Does my body need fats?
Yes, it does. Dietary fats are essential for body function and to support cell growth. They also help protect your organs and help keep your body warm. Fats help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins and produce important hormones too. But not all fats are created equal. Some are unhealthy, and others convey big health benefits.
The Four Fats
Which to Ditch:
TRANS FATS:
Trans fat are liquid oils bombarded with hydrogen so they stay solid at room temperature. They are found in many processed and fried foods, to add shelf life and to make foods tastier. Trans fats increase the bad LDL cholesterol and lower good HDL cholesterol. Another name for trans fats is ‘partially hydrogenated oil, hydrogenated oil, or shortening’.
SATURATED FATS:
Saturated fats occur naturally and are typically solid at room temperature. These can be found in fatty beef, lamb, pork, poultry with skin, cream, butter, cheese and other dairy products . Eating foods that contain saturated fats raise the level of cholesterol in your blood. High levels of blood cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Which to eat:
POLYUNSATURATED FATS:
Widely considered a “good fat” and a recommended part of a balanced diet, polyunsaturated fats are also known as Omega-3 fatty acids. They’re beneficial for healthy cholesterol level and for lowering triglycerides. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in fish, walnuts and some cooking oils.
MONO-UNSATURATED FATS:
They are found in olive oil, avocado and most nuts. Mono-unsaturated fats are typically high in Vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin. Eating mono-unsaturated fats improves blood cholesterol levels.
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