Everyone knows what fat is, but at the same time it’s widely misunderstood. We all know that it’s bad to eat too much or too little of it, but aren’t there different kinds of fat? what exactly does it do for the body? All of these questions and more will be answered, as always, by CORE knower-in-residence Beau in today’s video.
Fat means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but there is a commonality between all of us that we need to consume it. Beau shows you the what, how, and why of this process.
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The facts about fat
Without a question, carbohydrate—commonly referred to as carbs—receives the most attention when it comes to diabetes treatment. Fat, on the other hand, is an important component to include in a well-balanced diet. Despite what you would think, consuming the proper quantity of the right type of fat plays a crucial function in our bodies.
Fat stimulates cell development, cushions organs, stores energy, insulates the body from the weather, and many other functions. Because fats have a greater calorie density per gram, portion control is critical when it comes to fat. Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain malignancies, and other health issues can all be reduced by eating the correct kinds of fat.
Saturated, trans, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats are the four basic forms of fat. The American Diabetes Association suggests that you consume more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in your diet than saturated or trans fats. The Nutrition Facts label on food goods lists certain forms of fat.
It’s crucial to understand what we mean when we say “cholesterol” when we’re talking about fat. There are two forms of cholesterol: blood cholesterol and dietary cholesterol. Blood cholesterol is found in our blood, whereas dietary cholesterol is present in our food.
Cholesterol in the blood plays a significant function in the body, as it is the beginning point for the production of hormones, cell structures, vitamin D, and other substances. Your body produces plenty of cholesterol for these purposes, but it can also absorb a tiny amount from your diet.
You’re more likely to get heart disease if your total cholesterol level is too high. Contrary to common opinion, dietary cholesterol has a smaller effect on this figure than previously thought. Saturated and trans fats play a considerably larger influence in raising blood cholesterol in most people, resulting in an elevated risk of heart disease. Because foods that are rich in dietary cholesterol are also high in saturated fat, restricting saturated fat is the easiest way to go.
There are Four main types of fat
- Saturated fats Many meals, both sweet and savory, contain saturated fats.
The majority of them originate from animal sources, such as meat and dairy, as well as some plant items, such as palm and coconut oil. - Trans fats are naturally present in various meals, such as meat and dairy products, at low quantities.
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil contains them as well. If hydrogenated vegetable oil is used in a food, it must be listed on the ingredients list.
Trans fats, like saturated fats, can elevate blood cholesterol levels. - Monounsaturated fats Monounsaturated fats assist protect your heart by keeping “good” HDL cholesterol levels high while lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.
- Polyunsaturated fats Polyunsaturated fats can also aid in the reduction of “bad” LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
References:
- Hardvard University Public Health. Types of Fats? https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat//span>