The Purpose of Fats and Oils

Fats and Oils

Most people who are dieting or counting calories incorporate a diet excluding fats or try to use fat free products. So what is the purpose of fats and oils in the diet? Many diseases associated with obesity are a direct result from high fat diets. Knowing what fats are the good fats and bad fats and what oils are beneficial for you can help to prevent the onset of these diseases.

Fat is an important part of the diet. The main purpose of fats and oils is to facilitate the absorption of many of the fat soluble vitamins and minerals we eat, that being said you should be aware of what fats are good for you and which fat is bad for you.

Saturated fat is the bad fat and is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol. Saturated fat is found mostly in foods from animals and some plants. Oils that include Saturated fat can be found in coconut, coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil, vegetable shortening.

Monounsaturated are the good fats and can lower cholesterol levels. Sources of monounsaturated fat include salmon, trout, herring, avocados, olives, walnuts and liquid vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, safflower, canola, olive and sunflower.

All cooking oils are 100% fat and have 120 calories per table spoon, and should be used in moderation. The main difference in cooking oils are the type of fat used and its association with cholesterol levels. Comparatively, the best cooking oil is Olive oil. Olive oil has gotten alot of praises in recent years because it is known to be high in mono-unsaturated fat( the good fat) and high in rich anti-oxidants. Moreover, olive oil comes in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and regular Virgin Olive Oil. One misconception is that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is better than Virgin Olive Oil although Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a little more anti-oxidants and a unique flavor, their are no major differences between the two. When used for cooking extra virgin olive oil loses its flavor, to benefit from these oils you may want to use the Extra Virgin Olive Oil in salads and use the regular Virgin Olive Oil for cooking.

Knowing the purpose of fats and oils and the difference between good and bad oils can help ensure your weight-loss success regardless of what diet program you use. When eaten in excess, they can increase the total daily fat intake to higher than recommended levels thus increasing your chances of developing obesity related diseases. Remember, moderation in all things even if they are good for you.

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