What is fat?
Everybody
is crazy to look thin like a professional model. No
wonder that ``FAT`` has become a dirty word.
In fact fat is a single entity not a singular. There
are different fats in the human body. Fat may be solids,
semisolids and liquids both thin and viscous. Each
of them is composed of three fatty-acid molecules
plus one glycerol molecule and so doctors call fats
as triglycerides. It has vital importance in Hypertension
and Heart attacks.Our liver helps to produce both
types of cholesterol. It can build up as plaque in
the arteries, clog them and ultimately, cause heart
attacks and strokes.
There
are two types of Cholesterol “ Good” and “Bad”. High-density
lipoprotein HDL, the “good,” removes cholesterol from
the cells and zooms it back to the liver, where it
is either reprocessed or excreted. Low-density lipoprotein
LDL, the “bad,” is sloppier and more sluggish. On
its routine trip from liver to cells, it drops cholesterol
along the way, which sticks to the artery walls, hardens
and accumulates to the point of blockage in due course.
Their specific chemical
make-up determines whether they are :
Poly-unsaturated fatty acids - Sunflower seeds, walnuts,
leafy green vegetables, corn
and soya beans.
Mono-unsaturated fatty acids - Sanola oil and olive
oil
Saturated fatty acids - Organ
meat, fried chicken, butter, cream, egg, cheese, coconut,
chocolate, ice cream and cake.
Saturated
fatty acids raises blood level of “Cholesterol”. Very
vital information which everybody should know is that
food high in saturated fats raises the levels of “bad”
cholesterol in the blood. Now they are suspected
of being carcinogenic also.
You
know obesity, cigarette smoking, steroid use and sedentary
lifestyle also elevate “bad” cholesterol levels. Avoiding
saturated animal fats, increasing exercise and “Dietary
fiber”, high intake of Vitamin C, losing weight and
swearing off cigarettes- will increase blood
levels with “good” cholesterol. The best
fat to be used for cooking are oils high in unsaturated
fatty acids, because these raise “good” cholesterol
levels, which in turn flush out the “ bad.” Highest
marks go to sun flower oil
Note: Many grains, brans, fruits
and vegetables contain both types of fiber. But
no animal food like meat, eggs, milk, cheese, etc.,
provides any fiber whatsoever.