Fats..Mono, Poly, Trans, Saturated, Unsaturated! What do I eat??

We are trying to get rid of fat!! Why do we need to eat it??

In earlier years, low-fat and no-fat diets were the trend. "Fat was bad. Do not eat it." they said.

Well, that is no longer the case. Although there are fats you should avoid, scientists have learned that certain fats are good for you. Here is the breakdown:

Saturated Fats

These should be consumed in moderation. A little bit of saturated fat is not bad, it is when we eat the food that contains large amounts of it or consume different foods all day that all have saturated fat is when it is bad. Red meat, creams and butter and some oils contain saturated fat. Am I going to say never eat a ribeye that has been grilled to perfection on a warm summer day ever again?? Heck no!! But don't eat it EVERYDAY. Put a pat of butter on that potato, but not the whole stick. This is what I mean by moderation.

Unsaturated Fats

These are the "good" fats. Mono and poly to be exact. Poly-unsaturated fats include Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats. Good sources of these fats come from fish, flaxseed, walnuts, avocados, and vegetable oils.

Trans Fats

These are BAD! We want to avoid these fats as much as we can. You can find trans fat in some prepackaged foods. It is used to extend shelf life by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil. Look out for any ingredients that start with hydrogenated. This is a giveaway of trans fat lurking in the product. The FDA has required that trans fat be listed on the nutrition label as well.