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You probably know that saturated fats are bad fats that can cause all kinds of heart related diseases. Did you know that and the humble coconut oil has 92 per cent saturated fats? Then why is it that there are many advocates of taking coconut oil as a health supplement? Isn't that contradictory?
Why is the saturated fat in coconut oil so good? The difference of all fats is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. There are two methods of classifying fatty acids.
For years we heard that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet would keep us healthy and help us lose weight.
And many of us jumped on the bandwagon, eliminating fat and high-cholesterol foods from our diets. Well, unfortunately, we were doing it all wrong.
"Don't take too much fats!" This is a piece of advice we used to get from people around us. Are all fats bad for us? Of course no! Nevertheless, before we can decide which fats we should take and which fats we should not take, it is better to understand the nature of fats and where they can be found in the foods we consumed.
Trans fats are unhealthy. But their replacement may be worse. Are we jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire?
Understanding the two types of cholesterol (HDL and LDL) can help you make better food choices and keep your heart healthy.
People often think that the less fats we eat, the better. However, you do not necessarily need to reduce your fat intake. You only need to choose a fat that doesn't contribute to weight gain, a fat that is beneficial to you. Yes, you can lose fat by eating fat. Having the right type of fats makes you feel full and stops you from craving for food.
It appears that many people still confuse with fat and cholesterol in diet. Many have confusingly argued that a low-fat diet is also low in cholesterol, which can be considered only half right.
The claim that coconut oil is bad for you has been widely disproved in many scientific studies and journals. Unfortunately, this perception is still around. As a result, one of nature's most amazing resources, tropical oils, and especially coconut oil, has been lost to modern medicine for decades.
Over the years, people tend to associate high blood cholesterol to be a cause of heart disease. However, most people do not know the following fact. Total blood cholesterol, which includes both HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol, is a very inaccurate indicator of heart disease risk.
Fats are an essential part of any well-balanced diet, including a vegetarian diet. Fats are made of smaller units - called fatty acids. These fatty acids may be saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. Saturated and monounsaturated fats are not necessary in a vegetarian diet as they can be made in the human body. However, two polyunsaturated fatty acids - linoleic acid (omega 6) and linolenic acid (omega 3) - cannot be manufactured by the body and must be provided in the diet.
Avoiding all fats is a serious mistake. Getting the optimal amount of good fats a day (15-20 per cent of total calories) will actual enhance the metabolic reactions and result in more fat burn off.
Fat is a concentrated source of energy. This source of energy is very useful during aerobic exercise. The longer the exercise, the higher the fat contribution for providing energy. Fat is particularly used in large quantities in the brain and nervous system. There are two types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Unsaturated fats are commonly referred to as "good" fats, and should make up the greatest percentage of your fat intake.
Cholesterol lowering foods are foods that are low in dietary cholesterol, but also low in saturated fat. Saturated fat is the key because it affects your cholesterol level far more than dietary cholesterol. Saturated fats can produce as much as 4 times more cholesterol in your blood than dietary cholesterol.
If you think you might be at risk for developing cholesterol problems, how can you know for sure? What are the major risk factors of this serious disease? Read more about how to determine if you are at risk of developing cholesterol problems.
Don't always believe what you hear- especially when it comes to your health. Here's some nutrition myths we were taught to follow, and according to the experts, we shouldn't have listened to.
Everyone has heard about the importance of keeping the level of fat in your diet to a minimum. While some fat in your diet is necessary, most Americans eat far too many fatty foods. Fats do play a vital role in the diet, including in the absorption of important fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. These vitamins are stored in fatty tissues, and dietary fat aids in this process.
In 1950s and 1960s, trans fat was hailed as a healthy replacement for saturated fat in butter and animal fat. It was also used because of its ability to extend shelf life for products. 30 years later, why it is now crowned as a bad stuff that could shorten life for those who eat it?
Cholesterol. It's not only one number you need to know anymore. You will want to know what you LDL (low density lipoprotein) and HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels are too.
Medication is only one way to decrease your cholesterol. Regular physical activity as well as dietary changes can help. Select foods lower in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. Read food labels. Check the serving size.
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