Healthy Fat Facts: Types of Fat, and When to Eat Them

Are you perplexed about the various types of fats and how you should consume them? It can be difficult to figure out what to do, especially when so many “experts”, tell you opposite things.

But, what are healthy fats to eat?

It’s not quite that simple, though. The types of fat you eat and when you eat them can have a significant impact on whether they benefit or harm you.

Isn’t all fat bad?

Keep reading for a breakdown of different fats and how to eat more healthy fats and less unhealthy fats.

Saturated Fats

Saturated fats are found in animal products, such as meat, poultry, and dairy. They’re also in some plant-based oils, such as palm and coconut oil.

Saturated fats aren’t all bad, they help you absorb certain vitamins and minerals. But eating too much-saturated fat can raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fats to no more than 5 to 6 percent of your daily calories.

Monounsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated fats are considered a healthy type of fat. They’re found in foods like nuts, avocados, and olive oil.

These fats can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and improve HDL (good) cholesterol levels. They can also help to reduce inflammation throughout the body.

You should aim to get 20% of your daily calories from monounsaturated fat. If you’re trying to lose weight, click here to learn about natural fat burners to speed up your weight loss.

When choosing foods that contain monounsaturated fats, it is important to select those that are high in other nutrients. T

Polyunsaturated Fats

Polyunsaturated fat can help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease. There are two types of polyunsaturated fat: omega-3 and omega-6.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, nuts, and seeds, while omega-6 fatty acids are found in vegetable oils, such as soybean and corn oil. Aim to eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and limit your intake of foods high in omega-6 fatty acids.

Trans Fat

Trans fat is created when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil, which allows the oil to stay solid at room temperature. Trans fat is found in processed foods, such as baked goods, fried foods, and some margarine and snacks.

Eating too much trans fat can raise your “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and lower your “good” HDL cholesterol levels. This can lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

The best way to avoid trans fat is to limit your intake of processed foods.

The Healthy Types of Fat to Include in Your Diet

Healthy types of fat are an important part of a balanced diet. The best way to get healthy fats is to eat a variety of foods, including fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and oils.

Good fats can help improve cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and provide energy. When eating healthy fats, do it in moderation and choose the right type of fat for your needs.

If you want to learn more interesting health facts and other tips you can use to live your best life, keep reading our blog.