TWINKIE vs. TORCH Why Hydrogenated Oils and Trans Fats Cause Disease
What Is Fat? Where does Fat come from? What kinds of Fats are there?
How Trans Fats Became Our Enemy
Fats And Oils
The Dangers of Trans Fats, (partially) Hydrogenated Oils, Trans Fatty Acids
Dr Udo's Essential Fats – Video Series Part 1
Heart Healthy Fats
Afghan Health (Fats and Cholesterol)
Cholesterol and Fats in your Blood
The Good and the Bad About Fats
We have heard so many times that the way to lose weight is to limit our calories, fats, and carbohydrates. The bad fats are saturated and trans fats. The good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats along with omega-3 fatty acids. If we eat too many bad fats we can be at risk for some diseases. While the good fats lower this risk. As weird as it may sound, our body needs some fat to work.
The good fats lower the bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol. Good fats can be found in a number of healthy foods. Monounsaturated fats are in nuts, avocado, olive and canola oils. Polyunsaturated fats are in salmon, corn oil. Saturated and trans fats raise your bad cholesterol. These are mainly found in animal products. Trans fats are found in commercially packaged foods.
How can we lower our bad fat intake and raise our good fat intake? When you use cooking oils use ones that are low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat; canola oil and olive oil are good alternatives. Even though saturated fats are found in animal products use low-fat dairy products and trim the fat and skin off meats. Also, by avoiding commercially packaged foods you can avoid trans fats.
We need the good fats in our diet. There are actually many health benefits. It has been recommended that we eat 7-10% of our calories in fat. We get important fatty acids, like omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fish, from the good fats. It is hard to get all of the omega-3 fatty acids your body needs from diet alone, taking a good supplement that include essential fatty acids is a good way of getting the proper amount. It is also important to take a sustained amount of omega-3 supplement, because it takes weeks for the tissues in your body to absorb the fatty acids.
The good fats also keep our skin soft, give us energy, and most importantly deliver fat-soluble vitamins. The fat-soluble vitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. These vitamins help your immune system, give you good eye sight, help build strong bones, and make sure when you are cut that you don’t bleed to death. Fat-soluble vitamins stay in your system until they are needed. Along with getting these important vitamins from foods, you can get them from a good multivitamin. Multivitamins give us the vitamins and minerals our bodies need that we don’t get from our foods. Essentially it fills in the gaps.
The best way of making sure you eat the good fats and avoid the bad fats is to read the nutritional label on the food. Look at the total fat on the label. Make sure it is low. The amounts of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, and trans fats. By reading the label you can make sure you are cooking with the good fats and leaving out the bad fats. Here are three tips to cooking with the good fats. When you use cooking oils, use nonstick cooking sprays, and canola or olive oils. Also when you are cooking meat with fat on it, trim the fat off and grill or bake your meats. If the recipe calls for coating the meat use breadcrumbs and bake it.
Keeping the good fats and kicking out the bad fats will help your body to absorb essential fat-soluble vitamins found in our food and in multivitamins.
Does Fats really make you Fat?!
The answer is Yes and NO! It really depends on the type of fats that you are talking about, and if you are looking at losing weight – you really NEED to know the differences. Now I am not claiming to be a doctor, nutritionist, or anything but an ordinary person that believes in doing research to learn the real truths behind all the hype out there. One of the areas of hype out there is that Fats are bad for you….
Now not all fats are good for you – Hydrogenated fats are the ones that you need to avoid. First question to answer is – what are hydrogenated fats? Hydrogenation is the process in which fats are chemically changed to be more shelf stable. Now that these fats are changed, the body does not recognize them and treats them like toxins, and many studies that I have read say that these may contribute to cancer, diabetes and obesity. The problem with this is that these hydrogenated fats are in a lot of products that are in many of the foods that we eat every day – such as crackers, chips, cookies, cereal bars, microwave popcorn, and many fat free snacks – check out the labels in your pantry….
Fats can be good for you and in fact are needed to maintain a healthy body! In fact, fatty acids are needed by your brain, immune system, and healthy digestion system. Omega 3 fats have been proven essential to human’s health yet cannot be produced by the body, so it is necessary to have these within your diet. Having a diet that is lacking of these fatty acids contribute to fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, mood swings, depression and poor circulation. So you must watch out for those diets that eliminate these types of fats from your diet, as it can do more harm than good.
So do Fats really make you Fat? If they are the natural unprocessed fats that your body graves – NO!
And in fact, can help in you losing fat because they promote a more healthy digestion system and promote a better immune system. But stay away from those processed fats, even those in those foods promoted as being healthy, as they can be more harmful to your body and contribute to weight gain.
When it comes to our bodies – all my research shows – nature knows best, and the less processed the better when it comes to our foods. Want to lose weight – don’t concentrate as much on the levels of fat as much as the type of fats that are in the food!
For more resources on Weight Loss Programs, Diet Programs and Exercise Routines that may allow you to achieve and maintain your Weight Loss Goals – delve into our site and start down the road to the body that you want today and check out our blog for more resources and make comments based on your personal experiences, as well as signing up for our FREE Guides to weight loss!
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Facts About Fats
Fats, The Good…The Bad and Omega 3.
This has become a hot topic lately. There is so much talk of fats, the healthy fats, the bad fats, the trans fats. I have done some research on fats, trying to keep it simple for us. Here is some important information I have come up with. Omega 3 has become a favorite topic of mine. It has such amazing health improvement qualities. Remember, this is for your information only, and not meant as gospel nor is it meant for diagnostic purposes.
Saturated fats
Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your saturated fat intake to 7–10 percent of total calories (or less) each day. If you have coronary heart disease or your LDL cholesterol level is 100 mg/dL or greater, your doctor should recommend the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Diet. It recommends 25–35 percent of calories from fat, with less than 7 percent coming from saturated fat. Cholesterol is limited to less than 200 milligrams a day.
Saturated fat is found mostly in foods from animals and some plants.
Foods from animals — These include beef, beef fat, veal, lamb, pork, lard, poultry fat, butter, cream, milk, cheeses and other dairy products made from whole milk. These foods also contain dietary cholesterol.
Foods from plants — These include coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil (often called tropical oils), and cocoa butter.
Hydrogenated fats
During food processing, fats may undergo a chemical process called hydrogenation. This is common in margarine and shortening. These fats also raise blood cholesterol. Use hydrogenated fats only if they contain no more than two grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. The saturated fat content of most margarines and spreads is printed on the package or Nutrition Facts label.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats — Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are the two unsaturated fats. They’re found primarily in oils from plants.
Polyunsaturated fats — These include safflower, sesame and sunflower seeds, corn and soybeans, many nuts and seeds, and their oils.
Monounsaturated fats — These include canola, olive and peanut oils, and avocados.
Both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats may help lower your blood cholesterol level when you use them in place of saturated fats in your diet. But a moderate intake of all types of fat is best. Use polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oils — and margarines and spreads made from them — in limited amounts. This is recommended in place of using fats with a high saturated fat content, such as butter, lard or hydrogenated shortenings.
Since their discovery in the 1970s, the omega-3 essential fatty acids have generated thousands of studies and clinical trials. Essential to life and good health, they protect against disease and can treat illness.
Dr. Barry Sears is a research scientist and creator of the world famous Zone Diet. His most recent book, The OmegaRx Zone – The Miracle of the New High-Dose Fish Oil, is the culmination of 20 years of research on the benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil. In fact, Dr. Sears pioneered the development of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, a highly refined nutritional supplement rich in DHA and EPA. This work continues his life long dedication to using diet to help people maintain their state of wellness.
Yet few people understand what they are, what they do.
When it comes to heart disease, prevention is your best bet. High blood pressure and hypertension put undue stress on the heart, blood vessels and other organs. A person can get excellent heart health through a variety of ways, especially through a good diet.
Certain foods have been shown to be healthy for the heart. Fish has the proven benefits of omega-3 oil. Omega-3 may lower the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and reduce the cohesion of blood cells, which make them less likely to form clots and block arteries. Omega-3 seems to be particularly beneficial to people already at risk for heart disease and those who have experienced a heart attack.
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such as butter, palm and coconut oils because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that does not increase levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
The following information on trans fatty acids is Information from the Food and Drug Administration
Q: What are trans fatty acids?
A: Trans fatty acids (or “trans fat”) are fats found in foods such as vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, salad dressings, and many processed foods.
*-additional information from me: Fats that are artificially created through a chemical process of the hydrogenation of oils. This solidifies the oil and limits the body’s ability to regulate cholesterol. These fats are considered to be the most harmful to one’s health. The Federal Drug Administration has mandated that the amount of trans fats be labeled on food products by 2005.
Q: Why should We care about trans fat?
A: It’s important to know about trans fat because there is a direct, proven relationship between diets high in trans fat content and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels and, therefore, and increased risk of coronary heart disease – a leading cause of death in the US.
Q: Aren’t all fats bad?
A: No. There are “good” fats and “bad” ones, just like there’s good and bad blood cholesterol. Saturated fats and trans fat have bad effects on cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and corn oil) have good effects.
Q: How much trans fat is too much?
A: There is research currently under way to determine this. However, it is true and accurate to say that the less saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol consumed the better. Trans fat while pervasive in many of the foods we eat is not “essential” to any healthy diet.
Q: How can consumers know if a product contains trans fat if it’s not identified on the nutrition label?
A: Consumers can know if a food contains trans fat by looking at the ingredient list on the food label. If the ingredient list includes the words “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” the food contains trans fat. Because ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance, smaller amounts are present when the ingredient is close to the end of the list.
Q: Do restaurants have to list the fat content of their foods?
A: No. But it’s a good tip to always ask which fats are being used to prepare the food you order. (I read in the rumour mill that Restaurants in New York are being asked to voluntarily cut down on their trans fat usage* my own comments)
Q: Why is it important to read labels?
A: Labels provide valuable information. An informed consumer is able to make better, healthier choices.
“The American Heart Association recommends healthy people eat omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plant sources to protect their hearts. Have you heard of this miracle?
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical Miracle in our Century! Omega 3, The Good Fat, Is on your side, they contribute to your good health. They are also a big part of Dr Barry Sears Zone Diet.
Omega-3 (you may sometimes see it written as n-3 or w-3) is the name given to a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The parent omega-3 – alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – is described as ‘essential’ as, like vitamins, it must be obtained from diet. It is polyunsaturated and has 18 carbon atoms and 3 double bonds (18:3).
There is no doubt that the omega-3 fatty acids are essential to health.
Omega-3 oils — found in fatty fish, like salmon and tuna — help lower blood pressure, fight heart disea
se and even battle depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids work against depression. Recent studies suggested that consuming omega-3 rich foods such as oily fish can help prevent depression. Omega-3 fatty acids have already been found to offer a myriad benefits to human health. Notably, intake of omega-3 fatty acids or use of oily fish reduces the cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are found richly in oily fish such as salmon fish and tuna. Plant sources such as flaxseed oil and canola oil also offer certain amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids or oil can be purchased as nutrient supplements.
There is no doubt that the omega-3 fatty acids are essential to health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure any disease.
It is very definitely to your advantage to study further the wonderful benefits of Omega3.
Effective Obesity Treatment to Burn Fats While on Slimming Pills
Obesity is growing as an epidemic in modern society. To bring the obesity graph down and help people lead a healthier life, doctors are increasingly recommending the popular appetite suppressant prescription medicine called Reductil (Sibutramine). The medicine aims at controlling a person’s tendency to eat high-calorie, large portion fast food diet and lead them towards healthier, low-calorie smaller portion diet. Reductil aims at achieving this goal by suppressing the appetite of a person. It makes a person get a feeling of being ‘full’ even if he has not really eaten enough as per his habit.
An additional advantage of the Reductil slimming pill is that it prevents the fall in Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which is often associated with weight loss efforts and a decrease in food intake. By enhancing your metabolic rate Reductil promotes the burning of significantly more calories. An effective way to burn extra fats while on Reductil sibutramine is to exercise as it will help you to lose weight faster. It has been shown that people who exercise while on Reductil lose more weight than people who do not. Further, proper physical exercise will not just help you achieve a slim body but a toned one.
According to experts, an effective way to burn fats while on Reductil is to do 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Moderate activity such as a brisk walk can also be undertaken. You can also increase physical activity in everyday life by taking stairs instead of lift, getting off the bus one stop earlier or parking your car a bit further away and walking the extra distance, hanging out the washing, doing gardening etc. Such activities will also help you burn extra calories and get in shape.
Another effective way to burn fats while on Reductil slimming pills is to eat small portions of low-fat healthy food. While on Reductil your diet should ideally consist of fruits, vegetable and a lot of water. You should not eat fried food and use a low-amount of fat in cooking. A helpful tip to reduce calorie intake while on Reductil is to eat slowly. People who eat fast tend to eat more as our brain usually sends a signal after 10-15 minutes to stop eating. Hence you are less likely to over eat when you eat slowly.
Due to the rise of obesity in European countries more and more sufferers have turned to slimming pills as a final effort to treat their obesity. Reductil pills are easy to take and can prove effective for burning extra body fat for people who struggle with obesity.