The Truth about Fats

Fat is an essential part of our body. We cannot live without it in our diet. The human body requires small amounts of “good fat” in order to function properly. Nowadays, a lot of diets contain too much fat, especially too much of the wrong type of fat. This can result in health problems such as heart disease, obesity and higher cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The truth is that dietary fats make food tastier and more appealing, and most of the diets include at least 40% fat. Now let us see the types of fat existent in our body.

Types of Fat

There are two main types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Generally, unsaturated fats are better for the human body than saturated fats. The main reason for this can only be found in the molecular structure of fat. Saturated fat molecules form shapes that clump together easily whilst unsaturated fat molecules form irregular shapes that cannot clump so easily. As a result, saturated fat is more likely to remain stuck in the arteries. It may start with just a molecule but it ends up in a formation of molecules. This formation can clog your arteries, making it difficult for the heart to pump oxygenated blood in the body.

Why Is Fat Good?

Fat is essential to human life. Since it is such a concentrated source of energy, our body can convert fat into glucose. This is a crucial process when we need an urgent energy boost. Fat contains fatty acids (EFA). These acids are essential for the wealth of the immune system and the heart. The human body can’t produce its own fatty acids, so we have to consume fat in order to synthetize these substances. Also, fat enables our bodies to process vitamin K, E, D and A. All these vitamins are fat-soluble and essential for a great health. Omega 3 provides great health benefits, such as supporting the cognitive processes of the brain. Also, fat protects our vital organs by providing a few extra layers. Last but not least, it maintains the body temperature.

Why Is Fat Bad?

Fat has a high caloric value. It is incredibly easy to consume too many calories while ingesting fat foods. Unfortunately, unused calories will cause weight gain and even obesity. Even though a fat cushion for the organs is good, too much fat means a bigger workload for the organs. Food is available anywhere and everywhere, so our bodies tend to store fat but they don’t burn it off. This is how excessive fat can affect our life, making us overweight. Trans or hydrogenated fats in processed food are linked to a higher risk of heart disease and a high cholesterol level. The liver produces good cholesterol, which is crucial for a healthy body. When the levels are high, that means there is a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

In order to avoid bad fats, read the wrappers of the food you buy. Stay away from saturated, trans and hydrogenated fats and try unsaturated fats instead.