Is fat healthy or not?! Here's the truth

Tell us the truth. No Images? [Click here]( TELL ME THE TRUTH IS FAT HEALTHY OR NOT ?!?? Health news and studies swing back and forth all the time (see: every headline about coffee published in the last 20 years). But this week has given us even worse whiplash than usual: First, a reputable, peer-reviewed [study comes out saying fat is bad]( and the sole cause of weight gain. A few days later, a second reputable, peer-reviewed [study counters, saying fat is fine]( and people on normal-fat diets aren't any less healthy than people on low-fat diets. And that's just in the past two weeks—seemingly contradictory studies come out all the time. (Though on a larger scale, it feels like the pendulum has been inching away from fat-free everything since the '90s.) It's frustrating to be jerked back and forth when you're just tryna live a simple life, and this happens all the time. We know you know. First it's fat, then carbs, then sweeteners, then coffee, [protein](, dairy, red meat, bananas, tomatoes, alcohol, gluten, pulses, starches, eggs, and more. The truth is our bodies are just... complicated It's tempting to paint nutrition in black and white. We want to be able to say that fat is bad for you all the time no matter what, but that's untrue and obsessing over the very specific effects of every nutrient we consume is probably a waste of time. It's boring and unremarkable to say this (so [few people]( do), but moderation really is best. Generally, focusing on fruits, beans, seeds, vegetables, and whole grains (and focusing less on refined carbs and sugar) is almost definitely more important in the long run than catering to trendy superfoods or changing your shopping list every time a new study comes out. So really, the takeaway is to tune it all out. Try this Meal planning is a surefire way to eat healthier, but it's HARD. Nerd out with a spreadsheet that breaks down each meal. Instead of saying you're going to make a stir-fry, jot down the main ingredients: chicken, broccoli, and brown rice. That way things stay balanced ⚖ [Greatist]( CHILL OUT Mindful running is more about relaxing than crushing goals PRing and pushing ourselves to the limit is fun, but do you know what else is fun? Inner peace. Less stress. Genuinely enjoying a run every now and then. All this is possible, people say, if you try mindful running. Ditch the ol' distractions Phone goes away, GPS watch goes away, lifelong running buddy goes away. Your headphones can stay, but only if they're playing a guided meditation (Headspace and Nike+ Run Club [teamed up]( to release a running-specific one). The goal is to actively focus on your body or breathing, and find a pace that feels right, even if it's not impressive enough to get you kudos on Strava. Meditation and exercise (it doesn't even have to be running) are two of the best ways to improve mental health and brain function, and doing them together [triples down]( on the benefits. SPONSORED A device that tells you how to hack your metabolism Sounds magical, and it kinda is. [Lumen]( is a pocket-size device that measures and analyzes your breath to see whether you're burning carbs or fat for energy in any particular moment. Based on what it finds, Lumen will give you food recommendations to help you hit your weight-loss or fitness goals. And yeah, sometimes those recommendations include eating tons of carbs. (Finally.) Coming soon to a website near you Now's your chance to get in on the ground floor. Lumen is still in beta, so if you [preorder it]( before August 22, 2018, you'll get [33 percent off]( the product when it ships February 2019 and be one of the first ones to try it. [PREORDER NOW]( HERE'S THE REST Public breastfeeding is officially legal in all 50 states, and nope, it wasn't before 🍼 [Insider]( Please stop eating activated charcoal 🔥 [PopSci]( Given the scary Demi Lovato news (and everything else going on), learn how to ID and stop a heroin overdose 👩 ⚕️ [Teen Vogue]( Rude emails have a ripple effect and legitimately hurt people's families ✉️ [Economic Times]( What wellness pros buy at Trader Joe's 🛒 [Clean Plates]( Here's how to erase your super-old Facebook and Twitter posts all at once 🤦 ♂️ [PopSci]( The FDA just approved a drug to help with endometriosis pain (finally?) 💊 [Newsweek]( Equinox and SoulCycle are launching a talent agency for fitfluencers 🙄 [Fast Company]( Well Now is Greatist's new roundup of all the health stories you were too busy to read this week. We won't be sending it to you forever, so [sign up]( to make sure you keep getting it. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( © Greatist 2018 Greatist, Inc. 30 Vandam St., Floor 3, New York, NY 10013 [Forward]( [Unsubscribe](