Thursday 10 January 2008

Healthy Foods Part 10: Fats!

The Truth About Fats

One particular food group is surrounded by myth far more than the others. That group is fats. All too often, people try and avoid eating fat as part of their daily diets, presuming that they’re bad for you. Some fats are bad for you and can make you put on weight, but others are considered good fats and can actually help you to lose weight! Fats actually provide a third source of energy in your diet, along with proteins and carbohydrates, as well as giving your body the means to repair tissue and keep cells healthy. Burning fat always means that you are losing weight!

There are three types of fat that are well known and can determine whether you lose weight or put it on – saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. The latter two are known as “good fats” whereas the former is actually the one that regular dieters check for on the back of food packets! Saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are all fatty acids but are different because of the way the molecules are joined to each other in each type. The way they are bonded actually alters the way in which the body can deal with them. In other words, the bonds can help us to lose or put on weight.

Saturated fats are generally found in processed foods and animal products like butter, meat, dairy foods and microwavable meals, which do tend to contain a lot! Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are found in plant products like sunflower and olive oils, nuts and seeds. In more simple terms, saturated fats are harder to break down than monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats so if you eat too many saturate fats then your body has no choice but to store it. The other two types are broken down easily and can keep your metabolism high if you exercise, which also burns off the calories. However, it is the essential fatty acids, or omega 3, 6 and 9, that helps us to lose weight.

Essential fatty acids can be found in foods like soybeans, walnuts, shrimp, salmon, halibut, walnuts and flaxseed. Fish is commonly known for its omega properties, but you may find that omega 3 has been added to a number of foods that populate supermarket shelves as a result of its popularity.

The omega fatty acids work to increase your body’s ability to burn fat during periods of exercise in two ways. The first is that it increases the metabolic rate of carbohydrates and fates within the body. Omega 3, in particular, can make cell walls far more flexible and this makes more susceptible to insulin. In turn, this ensures that every cell is more efficient and burns more carbohydrates. In terms of fat burning, fatty acids can ensure that the blood circulation is effective and efficient during exercise, and this gives the muscles a boost during energy, thus making them work harder and burn more calories.

Make sure that you look out for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Also be aware that you should be getting your daily recommended dose of omega 3,6 and 9. In total, you should be eating about 70g of fat a day to stay healthy, and that amount of those fats will help your metabolism. Home cooked meals tend to be healthier but counting the grams of fat is a great idea where necessary. It only takes a few weeks more to feel noticeably healthier than ever before!

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