Fats

Since the number one cause of death in the United States is heart disease it may be a good idea to talk about the main culprit of what actually causes this progressive, and chronic condition. We all know someone who has some form of heart disease whether it be hypertension, high blood pressure, angina or even friends or family who have actually had a heart attack. for a few exceptions, one being genetic disposition factors, most of these people we know have indulged in foods high in fat's and their cholesterol levels are off the charts. There are many kinds of fat's - good and bad.

We all have made efforts grocery shop with smart, economical and healthy intentions. We simply say to ourselves: Low sugar, low salt, low fat! While this is a good start, it's really not enough. Now days, we almost need a degree in nutrition to get it right - particularly when it comes to fat.

Good fat? Yes, there is a thing called good fat. But eating it in moderation is a must. Good fat is labeled as so since it's a fat which most doctors say you don't need to completely avoid. These consist of monounsaturated fats, which lower your total cholesterol especially LDL (bad) and may even increase your HDL (good), which are usually found in nuts, avocado's and olive oil. Also polyunsaturated fats which also lower your total cholesterol found in fish, soy, and corn.

Bad fat consists of saturated fats, which raise your total cholesterol, and are found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs, and fish. Then there are trans fats, which are the worse of all fats. Trans fats clog arteries like nothing else. These are genetically engineered fats developed to stabilize our foods. Trans fats are generally found in packaged foods or used in fast food restaurants in the form frying oils which make, for example, your chicken extra crispy...yum!

The food industry is very tricky when it comes to labeling trans fats. Until the FDA clamps down on how we classify food labeling all a scientist needs to do is change a small component in what makes up a trans fat and they can remove it from its trans fat classification. As is the case with triglycerides or diglycerides which in the body act the same as trans fats but by using these instead of "trans fats" it is legal to label a package with a "No Trans Fats."

What are your options? In this day and age, you cannot avoid everything unless you were to live on a farm and grow your own food. The best thing to do is get on internet and research on your own for what's best for you. The information is out there, and all the answers will not come from your doctor. Reading food labels is the best way to correct your diet. If there's something on a food label you don't understand or it makes your skeptical about that product, it's most likely something you don't want to buy.