To most of us, “fats” is a four-letter word—the nutritional equivalent of the guy in the black hat. We tend to think of fats as the root of all dietary evil, responsible for the growing rates of obesity and type-2 diabetes. The truth is both happier and less black and white than that. Fats (note that it’s a plural term) are both good and bad for you. They can help or harm your heart, and it’s good to know the differences.
Fats are an important part of our diet. Our bodies can’t function properly if we avoid fats completely because fats provide important building blocks for many tissues in the body and brain (this is why no-fat diets can’t be sustained). However, eating too much fat—particularly too much of the wrong kinds of fat—is just as bad, as this can lead to significant health problems down the road, like heart attack and stroke. So it is important to become educated about the different kinds of fat and to know what a healthy low-fat diet looks like. (Hint: it does not mean loading up on carbohydrates and low-fat chips and cookies by the bag-full.)
Today our take on fats is more balanced and more accurate than it was years ago, as researchers understand more clearly the different roles that fats play in our bodies. As opposed to the diet crazes of old, most experts now recommend eating a balanced diet, rich in proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats, like omegas and unsaturated fatty acids, which our bodies need to function properly.
We hope to clear up some of the confusion that surrounds people’s ideas about fat these days. We’ll start with a break-down of the types of fats you should consume for a healthier you, as well as those you should try to avoid or eat in moderation. We’ll also discuss how the fats in your body affect the health of both your body and mind.
This article was originally published on TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com
