Good vs. Bad Fats: What You Need To Know To Better Your Health

For years, nutritionists claimed that all fats were bad for the human body. However, recent studies have concluded that there are certain kinds of fats that are okay to ingest. These fats are actually good for the body but so long as they’re consumed in moderation.

Humans must consume a specific amount fat in their diets. A minute amount of this fat can be good for one’s health. You can be much healthier if you consume the healthy type of fats.

Good Fats – What Are They

Good fats are also called unsaturated fats. There are two types of fats in this category.

1 – Monounsaturated Fats

These fats can help you to lose weight. They lower the LDL level and while raising the HDL level. LDL is bad cholesterol and HDL is good cholesterol. You can find this fat in various nuts such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts and pistachios. A good deal of monounsaturated fats can be found in specific oils like canola, olive and avocado oil.

2 – Polyunsaturated Fats

These fats can lower LDL and provide protection for your heart. Heart protection means fewer chances for heart attacks and disease than those folks who don’t consume it on a regular basis. There are two key categories for this fat:

- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Omega-6 fatty acids

These fats can be found in sunflower, soy and corn oils along with fatty fish like rainbow trout, mackerel and salmon.

Bad Fats – What Are They

1 - Saturated Fats

These are bad fats. The human body does need not a lot of saturated fats but most people get too much. Too much saturated fat raises the bad cholesterol and boosts the chance for a variety of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and various cancers.

2 – Hydrogenated Fat

This is a man-made fat that’s seen in many foods. It’s also called trans-fat, which is created by mixing hydrogen and polyunsaturated fats together. Fat becomes solid at room temperature. Trans-fat is used way too often and was thought to be less damaging than the commonly known saturated fats. However, trans-fat is worse than saturated fats because it raises the LDL levels and lowers the HDL levels. The Food and Drug Administration requires that labels tell how much trans-fat is in the food.

Remember, that any type of fat is bad. However, if people use good fats in lieu of bad fats and consume those in moderation, a person’s health can benefit.