What the Science Of Obesity: Fats & Cholesterol

For many years we have heard that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can keep us healthy and help us lose weight. And many of us are jumping on the bandwagon, eliminating fatty foods and high-cholesterol foods from our diet. Well, unfortunately, we were doing everything wrong. Instead of eliminating fat completely, we should be eliminating "bad fats," fats associated with obesity and heart disease and eating "good fats", fats that actually help improve blood cholesterol levels. Before we consider the fat and the bad, let's talk about cholesterol. Cholesterol - It is implanted in our brain that cholesterol causes heart disease and that we should reduce the amount of food it contains, but dietary cholesterol is different from blood cholesterol. Cholesterol is derived from two sources — first, in foods such as meat, eggs, and seafood, and second, in our body. Our liver makes this waxy substance and binds it to a carrying protein called lipoprotein. These lipoproteins dissolve cholesterol in the blood and carry it to all parts of your body. Our body needs cholesterol to help build its cell membranes, other hormones, and Vitamin D. You may have heard of “good” and “bad” cholesterol. After all, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol from the blood to the liver. The liver processes cholesterol to be excreted from the body. If there is HDL in the blood, then less cholesterol will be absorbed into the coronary arteries. That is why it is called "good" cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which carry cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. If there is too much in the body, it is absorbed into the coronary arteries. This is not good. The accumulation of cholesterol in our arteries can prevent blood from entering our heart. This means that our heart will not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs, which in turn can lead to heart disease, stroke, or sudden death. Therefore, if your LDL level is higher than your HDL level, you are at greater risk of developing heart disease. It may surprise us, but recent studies have shown that the amount of cholesterol in our diet is not closely related to the levels of cholesterol in our blood. The types of fats you eat that affect your cholesterol levels in the blood. Bad Fat There are two fats you should stop eating — saturated and saturated fats. Fatty Fats Fatty acids are high in animal fats. You find it in meat, whole milk products, chicken skin, and egg yolks. Coconut oil is also high in saturated fat. Saturated fat raises both good and bad cholesterol in the blood. Trans fats Trans fats are produced by hydrogenation — the heat of heat in the presence of oxygen. Many products contain trans fats because the oils help them to maintain a long shelf life. Margarine also contains high levels of trans fats. Trans fats are especially dangerous because they lower good cholesterol, HDL and raise bad cholesterol, LDL. Unfortunately, many products do not tell you how much fat it contains, but you can find out if they are in the product by looking at the ingredients list. If the ingredients contain hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated fats, then they contain trans fats. Fortunately in 2006, manufacturers will need to list the amount of trans fats in their products on nutritional labels, so it will be easier for you to find them. Good Fats Some fats actually improve cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats Polyunsaturated fats are found in sunflower, corn, and soybean oil. These fats contain Omega-6, an essential fatty acid. However, most people get enough Omega-6 in their diet and instead need extra Omega-3. Omega-3 is a fatty acid found in fish and walnuts. Monounsaturated fats Monounsaturated fats are found in canola, nuts, and olive oil. Both types of saturated fats lower bad cholesterol, LDL and increase good cholesterol, HDL. Now, because low fat fats improve your cholesterol levels, you no longer have permission to eat all the olive oil, butter, and nuts you want. Fat of any kind contains calories, and if you are trying to lose weight, eat fat in moderation, and stay away from saturated fats.