Fat has been cast as the culprit in people's weight loss struggles for decades. In an attempt to shed kilos, desserts of all shapes and forms, oils and butter have been eliminated from diets everywhere.
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But that might not be the best approach.
In their new book Eat Fat Be Thin, wellness centre owner and author Andi Lew and Dr Natalie Kringoudis champion fat as the key to losing, rather than putting on, weight.
Not all fats mind, only the "good" ones found in foods such as coconut oil and avocados.
The pair argue the reason fat has been in the bad books for so many years is that all types are often thought of as having the cholesterol-increasing properties of trans fats, when this is not the case.
They argue it is important to include fat in the diet, particularly in the form of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and small amount of saturated fats, mostly from plant sources.
"If low fat worked then we'd all be thin, but it obviously doesn't work because there's a lot of overweight people and very unhealthy people," says Dr Kringoudis.
With a background in traditional Chinese medicine and fertility, she says it can often be a challenge to convince her patients that fat isn't bad for them.
"If we are eating the right types of fats, we don't crave the wrong kinds of foods and the body is happy."
Lew, who initiated the book, follows this philosophy in her own life and particularly advocates cooking with and consuming cold-pressed coconut oil.
Although it is a source of saturated fat, the oil has different properties to other saturated fat foods, with some research indicating it helps people lose weight and has a hormone balancing effect.
"Organic cold-pressed coconut oil is probably the best fat you can eat. Even if you're in a hurry, have a teaspoon of it every day," she says.
From including fat regularly in her diet, Lew has more energy and can concentrate for longer, has less period pain and dropped her pregnancy weight quickly after the birth of her son, something Kringoudis also experienced.
Eat Fat Be Thin provides examples of food plans to make sure you are including good fats in your diet.
A typical day includes scrambled egg with almond milk for breakfast, a lentil burger with salad for lunch and salmon with veggies fried in coconut oil for dinner.
The book also includes recipes for decadent treats that are sugar-free, wheat-free and dairy-free and incorporate good fats through the use of eggs and coconut butter.
"Eat things as close to nature as possible because if the food is alive it's going to give you life," Lew suggests.
