Moira,

To answer your question:  the fats that are nutrients that we need for
good health are found most abundantly and only in significant amounts in
(1) raw nuts/seeds, (some amounts of these that are cooked is ok if and
only if consumed within a few hours after cooking) and (2) in fresh
fatty fish, espeically bass, tuna, salmon and mackerel (fresh but cooked
is OK); of course if from a good source (reliable Japanese grocer etc),
it can be eaten raw as do the Japanese for the maximum health benefits.

> Does anyone have any ideas of how to find a safe (not contaminated with
> bacteria) source of raw animal fat? My son is on a lo carb diet and needs
> energy (fat) sources. Of course right now he is getting cooked fats like
> pork fat. He gets raw dried meats like dried venison, raw dried turkey, etc.
> But, I do not have a source of raw fat.

The book I have just read on this topic of fats is a fairly recent one,
stating that the exact minimum and optimal requirements for these fats
are NOT precisely known yet.  Flax seed has high amounts of one of the
two fatty acids we need, and fat fish can supply the other.  Other raw
seeds can supply some of the fat we need, such as almonds or sesame.
Safflower oils, if truly cold pressed are also high in natural healthy
fats.  These required fats, LA & LNA are NOT found in any significant
amounts in other foods (meat, poultry, vegetables, fruit, sea
vegetables, dairy or other foods commonly consumed in the western diet).

This book is by Udo Erasmus, called Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill. As
far as I know it is the most detailed book that completely outlines the
biochemistry of fats as a nutrient in the human diet.  He discusses the
need for fats, and talks about how cooked fats (of any type) can be
injurious.  It never became very popular, and I suspect that has to do
with the fact that it is written for someone with a bent for molecular
biology (which I have a little background in) and is very technical, and
therefore disinteresting to the lay person.

Surprisingly enough, if the diet is insufficient in these required fats,
you can become obese as a result !!

regards, roberta
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