The truth of the matter is, not all fats are bad. There are fats that your body actually needs. It knows which ones are good and which ones are bad that gets people in a daze.
There is a common misconception that fats are bad but in reality, there are oils that help boost your immune system, lower your risk of heart disease and give you the right kind of energy that your body needs.
You’re probably asking yourself now: “Which is which? How do I know which ones to pick and which ones to avoid?”
Fats That You Need and Fats That You Don’t
There are different types of fats and the distinction generally relies on where the fat came from. If the fat is from certain plants, nuts or fish; then you need that fat.
Fats from animals are either saturated fats or Trans fats while fats that you get from plants, nuts, fish, and soy are known as monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
Mono what? If you’re not very familiar with mono and polyunsaturated fats, you may have a hard time distinguishing them from the bad fats.
Here’s a clue: if the oil is a bit more liquid in concentration, then it’s very likely that you are looking at a good fat. If the fat is solid, then you’re probably looking at the bad fats.
Still not getting the picture? Look at olive oil and lard. One is a bit runnier and the other looks heavier, more solid.
How about canola oil and a stick of butter? Canola oil is your polyunsaturated fat while butter is your saturated fat.
Basically, you just need to remember two things: good fats generally come from plants and nuts while bad fats come from animals, both the four-legged and two-legged kind.
Here are a few more samples:
Good Fats
Oils: sunflower, peanut, sesame, soybean, corn, safflower and fish like tuna, sardines, mackerel and salmon
Nuts: walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, cashews, almonds and macadamia
Seeds: sunflower, flaxseeds, sesame and pumpkin
Fats from avocado, soy milk and tofu are also good for you.
Bad Fats
Dairy Products – butter, cheese, stick margarine, ice cream, whole milk, whole cream
Sweets – candy/chocolate bars, commercially-prepared pastries, cakes, donuts
Fried Foods/ Fast Foods – fries, nuggets and burgers
Commercial snacks like chips and popcorn, palm oil, coconut oil and vegetable shortening are also bad fats you should stay away from. Fatty parts of meats are also to be avoided.
Note: Choose lean cuts for your meats and leave the skin out when eating your chicken to avoid the bad fats.
Check Your Fat Labels
Make it a habit to check the labels of the food that you are buying. When you read hydrogenated or even “partially hydrogenated oil,” go the other way.
Bad fats called Trans fats are produced by putting regular fat through a process called “hydrogenation” which prolongs their life and which make them excellent for packaged food products.
Even“partially hydrogenated oil” is suspicious so it’s best to stay away from food products that contain this.
Where else can you get Trans fats? You get them from commercially-produce baked goodies, cake mixes and fried foods.
If you are dining at a restaurant, you should ask what type of oil they use in the kitchen. If it’s bad oil, perhaps you can ask if they can cook your food in olive oil instead. If they can’t, look for healthier options in their menu or go to another restaurant.
Jenny Richards is a free lancer writer and content builder of http://www.folkremedy.net/
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