What Are Good And Bad Fats For Your Body?
http://www.articlefit.com/What-Are-Good-And-Bad-Fats-For-Your-Body/a12602_1
Brian
By Brian
Published on 06/22/2009
A summary of what are good and bad fats for your body and how they impact your overall halth.
What Are Good And Bad Fats For Your Body?
We are often told to cut fat out of our diets. Many people don't know that there are healthy fats a person can consume that will help with overall health.
Healthy Fats
Monounsaturated Fats
These fats can be found in food items such as olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. All nuts and seeds also contain this fat. Sesame seeds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds are some examples. This fat is also found in avocados. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
Polyunsaturated Fats
These fats are found in oils such as sunflower, corn and soybean oil. They are also found in some types of nuts and in fish. These oils and foods contain the Omega 3 fatty acids which can't be produced by the body but are essential to health.
Unhealthy Fats
Saturated fats
These fats are found in red meat and oils such as coconut, palm, and vegetable oils. High intakes of these fats can raise bad cholesterol in the body and cause heart disease.
Trans Fats
You probably have heard about this fat in the news. Trans fat is created by heating vegetable oils with hydrogen gas which we call hydrogenation. This makes the oils more stable and less likely to spoil. These fats have been shown to be extremely unhealthy for a person to consume. Many food producers are trying to eliminate this fat from their food products. This fat can be found in many packaged foods.
Understanding Good Fat
When consuming foods such as fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds we are taking in good fats. These fats do contain a lot of calories but are very healthy for the body. These fats work to protect the heart from damage. Any nuts or oils made from nuts can be healthy for you. Fish should be eaten more often then red meat to get the heart healthy Omega-3 fats from the fish. These fats are also present in nuts and nut oils. These fats also provide antioxidants which help to destroy free radicals which can damage our cells and lead to disease. They can also help the body absorb nutrients better and control cholesterol levels in the body. It is important to eat these fats in small amounts. One handful of nuts or some olive oil is a good start.
Understanding Bad Fat
Unhealthy fat like those found in red meats, vegetable oil and processed food can raise cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease or other medical problems. While red meat does contain high levels of protein and can be good for you, large consumption of red meat can raise cholesterol levels over time. Foods that are deep fried contain unhealthy fats and should be avoided. Many packaged foods contain trans fats which are very unhealthy for the body.
Conclusion
By increasing your good fats in the diet you will be improving your health. Consume more fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils like olive and canola oil. Limit or avoid red meat, vegetable oils, and processed foods which contain hydrogenated trans fats.
Healthy Fats
Monounsaturated Fats
These fats can be found in food items such as olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. All nuts and seeds also contain this fat. Sesame seeds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds are some examples. This fat is also found in avocados. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
Polyunsaturated Fats
These fats are found in oils such as sunflower, corn and soybean oil. They are also found in some types of nuts and in fish. These oils and foods contain the Omega 3 fatty acids which can't be produced by the body but are essential to health.
Unhealthy Fats
Saturated fats
These fats are found in red meat and oils such as coconut, palm, and vegetable oils. High intakes of these fats can raise bad cholesterol in the body and cause heart disease.
Trans Fats
You probably have heard about this fat in the news. Trans fat is created by heating vegetable oils with hydrogen gas which we call hydrogenation. This makes the oils more stable and less likely to spoil. These fats have been shown to be extremely unhealthy for a person to consume. Many food producers are trying to eliminate this fat from their food products. This fat can be found in many packaged foods.
Understanding Good Fat
When consuming foods such as fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds we are taking in good fats. These fats do contain a lot of calories but are very healthy for the body. These fats work to protect the heart from damage. Any nuts or oils made from nuts can be healthy for you. Fish should be eaten more often then red meat to get the heart healthy Omega-3 fats from the fish. These fats are also present in nuts and nut oils. These fats also provide antioxidants which help to destroy free radicals which can damage our cells and lead to disease. They can also help the body absorb nutrients better and control cholesterol levels in the body. It is important to eat these fats in small amounts. One handful of nuts or some olive oil is a good start.
Understanding Bad Fat
Unhealthy fat like those found in red meats, vegetable oil and processed food can raise cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease or other medical problems. While red meat does contain high levels of protein and can be good for you, large consumption of red meat can raise cholesterol levels over time. Foods that are deep fried contain unhealthy fats and should be avoided. Many packaged foods contain trans fats which are very unhealthy for the body.
Conclusion
By increasing your good fats in the diet you will be improving your health. Consume more fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils like olive and canola oil. Limit or avoid red meat, vegetable oils, and processed foods which contain hydrogenated trans fats.