Don't Ditch Fats Part 2

By: Onehappymama

​Previously, I wrote about the importance that healthy fats play in our bodies. Here’s where you need to pay attention to details. Not all fats are created equal. You may look at the back of a label and be confused. What you need to learn about is the breakdown:
 
There are several types of fats that you can find when looking at the nutritional information and ingredients list, the main ones being: saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and Trans fats.
 
The healthy fats: mono and polyunsaturated fats
* Usually liquid at room temperature
*can improve blood cholesterol levels
* can be great for the heart
 
The not so healthy fats: saturated fats - be aware of your portion control with foods that have saturated fats (can be controversial… I’ll be writing about this more)
                        * Mostly found in animal products
                        * can be found in full fat dairy
                        *can raise total blood cholesterol
                        * increases risk of diabetes when consumed too much
 
The dangerous fats: Trans fats a.k.a. partially hydrogenated fats
                        * Usually chemically made in a lab
                        * increase your LDL levels (Bad cholesterol)
                         * Lowers your HDL levels (Good cholesterol)
                        * used to preserved the shelf-life of many foods          
 
In my personal opinion, there are lots of  health benefits to mono and polyunsaturated fats, and there are even some foods with saturated fats that can be helpful. My main concern is the foods that have been manufactured with the additive of Trans fats, partially hydrogenated fats, and hydrogenated fats (and oils). Those are the foods I steer clear of and put back on the shelf.                                     


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