Bad fats, Good fats

Most of us think that in order to be healthy; the correct thing to do is to eat a low fat diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately for most, this is no longer the case. While the part about eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables is still absolutely correct the part about eating a low fat diet might not be, if, that is, you’re eating the right types of fats. There’s a right type of fat you ask? Well, apparently yes, there is.

Health professionals are now placing fats into categories of “good fats” and “bad fats”. Good fats are those that are naturally occurring. This means ‘traditional fats’ which haven’t been damaged by hot temperatures, refining, processing and other man-made interferences such as hydrogenation.

The best good fats are found in foods such as fish, nuts, avocados, seeds and even fresh creamy real butter (not the type that you buy in a supermarket that has been refined, packaged and stored for long periods of time). The best of the good fats are those that are known as unsaturated and are found in plant foods, some of which have already been mentioned above. These unsaturated fats can be further divided into polyunsaturated fats, which are fats that are found in high concentrations in sunflower, corn and soybean oils. These are extremely good fats. Monounsaturated fats are found in high concentrations in peanut, canola and olive oils and are also extremely good fats.

Certain good fats have even been said to aid weight loss missions. Fats such as omega-3 oils (which are commonly found in oily fishes) and omega-6 oils (founds in evening primrose oil) have also been used in the treatment of all kinds of things such as bipolar right through to skin problems. As you can see, some fats are absolutely essential.

And some fats are absolutely not. These are the fats that fall into the “bad” category. Bad fats are those that are saturated, refined, not naturally occurring and are highly processed. Among the worst of the bad fats are both margarine and absolutely anything fried and especially deep fried. Refined vegetables oils also fall into this category. Refined vegetable oils have been processed with hot temperatures in the presence of hydrogen, which in turn removes all the healthy nutrients (these are known as trans fats). Some plant foods are also high in saturated (bad) fats. Coconut and coconut oil, palm kernels and palm kernal oils definitely fit into this category.

So even though the word ‘fat’ reeks havoc with the brain, it doesn’t necessary mean that the food you’re about to shove into your mouth is bad. Do your homework and learn what to look out for. Eat plenty of plant based foods and you’ll be already on your way to good fat consumption!