Can Fat Be Healthy?
January 7, 2009
It is a confusing thing to maintain a low fat diet. This is because there are three groups of fats: monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat. Each group of fats has its own advantages and disadvantages.
This raises the question as to which fat is good and which is bad. There are certain foods that claim to be low in certain types of fats but contain other types. We wonder whether they are safe or not.
Fat truths
Being overweight is a big problem in America. About half of Americans fall in this group. Those who want to keep their calorie levels down should avoid eating fatty foods as much as possible. About 25% of the calories we eat are spent converting food into energy and for storage. There are two kinds of fats: brown fat for body heat generation and white fat for energy production.
But which is the bad type of fat?
Monounsaturated fat
It is believed that monounsaturated fat is “good” because it lowers the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises the level of good cholesterol (HDL). This fat is found in vegetables and the best place to get them is avocados. But it is found in oils whose process of extraction is simple. Eating too much of monounsaturated fat will make you gain weight, but will not increase the risk of developing heart disease.
Polyunsaturated fat
Polyunsaturated fats are in two forms: omega-3 and omega-6. Although it is not very safe, this fat is needed for very essential processes in the body. It is usually liquid under room temperature. Omega-3 is found in oily fish like cod and trout. It is also in some vegetables. Too much of polyunsaturated fat can lead to cancer.
Saturated fat
Saturated fat is also known as trans fatty acids. It is the bad type of fat. It is solid under room temperature. It is very difficult for the body to break down such fat. The body thus keeps it aside for future use. It is found in margarine and all animal fats fall under this group. It is also found in coconut oil. It should simply be avoided since it raises the levels of bad cholesterol, increasing the risks of getting heart disease.
You now know which kind of fat is good for you.
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