For decades fat has been in the center stage. It can be noticed that health experts advise us to consume small amount of fat, while culinary experts use such nutrient to give an added flavor to the food they serve. Meanwhile, the media bombard us with reports concerning the association of fat with various health outcomes. With all these information at hand, we are now aware of the aesthetic concept of fat, but what we don’t really understand are the underlying concepts about such nutrient that makes it both advantageous and disadvantageous.
Basically, fat or technically referred to as lipid is a component of the body’s cell membrane and a source of energy that comes from the food we consume. The fat from the food we eat is a nutrient needed by the body as it performs a whole range of functions including contributing in brain development and production of cholesterol for the liver. Like carbohydrates and proteins, fat is a good supply of energy that could power up myriads of your physical activities. Fat in food also adds more than flavor, it also helps an individual feel satiated because lipids take longer to leave your stomach.
Although fat boasts several benefits for your body, it also has various drawbacks that could actually affect your health. If you are consuming too much fat, you are opening yourself up to myriads of health conditions that could profoundly affect how your body functions that might cost you your life. Among the most noted conditions associated with too much fat intake includes obesity and excessive weight gain. Fat is also the cause of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases as well as some forms of cancer.
Visible or not, almost all kinds of food contain fat in differing amounts. Some have very high fat content, while others just have traces of such nutrient. There are four common types of fat found in food, the first two are the saturated and trans lipids, which are actually known as the bad lipids because they increase the risk of an individual to acquire diseases, and the second ones are the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids, which are the exact opposites of the initial two as these types of fat protects our body from diseases. With all these in mind, it is therefore an imperative to keep track of the fat food you consume so as to safeguard your health, and this is when keeping a fat food list can be truly helpful.
As stated earlier, over consumption of saturated and trans lipids can put a person at risk of acquiring various forms of diseases. These types of lipids are usually found on meat and dairy products, pastries and certain types of oil. Meanwhile, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids are present in fish, plant products like nuts and soybeans, and other forms of oil such as olive oil and peanut oil. When consuming saturated and trans lipids, always remember that the most ideal amount must not exceed 30 grams a day for an average man, and a maximum of 20 grams per day for a woman. By having a fat food list at hand, you are guaranteed to balance your consumption of good and bad lipids. However, it would be preferable to engage on a diet that have monounsaturated and polyunsaturated lipids to avoid acquiring diseases.
Generally, lipids present the body with various benefits as well as drawbacks. In moderation, lipids allows the body to perform well during physical activities; however, if taken excessively, these nutrients can induce life-threatening diseases. By taking all these things into account, it is best to have a fat food list that will profoundly help you keep track of the lipids you consume. As much as possible, try to settle on food that is low on saturated and trans lipids to keep your body safe from diseases.
You can’t live without fat, and that’s a fact. If consumed in right amount, fat is a good nutrient that helps the body function properly. However, too much fat can be detrimental to a person’s health. Having your own fat food list is an imperative means to keep track of what types of fat you consume. It is useful for you to identify the lipids that you have to cut back and the ones you should incorporate in your diet.
- Beth Hoover