You may recall hearing at some point that there are “good fats“ and “bad fats.“ But what does that really mean? What makes one type of fat better for you than another? How can you tell the difference in order to make better dietary choices?
Starting with the basics: good fats, also known as unsaturated fats, are generally liquid at room temperature as in the case of those found in many nuts, seeds, and fish. These good-for-you fats can lower bad cholesterol and increase HDL, or good cholesterol. Conversely, saturated and trans fats, or bad fats, are solid at room temperature and can be found in foods like steak and ice cream.
Because high levels of bad cholesterol are associated with heart disease and stroke, it is possible that good-for-you fats help protect the heart as they lower the level of unhealthy fats.
The above video takes an in-depth look at these fats and describes some of the individual cell properties that make them good or bad, for a deeper understanding.
Sources:Alila Medical Media
