Good Fats Versus Bad Fats
There is more than one type of fat found in your favorite foods. If you have checked on the back of the box at the food label, you may have seen the words “saturated fat,” “polyunsaturated fat,” or “trans fat.” All of these fats take on a special meaning when it comes to your heart health. While some of these fats are heart friendly, other fats can sabotage your cholesterol -- and your heart health. Find out what these fats mean and what they can do to your cholesterol levels.Different Types of Unsaturated Fats
Unsaturated fats, otherwise known as the “good” fats, come in two major forms: polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Both of these fats are found in a variety of healthy foods, including nuts, seeds, some vegetables, and oils. While polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats differ from each other structurally, both play an important role in lowering your cholesterol and keeping your heart healthy.Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are sometimes known as your “bad” fats. While consuming a very small amount of saturated fat in your diet will not hurt, high amounts of this fat will not only increase your waistline but your cholesterol levels, too. Many types of foods contain saturated fat, including meats and junk foods, such as potato chips and cookies. Understanding how to lower the amount of saturated fat in your diet can help you to lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health.
Watching Your Trans Fat Intake
Trans fats are a dangerous type of fat. Man-made, these fats were designed to increase the shelf life of packaged foods and are often used to add texture. Unfortunately, these fats have a tendency to not only raise your cholesterol levels but deposit on inflamed arteries, leading to the development of atherosclerosis. Checking your food labels for trans fats is extremely important, especially since trans fats are usually present in many of our ready-to-eat foods, such as chips, cakes, and cookies.
