Which fats are in your food?
1. Saturated
Saturated fats have a chemical makeup in which the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen atoms. Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. Eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the level of cholesterol in your blood. High levels of blood cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of saturated fats you eat to less than 7 percent of total daily calories. Can be found in:
Beef
Burgers
Butter
Cakes
Cheese
Chocolate
Coconut
Cookies
Cream
Eggs
Hydrogenated Oil
Ice Cream
Lamb
Lard
Margarine
Milk
Palm Oil
Pork
Poultry
Sausages
2. Monounsaturated
From a chemical standpoint, monounsaturated fats are simply fats that have one double-bonded (unsaturated) carbon in the molecule. Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature but start to turn solid when chilled. Olive oil is an example of a type of oil that contains monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats can have a beneficial effect on your health… when eaten in moderation and when used to replace saturated fats or trans fats. Monounsaturated fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can have a positive effect on your health, when eaten in moderation. They can lower bad cholesterol and increase the levels of good cholesterol. The fats in the foods you eat should not total more than 25–35 percent of the calories you eat in a given day. Can be found in:
Almond Oil
Almonds
Avocado
Fish
Hazelnuts
Low-Fat Spreads
Meats
Olive Oils
Olives
Peanuts
3. Polyunsaturated
From a chemical standpoint, polyunsaturated fats are simply fats that have more than one double-bonded (unsaturated) carbon in the molecule. Polyunsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature and when chilled. Polyunsaturated fats can have a beneficial effect on your health when consumed in moderation and when used to replace saturated fats or trans fats. Polyunsaturated fats can help reduce the cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease. They also include essential fats that your body needs, Omega-6 and Omega-3. These essential fats play a crucial role in brain function and in the normal growth and development of your body. Can be found in:
Brazil Nuts
Cereal
Corn Oil
Fish
Grouse
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sesame Seeds
Soft Vegetable Margarine
Soy Beans
Soy Oils
Soy Products
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower Seeds
Vegetables
Walnut Oil
Walnuts