Article Review: Face the Fats

FATS

HEATHER FRANKS

SCI/241

August 2, 2012

According to the “Face the Fats” article we have bad fats, better fats, and best

fats. Bad fats are considered saturated fats and trans fats. Bad fat is anything with

butter on it or in it. Examples of saturated fat items would be steaks, loaded potatoes,

and deserts as well. Examples of trans fats would be anything deep fried like fast food

French fries or fried chicken. Better fats are monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated

fat. These fats are better for you and are not as bad on your hear health. Examples of

better fats would be olive oil and canola oils. Polyunsaturated fats contain omega 3 and

omega 6. In order to find the amount of these fats you should subtract your saturated

and trans fats and you are left with mono and poly. The best fats would be the fats your

body needs like omega 3.

Saturated fat is anything that has butter in it. Mostly found in fast food

restaurants. This fat is derived from animal products and comes from dairy, meat, and

eggs. Unsaturated fat is derived from plant products. Trans fatty acid is the process of

adding hydrogen to vegetable oil this is really bad for your cholesterol. Hydrogenated

fat is when hydrogen is added to liquid oil and it is turned in to a solid form like Crisco.

Trans fatty acids are harmful to your cholesterol levels.

The function of lipids in the body is for energy storage in the body. Lipids are

also the difference between good and bad cholesterol. The function of fiber in the body

is to pass through the digestive system and break down the nutrients.

Good sources of dietary fiber is a high fiber diet which could include food

sources such as turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, navy beans, eggplant,

raspberries, and cinnamon. You can also take fiber supplements sold at Wal Mart, most

drug stores. and groceries stores. “Men 50 years of age and younger should consume

at least 38 grams of fiber per day, while men older than 50 years of age should aim for

at least 30 grams of fiber daily. Women 50 years of age and younger should consume

at least 25 grams of fiber per day, while women older than 50 years of age should aim

for at least 21 grams of fiber daily.” (Family Doctor. Org, para. 3)

The difference between soluble fiber and insoluble fiber is that soluble fiber

dissolves in water such as Metamucil that you buy in the grocery store and insoluble

fiber does not dissolve which would be fruit or whole grains.

The number one benefit to a high fiber diet in my opinion would be that it is

good for your digestive tract and it keeps you regular. A high fiber diet is also good for

weight loss which cuts back on heart disease. Insoluble fiber reduces the risk for colon

cancer. Soluble fiber also reduces the risk of blood cholesterol and lowers your risk of

cardiovascular (heart) disease.

(Family Doctor. Org, para. 3)