Face the Fats Essay Example
Face the Fats
According to the American Heart Association, there are four different kinds of fats. These fats are necessary for the body to give it energy, support cell growth, absorb nutrients, and produce important hormones. Each of these fats has different chemical structures and physical properties. The bad fats tend to have a more solid structure when at room temperature and the good fats are more like a liquid. So, what are the good fats and the bad fats? Good fats such as, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol levels when eaten in moderation and can be beneficial. Bad fats, like the ones that most of us eat too much of are called saturated fats and trans fats. These raise bad cholesterol which can lead to heart disease and a number of other health problems. Saturated and trans fats are the worst types of fats that we consume. Monounsaturated fats are better for the body and polyunsaturated fats, which are either from omega-3 (seafood) or omega-6 (most vegetable oils) are probably the best when consumed as part of a healthy diet. Saturated fats have a chemical makeup in which the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen atoms. These fats usually come from animal sources, such as fatty beef, pork, butter, cheese, and other dairy products. Baked and fried foods also contain high levels of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are usually found in oils such as canola, olive, and peanut oil, as well as many nuts and seeds. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout also contain unsaturated fats that are good for the body. Trans fats (trans-fatty acids) are created through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. These types of bad fats are found in most of our favorite foods such as french fries, doughnuts, pizza dough, pastries, and other baked goods. Hydrogenated fats undergo a chemical process called hydrogenation that is commonly found in
According to the American Heart Association, there are four different kinds of fats. These fats are necessary for the body to give it energy, support cell growth, absorb nutrients, and produce important hormones. Each of these fats has different chemical structures and physical properties. The bad fats tend to have a more solid structure when at room temperature and the good fats are more like a liquid. So, what are the good fats and the bad fats? Good fats such as, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol levels when eaten in moderation and can be beneficial. Bad fats, like the ones that most of us eat too much of are called saturated fats and trans fats. These raise bad cholesterol which can lead to heart disease and a number of other health problems. Saturated and trans fats are the worst types of fats that we consume. Monounsaturated fats are better for the body and polyunsaturated fats, which are either from omega-3 (seafood) or omega-6 (most vegetable oils) are probably the best when consumed as part of a healthy diet. Saturated fats have a chemical makeup in which the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen atoms. These fats usually come from animal sources, such as fatty beef, pork, butter, cheese, and other dairy products. Baked and fried foods also contain high levels of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are usually found in oils such as canola, olive, and peanut oil, as well as many nuts and seeds. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout also contain unsaturated fats that are good for the body. Trans fats (trans-fatty acids) are created through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. These types of bad fats are found in most of our favorite foods such as french fries, doughnuts, pizza dough, pastries, and other baked goods. Hydrogenated fats undergo a chemical process called hydrogenation that is commonly found in