Good Fats / Bad Fats?
It is really important that everyone learns to read food labels properly to determine the types of fat that are being consumed. This way everyone can check their daily fat intake to ensure they are eating healthy good fats!
Believe it or not consuming fats is an essential part of your diet, because it plays a major role in regulating your metabolism, organ function and cell repair. Your body can survive without carbohydrates but with no protein or essential fats you would eventually die.
Fat Definitions
Fats
Fats are nicronutrients containing the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Fats are the most concentrated form of metabolic energy.
Fats are sources of essential fatty acids.
There are two types of fats: saturated and unsaturated.
Saturated fats
Saturated fats tend to be solid at room temperature (butter, lard).
Saturated fats are found in dairy products (cream, cheese).
Saturated fats are also found in meats and many prepared foods.
Unsaturated fats
Unsaturated fats can be split into two categories: Polyunsaturated, and Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated fats are split into two groups: Omega6 and Omega3.
Polyunsaturated fats are found in oil-rich fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel, salmon).
Polyunstaurated fats are good for you.
Monounsaturated fats can help lower blood cholesterol.
Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil, rapeseed oil, peanut butter, nuts.
Monounsaturated fats can help prevent certain cancers and heart disease.