What are the Differences Between Saturated, Polyunsaturated, Monounsaturated and Trans Fats
Have you ever looked at the food label on your food and wondered what all those different fats were doing to your body. So have I. I took a little time to do a little research and found some brief info about each of the fats that we consume on a daily basis. I kept it short and sweet. If you want to learn more about these fats, there are links at the bottom of this post.
1. Polyunsaturated Fat - Helps your body get rid of newly formed cholesterol. It is good to consume in normal quantities. Like anything, if you eat too much, it can also be harmful. You can find this type of fat in safflower, sesame, soy, corn and sunflower-seed oils, nuts and seeds
2. Monounsaturated Fat - This fat can also help lower cholesterol, just not as fast as Polyunsaturated fats. Lower your consumption of Saturated fats and eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts. You can find these oils in olive, canola and peanut oils & avocados (avocados are my personal favorites. Cut one in half, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, dig out the meat with a spoon and eat).
3. Saturated Fat - The Main Cause (by food intake) of High Blood Cholesterol. If you want to lower your Saturated Fat Intake, lower the amount of Animal Products you consume. This includes meat, dairy & eggs. While high in protein, they are also high in saturated fats.
4. Hydrogenated Fat - This is also a bad fat, raising your cholesterol. It is created when companies hydrogenate products like margarine, shortening and all the products these fats are cooked in.
5. Trans Fat - This fat is usually created when a product is Hydrogenated (or partially hydrogenated) and is actually a type of Hydrogenated Fat. It has been seen in studies to have a worse effect on cholesterol than Saturated fat. Stay away from this if you can. I am sorry to say that a lot of the snack foods that we enjoy so much carry this dangerous fat within them. You will find it in cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, fried onion rings, donuts and so many other favorites. Look at the labels of your foods before you buy them.
Links:
1. AmericanHeart.com
2. Harvard
3. Medical Encyclopedia
4. Wikipedia
