Bad Fats, Good Fats, and Fat Loss

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=J_Gwin]J Gwin

Are there really good fats and bad fats? Can good fats actually help you lose fat?

Believe it or not, fats are actually a primary nutrient and serve many important bodily functions:

Primary fuel for light to moderate exercise
Provide the body with essential fatty acids
Provide for the proper function of cell membranes, skin and hormones.
Transport fat soluble vitamins.

So why do fats get such a bad rap in our society?

Well, a couple of types of fat, saturated and trans fat, are associated with increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and some types of cancer. These types of fat raise your bad cholesterol level, leaving you more susceptible to heart attacks. Trans fat actually lowers your good cholesterol as well! In fact, trans fat is so bad for you that many cities have taken steps to force restaurants to eliminate trans fat.

But a couple of good fat, specifically monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, can actually lower your risk of heart disease by lowering your bad cholesterol. They also serve important functions like growth and brain function.

Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are found in many oils like extra virgin olive oil and canola oil, as well as safflower oil. They are also found in fatty fish like salmon and trout, as well as avocados and all-natural peanut butter. Additionally, most seeds and nuts contain these fats as well. These serve a primary role in exercise energy and serve to improve overall health by lowering bad cholesterol.

Saturated fats are typically found in fatty meats (highly-marbled meats), butter, mayonnaise, and whole milk dairy products. Trans fat, the devil of nutrition, is found in many fast foods and fried foods, and many snack foods such as chips and cookies. Trans fat is also very prevalent in baked goods such as doughnuts.

The USDA Food Guide recommends 3-6 tablespoons of good fats per day for a 2000-calorie diet. Additionally, if you want to lose fat and stay healthy, you should avoid saturated fat and trans fat as much as you can. To get good fat, try cooking some bell pepper and onion in 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil for a tasty addition to many meals.

Check out the next article in the free guide on how to lose fat, rel=nofollow [http://www.20minutefatloss.net/carbs-are-not-the-enemy/]Carbs are Not the Enemy.

Want a free copy of my ebook, 10 Dirty Secrets of Fat Loss? Go to http://www.20minutefatloss.net/aft and sign up for free. You will also get my 2 Week Fat-Burning Workout as part of the ebook.

Josh Gwin is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer though the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and holds a black belt in martial arts. He has a degree in Biological Sciences/Pre-Med and a Master's Degree from Louisiana State University.

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