Healthy Monounsaturated Fats

healthyfatsThe fact about fats is that we all need them. Fats are capable of helping in nutrient absorption as well as cell maintenance and nerve transmission. When we consume fats in unhealthy amounts, they can contribute to heart disease, weight gain and even certain types of cancer. All fats are not created equally. Some fats, such as monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega 3 essential fatty acids are capable of promoting our health in a positive manner while others are capable of increasing our risk of developing heart disease. The real key to eating fats is to know how we can replace bad fats with much better fats in our dietary choices.

Monounsaturated Fats

Also known as MUFAs, monounsaturated fats are capable of lowering your total cholesterol as well as your LDL or low-density cholesterol which is the bad type of cholesterol. These monounsaturated fats are also capable of increasing your HDL or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is the good, natural and healthy type of cholesterol. There are a number of great sources for monounsaturated fats out there including peanuts, almonds, walnuts and pistachios, canola oil, olive oil, black olives and avocado. These monounsaturated fats have also been linked to weight loss, as they have a profound effect on helping you burn body fat and boosting your metabolism.

Polyunsaturated Fats

Polyunsatrated fats, like monounsaturated fats, are capable of lowering your total amount of cholesterol, contributing to lowering your LDL cholesterol and can also help to raise your good HDL cholesterol as well. Some sources for polyunsaturated fats include seafood such as fish oil and salmon, corn soil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and soy oil. Omega 3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat.

Bad Fats: Saturated Fats

Saturated fats are capable of raising your total blood cholesterol as raising your bad cholesterol, the LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are the types of fats you will find in meat, eggs, dairy, seafood and other animal products. Some plant foods also happen to be high in saturated fats including palm oil, coconut oil and kernel oil.

Bad Fats: Trans Saturated Fats

Trans fats are invented fats, and they came around when scientists began to take liquid oils and hydrogenate them so that they can better withstand the food production process, providing foods with a greater shelf life. Trans fatty acids are created as a result of the hydrogenation process, and are therefore found in many packaged, commercially available foods from French fries to microwave popcorn, as well as in hard stick margarine butter and vegetable shortening. Trans saturated fats take a good thing, fat, and turn it into a really bad thing, and there is nothing good about eating trans fatty acids, so you should avoid them as much as you possibly can.

Photo Credits: Felipe Skroski

Originally posted 2009-10-12 03:53:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • OsteoporosisHow to Avoid Issues With Osteoporosis As our bodies age, there are a number of health concerns that people need to stay aware to avoid lengthy treatment and health complications. Over ten million people suffer from osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and most of these sufferers are......
  • strawpinebananaHigh Energy Foods for Better Immunity If you want to boost your immunity and prepare your body for physical activities, then you need to find high energy food options that will benefit you in this way. Essentially, our bodies are constantly in need of high energy food options every single day in order for us to......
  • oatsMore Heart Health Food Tips Heart health food tips can go a long way in improving your overall coronary health. If you want to improve the health of your heart and your over all health and well being as well, the following heart health food tips are going to come in handy: Take the time......
  • shotThe Importance of Knowing Your Insurance Just over 59 million Americans currently live without insurance according to an article that appeared late last year in the Huffington Post. This doesn’t even account for the millions of Hispanic migrants who suffer from poor health, or “salud”, and like many Americans can’t afford to get sick. The number......
  • yogurtwalnutsImproving Health with a Superfood Diet Choosing a superfood diet involves consuming a diet that is rich in superfoods. The purpose of a superfood diet is to provide you with a diet rich in the right nutrients through foods that improve your health. These superfoods are more than capable of creating a truly large impact on......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • fishOmega 3s and Weight Loss Many celebrities that appear to be losing a lot of weight right now are attributing a good portion of their weight loss to adding more fish to their diet. The truth is, anyone that adds more of certain varieties of fish to their diet is going to benefit from a......
  • blog traffic exchangeChromium Picolinate From the Jumpstart Medicine Handbook... I highly recommed Jumpstart. I have a special offer for anyone in wanting to try Jumpstart in Redwood City or Mountain View: $25 off your first visit (just print it and bring it to your appointment). Chromium Picolinate is the most absorbable form of chromium,......
  • blog traffic exchangeCarnival of Weight Loss - Winter Hols Welcome to the December 20, 2008 edition of carnival of weight loss. Editor Picks Marsha Hudnall presents Women's Weight Loss: 'Tis the Season to Be Kind posted at A Weight Lifted MCA presents Does Caffeine Raise Your Blood Glucose Levels? | My Caffeine Addiction posted at Caffeine Addiction, saying,......
  • bodycompBody Composition and Lean Mass Body composition is something that we come to hear about a lot, but do we really understand what it means or how it impacts us in our daily lives? In order for us to be considered fit, there are five areas where minimum standards have to be met, and these......
  • blog traffic exchangePost 4th of July Roundup How was everybody's 4th of July? Did you enjoy your fireworks, BBQs, and family time? Better still did you all keep on your diets and stay focused on your health goals during the celebration? Check out my Guest Post at MizFit: Food Glorious Food From the Fitness Health Network this......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

General Health, Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Nutrition Fitness Life



Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment

3 fatty acids breast cancer cancer cells Cravings daily basis diet exercise Exercises fad diet fad diets Fitness Food Journal fruits and vegetables Health and Wellness health and wellness health benefits health problems healthy pregnancy high blood pressure hormones menstrual cycle menstrual period metabolism monounsaturated fats Motivation muscles nutrients Nutrition omega 3 fatty acids physical activity placenta polyunsaturated fats posture pregnancy pregnant women skin care stop eating sugar sugar addicition Sugar Addiction sugar cravings uterus Weight Loss what this means whole grains