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Jyno's Info on Fat

Fats
Jyno Pierre, Brooklyn International High School
EATWISE Intern Spring 06

Fat is a major source of energy for the body. Fat is also important for proper growth, development and maintenance of good health. People consume fats in both plant and animal derived food products. There are various types of fat: Trans Fats, Saturated Fats and Unsaturated Fats.
Trans Fats are mostly found in baked goods, snacks and processed food (French fries, burgers, potato chips, etc...) Trans Fat is also harmful and unbeneficial to the body.
Saturated fats are mainly considered to be animal fats such as meat, eggs and milk. Some plants foods are also high in saturated fats including coconut oil and palm oil. Sea Food is the only exception, meaning that it doesn’t make part of the saturated food group.
Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats are commonly found in products deriving from plants such as nuts, seeds, peanuts and corn.
Although, fat is needed for proper function of the body but an increased intake of fats in daily basis could actually put an individual at risk of having heart disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart failure. Exercise or regular physical activity may help the body's systems function better.

Trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils have harmful effects on blood lipids, promote inflammation, and cause blood-vessel abnormalities, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.
The U.S. now requires food manufacturers to list Trans fat content on nutrition labels. But foods labeled "zero trans fat" may still contain up to 0.5 grams per serving of Trans fat from partially hydrogenated oils.
Removing Trans fats from the industrial food supply could prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and cardiac deaths each year in the U.S.,
It helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and a host of other diseases, and is a key ingredient for losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight
Exercise or regular physical activity helps many of the body's systems function better and keeps a host of diseases at bay.
As of January 1, 2006, Trans fat must be listed on food labels along with other bad fats (saturated fats) and good ones (unsaturated fats).
Unsaturated fats are found in products derived from plant sources, such as vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. There are two main categories: polyunsaturated fats (which are found in high concentrations in sunflower, corn, and soybean oils) and monounsaturated fats (which are found in high concentrations in canola, peanut, and olive oils).

The Bad Fats
Some fats are bad because they tend to worsen blood cholesterol levels.
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are mainly animal fats. They are found in meat, seafood, whole-milk dairy products (cheese, milk, and ice cream), poultry skin, and egg yolks. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats, including coconut and coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil. Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol levels more than dietary cholesterol because they tend to boost both good HDL and bad LDL cholesterol. The net effect is negative, meaning it's important to limit saturated fats.
Trans Fats
Trans fatty acids are fats produced by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of hydrogen. This process is known as hydrogenation. The more hydrogenated an oil is, the harder it will be at room temperature. For example, a container of margarine is less hydrogenated and so has fewer Trans fats than a stick margarine.
Most of the Trans fats in the American diet are found in commercially prepared baked goods, margarines, snack foods, and processed foods. Commercially prepared fried foods, like French fries and onion rings, also contain a good deal of Trans fat.
Trans fats are even worse for cholesterol levels than saturated fats because they raise bad LDL and lower good HDL. While you should limit your intake of saturated fats, it is important to eliminate Trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils from your diet. (Manufacturers must now list Trans fats on the food label, right beneath saturated fat.