Fat is an important part of our daily diet and it is important to realize that not all fats are bad for us. We all need ‘good’ fats to assist our bodies in regular functioning such as the transmission of nerves, cell maintenance and the absorption of nutrients. Fat only becomes bad for us if we eat large quantities of it. The best way to get your proper intake of healthy fat is to replace all bad fats with good fats.
Bad fats are commonly slipped into our daily diet and most of the time we do not notice them or even think of them. Bad fats are known as trans fats and saturated fats and when taken in excess they can be very bad for our bodies. They can also cause other conditions to develop such as cancer and heart problems. Bad fats also have an association with weight gain.
Trans fats are used and were created by scientists to give food a longer shelf life. They are designed to give the food a fighting chance when going through the production phases. When these foods are hydrogenated, they create trans fat acids. Trans fat acids are found in a variety of foods that we see everyday, in our grocery stores, our convenient stores, and in bulk stores. This can be found in numerous food products such as microwave popcorn, margarine, potato chips, pizzas, and French fries.
Saturated fats can be spotted in seafood, dairy and other animal products such as meat. Oil can contain saturated fats as well, primarily those ones found in plant food. These fats are extremely bad for us as they can increase the levels of bad cholesterol which is known as LDL. Saturated fats can also assist in the elevation of blood cholesterol.
Now we come to the good fats which are known as polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats. Both of these fats can be extremely beneficial for good cholesterol levels.
Monosaturated fats decrease the bad cholesterol levels in the blood stream, while increasing the good cholesterol. Many natural foods contain monosaturated fats such as avocados, walnuts, olive oil, peanuts, canola oil and even Brazilian nuts. Nuts in general are a great source of monosaturated nuts. This type of fat has helped people around the world to lose weight, gain energy, and keep a younger looking appearance.
Polyunsaturated fats are another amazing source for people who want to lower their cholesterol, primarily the bad type of cholesterol also caused LDL. You can find polyunsaturated fats in foods such as fish oil, salmon and any type of seafood. The well known benefits of seafood on an individual’s cholesterol have been seen by doctors and scientists, over and over again. This is because seafood is full of the fabulous mineral Omega 3.
Omega 3 is great for heart health and healthy skin and hair. Other foods that are a great addition to your diet include sunflower oil, soy, and yellow corn. Most people do get at least one dose of polyunsaturated fats on a weekly basis, but maybe it is time to add even more to the general daily diet.
Here are some tips on how to decrease your intake of trans fatty acids and saturated fats, or avoid them all together.
• Avoid buying packaged foods when out in the grocery store. Many parents buy these types of foods such as pizza and fries because they feel they are able to make a quick meal for their families. Kids and teens can get addicted to these kinds of foods and the passion for them might lead into their adult life. If you always find you are picking up these bad fat items, then it might be a good idea to have a meal before you go food shopping. This can help decrease your own cravings for commercial packaged foods.
• Avoid the usage of trans fat and saturated oils such as kernel and palm oil to name a few. They are high in bad fats and can easily higher blood cholesterol counts.
• Take note of all labels when you are food shopping. Look out for high amounts of saturated and trans fats. There are a variety of fat free options in the supermarket, so take a little extra time to make the right choices.
