Well, not being fat. But, eating certain fats is not only good, but necessary for optimal health. You should also realize that you don’t have to totally eliminate so-called “bad” fat, such as saturated and trans fats, from your diet; the key is to minimize. Once you do that, it’s time to recognize the fats that are beneficial to your health.
The good news of certain fats being healthy has been pretty well propagated in recent years. But, many people still don’t know it. Or, if you do know, you may not know which name they go by and where you can find them. Here’s the 4-1-1 on healthy fats:
Monounsaturated fats have an amazing trait: they have the selective power of lowering LDL “bad” cholesterol, while increasing HDL “good” cholesterol. So, where do you get these wonder fats? Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios are all good sources of monounsaturated fats. Other sources include avocado, canola oil, and olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have also been found to help with losing weight.
Polyunsaturated fats also lower LDL cholesterol. You can find them in vegetable oils, such as safflower, corn, sunflower, soy, and cottonseed. Polyunsaturated fats are also found in nuts and seeds.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These are the best known; the current superstars of the healthy fat world. The most common source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring. If you aren’t a fish fan, or at least the fish mentioned, flaxseed and walnuts also do the trick.
If you can work these into your diet, and avoid too many man-made, processed foods, you have a better chance of having a healthy heart and blood pressure. That’s not even to mention that omega-3 fatty acids are connected to other health benefits, such as fighting off diabetes, arthritis, and possibly other things such as inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. I could go on and on, but just grill some salmon, pop a few walnuts and almonds for a snack, and you are on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
March 9th, 2010