friend and told her I don't have to worry about fat because I only absorb 20% of fat.  So it is ok for me to eat butter or full-fat salad dressings.  She told me that I still need to worry about fat because it still gets to my heart.  Since I can admit I am NOT a know-it-all I figure I would come to the experts and see what they say about this.  So let me have it :)

You're going to struggle to have too much fat as a DSer.  I have on occasion had too much heavy cream, ie a couple of cups and you poop it right out - it goes through us very fast and can result in diarrhea if too much is consumed.  This has only happened to me a couple of times in the 16 months since I got my DS.

We have regular bloodwork and most of us have OK cholesterol levels.  Fat is pretty much like a free food for a DSer.

I was pretty much using the theory that protein and fats are free foods for me as a DSer until I really started changing my relationship with foods and how I want food to fuel my body.   Switching to more natural plant based fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and red palm oil have helped get me to my goal weight.  That is just me.  I feel better and don't feel as bloated as I used to when I was eating cheese, butter and heavy cream.

 

My bathroom situation is still right on track (1 in the AM / 1 in the PM) and I'm still losing weight.

 

Again... this is just what works for ME.. other DSers have a different approaches and it works perfectly for them.  It is ALL trial and error.

BTW many of us get constipated and dry flaky skin if we don't get enough fat in. My minimum is roughly 100g fat a day and my maximum is about 200g before I start getting orange oil slicks when I have a BM.

It's not going to get to your heart if you malabsorb it. No worries.  :)

--gina

So you are correct the fat will not harm your heart due to DS fat malabsorption, but there are no free rides in life.  As DSers we suffer from enteric hyperoxaluria which is a negative of fat malabsorption.  Most DSers have never heard of enteric hyperoxaluria as a DS risk.

I'm still googling it to figure out what it is!  I've never heard of this.  What is it?  Passing stones?

And since it is caused by fat malabsorbtion, does increasing fat help cure it?

The reason it's not usually a concern for DSers is it never gets into your bloodstream from your intestines.  That's what malabsorption is... it goes straight through...and into the toilet. :)

 

So, if you eat something that has 100 grams of fat in it... the amount that's only going to make it to your bloodstream is 20 grams of fat.  That's all you have to worry about. :

 

I have heard some people talk about how malabsorption can lessen over time, but I've never read anything DS-specific that says that the "DS Math" that Gagner first wote about no longer applies.  

I easily go through a stick of butter daily and maintain a cholesterol level of 120.  It is NOT going to my heart.  I don't get bathroom issues from it either.  In fact, I get constipated if I don't get enough fat.