Fat may just be the answer to youthful skin…that’s right, the world’s most hated substance could be the key to looking younger.

Premature ageing is on the rise, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the cell membrane is made predominantly of fat. If we don’t eat enough healthy, natural fat, the cell membrane can become weak, at which point it is impossible to keep our cells hydrated. And dehydrated cells shrivel, causing wrinkles and other signs of ageing.

Secondly, if we consumed damaged fats, such as highly-processed vegetable oils, these oils can damage the cell membrane, also contributing to premature ageing.

And, premature ageing doesn’t just affect the skin. Although the effects are apparent visually on the surface, skin, nails and hair are often visual cues of how a person is ageing internally.

Unfortunately, low-fat dietary guidelines were introduced with no evidence, which means that we, as a populous, were subjected to a huge experiment. And not only did the guidelines fail to improve population health, but there were also many serious consequences; one of the biggest is the fact that we are now ageing faster than ever before.

The good news is that many people seem to be able to halt and sometimes reverse premature ageing simply by changing their diet back to real food—including good fats. And when I say “good” fat, I am not simply talking about avocados and olive oil. Real natural fats, such as butter, coconut oil, animal fats from pasture-fed animals and many other wholesome fats that were unfairly demonised.