Joseph Battista, Editor

Bears. Bears eat salmon. Lots of salmon, but not always the whole fish. They most prefer the skin and other fatty parts, sometimes discarding the rest of the fish, per NPS.gov. Why? Bears eat fattier foods to consume calories that are nutrient dense for preservation.

Humans eat salmon. Lots of salmon, but not always the whole fish. Many eat salmon filets, but discard the skin. Why? People eat less fatty foods to avoid excess calories, purposefully or incidentally missing out on nutrient-dense foods.

There may be a few things to learn from bears. Most importantly, if you have errands to run after you make porridge and tidy your bed, you should lock your door… Still, there are more notes to take, specifically, eating animal fats and not being scared of doing so! 

Sure, bears hibernate. They sleep for half of the year and need that extra fat, and yes, I think we all may be a little jealous. However, a surplus of animal-based fats when opportunity strikes may be a good idea. Plus, who is going to turn down extra bacon?

Fats are macronutrients that contain nine calories of energy per gram; proteins and carbohydrates contain four calories per gram. They store energy in the body, absorb nutrients and create hormones, according to the British Heart Foundation. There are three relevant types of fat: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated. Animal fats come in polyunsaturated and saturated forms.

Polyunsaturated fats are commonly referred to as “good” fats due to their ability to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Saturated fats have a less stellar reputation, commonly attributed to heart disease from overconsumption, according to MedlinePlus. Despite reputation, both fats come in many forms, housing dense variations of nutrients. Some nutrients found in animal fats are vitamins A, D3 and B12. These nutrients, like many others, play roles in maintaining the body’s health.

So, fats contain energy and play a role in bodily health. Yet, in excess they can be unhealthy. Why would anyone then consume excess fats? It is for the same reason those bears hibernate, except less extreme. Consuming animal fats in place of excess calories from other sources provides extra energy for later use and is a rich source of nutrients that the body can either use or store. 

Everyone misses a meal once in a while. It is understandable in this busy world. The decrease in energy that comes with it may not be as forgiving. Next time you are faced with eating animal fats, act as a bear would, and eat some extra. You will get nutrients for maintaining health, and maybe the next missed lunch may not be so brutal with that extra energy from last dinner.