GOOD Fats & BAD Fats

It was only about a decade ago that all fat was considered bad for natural weight loss. However, nowadays fat is divided into two different categories – good fats and bad fats.

The good fats are essential to heart health, brain functioning and healing. The bad fats cause all kinds of ailments including diabetes, cancer and heart attacks. 

Good fats are called unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are divided into two categories – monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Both types can help lower elevated cholesterol levels.

Monounsaturated fats are slightly more healthy than the polyunsaturated kind, because they are thought to be more stable biochemically, and less likely to cause free radicals to let loose in the body.

Still polyunsaturated fats are not worthless. They are a fantastic source of essential omega-3 fatty acids. These types of acids are found mostly in dark leafy greens, nuts cold-water fish, flaxseed oils, vegetable oils and some types of seeds.

Our bodies cannot manufacture essential fatty acids. Consuming these fish, seeds and nuts is the only way for our bodies to take advantage of their benefits. Essential fatty acids are thought to lower blood pressure, combat LDL (bad) cholesterol, protect the brain and nervous system and have healing effect on the body in the general.

Most cooking oils consist of unsaturated fats. If you want to lose weight there are only two cooking oils to choose from; canola oil and olive oil.

Unhealthy saturated fats and are found mostly in dairy and meat products. You can tell a saturated fat from an unsaturated or monosaturated fat because it remains solid at room temperature.

Eating these types of fats on a regular basis has the effect of directly raising your LDL (bad cholesterol) as well as the count of your total cholesterol.

We all need some fat in our diet, however we also have a choice: - always pick unsaturated fats for a healthy lifestyle.

John McNally