Many people think that they know the difference when it comes to the fats that that are consuming. Others think that all fats are the same and are all for you. While there are good and bad fats, most people don’t know anything about the differences between them. The two most common fats that people have heard of are saturated fats and trans fats. What are they? What are the differences? How do they affect your body?
Saturated Fats
What are saturated fats? Saturated fats are the kinds of fats that cause higher levels of cholesterol in the body. In more detailed terms, these kinds of fat molecules are not double bonded between the carbon molecules and instead have too many hydrogen molecules. Consumables that are high in saturated fats tend to have higher calorie content as well. Not all saturated fats are bad though as long as they consumed in moderation.
Many foods contain naturally occurring saturated fats, such as fatty beef, mutton, chicken with the skin on, cream, butter, and most other dairy products. Plat based oils such as palm oil contain high levels of naturally occurring saturated fats as well. Since so many foods have this naturally occurring fat, how much should you consume in a day? The AHA recommend less than 150 grams of saturated fats per day to maintain healthy cholesterol and fat levels.
Trans Fats
What are trans fats? Trans fats are the kinds of fats that add hydrogen to vegetable oils to make them more of a solid. Foods cooked with trans-fat tend to give out a richer flavor and help with the texture of fried foods. One of the reasons that trans fats are highly used is because they can be reused in cooking for a longer period of time, making them relatively inexpensive.
Most fried foods, such as doughnuts, pizza dough, and margarine, contain trans fats. More than thirty percent of mass processed foods contain trans fats. There are some foods that contain some naturally occurring trans fats, such as beef and mutton. The levels of trans fats in these products generally don’t pose a threat for healthy eating. So how much trans-fat can you consume daily? The AHA recommends consuming as little as possible when it comes to trans fats, but if you do consume them, try to stay within less than 50 grams per day.
Keeping your intake levels of both fats low helps to reduce cardiovascular complications, heart disease and significantly reduces your chances of getting diabetes. Tests have also proven that those who consume less trans-fat and saturated fat have a lower chance of obesity and cancer. Research has also proven that diets lower in either fat help keep your stomach and intestines in healthy working order.