Good Fats Bad Fats

It is important for your health, your heart and your midline to know what are good fats bad fats.

So, instead of blindly going on a low-fat diet, go on a low bad fat diet. Get to know the good, the bad and the ugly fat facts!

Saturated Fats

These mostly come from animal sources. They raise blood cholesterol, harden your arteries and contribute to heart disease. Palm and coconut vegetable oils are found in many processed foods and junk food in general.

do

• Choose lower-fat cuts of beef
• Remove skin from chicken
• Avoid junk food as much as possible
• Replace some of your animal fat with fish or soy products

Transfats

There is absolutely no healthy reason why you should be eating transfats. Whereas saturated fats in the form of animal sources provide nutrients, transfats are usually found in food with no or extremely little nutritional value. They are usually found in fast-food restaurants, frozen prepared foods and processed foods.

The other term for this is partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

do

• Just say no to fried foods and processed foods.

Polyunsaturated fats

This type of fat comes primarily in the form of vegetable oils (other than palm and coconut which are saturated fats). These oils are safflower oil, sesame oil, soy oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are nutritionally good for you, so you should eat small portions of these.

do

• Limit your intake of these.

Monounsaturated Fats

These fats are fabulous. They can lower the bad fat levels in your blood. They come in the form of olive oil, canola oil and peanut oil.

The benefits of olive oil are great for the aging woman. I just love to cook with it and drizzle my salads with it too. You’ll find that my recipes often include this healthy essential fatty acid.

Olive oil is known for its heart-healthy protective monounsaturates and its antioxidant plant compounds and vitamin E.

• It helps the skin resist UV damage.
• Essential fatty acids are part of the cell membranes that hold in moisture.
• It protects us from cardiovascular disease by improving our blood cholesterol profile.
• It protects against colon and other cancers.
• It lowers cholesterol.
• Helps to prevent obesity (increases your energy levels in a good way).
• It satisfies you so you feel less hungry.
• It has a nice taste.

Health Tip for storing and cooking with olive oil

Light destroys many of the disease-fighting compounds in olive oil. Studies showed that olive oil stored in clear bottles showed at least a 30 percent decrease in antioxidants.Always store olive oil in the dark and they should be used within one to two months. For the full benefit of olive oil, eat it cold in salad dressings or drizzled on bread or vegetables. Don't use extra virgin olive oil for cooking at high temperatures or the beneficial chemicals will be destroyed.

Conclusion

Particular issues at midlife are the look of our skin, the condition of our hearts, our energy levels, our cholesterol levels, and weight gain. This fabulous oil is good for all of these!

Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-3 and Omega-6 are healthy essential fatty acids your body needs for normal cell function and hormone production. You can get your Omega-6 through the limited amount of polyunsaturated fats you’re eating, and you can get your Omega-3’s from fish, flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnuts, and green vegetables.

To return from Good Fats Bad Fats to Foods to Avoid click here

To return to NursingMenopause Home