In the battle of the bulge, fats are perceived by many as the enemy. Beverages and food items that are labelled as “fat-free” or “low-fat” fly off the grocery shelves every day. Indeed, the diet food industry is a multi-billion dollar worldwide business.

But not all fats are created equal. The body needs certain kinds of fat to stay healthy and remain strong. Below is the inside skinny on fats.

Fats that are Good for the Body

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats protect the heart and keep it healthy. They are known as the “good fats” because they keep cholesterol levels in check and are beneficial to overall health.

An example of monounsaturated fats is olive oil. Canola, sunflower, peanut and sesame oils are also excellent kinds of good fat. Get a good dose of monounsaturated fat from avocados and variety of nuts such as almonds, pecans, cashews, macadamias and filberts (also known as hazelnuts).

Polyunsaturated fats include soybean, corn and safflower oils. Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, trout and sardines are also good sources of polyunsaturated fats, as are walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Fats to Avoid

Saturated and Transfats are “bad fats” because they increase cholesterol levels and heighten the risk for certain diseases. It is worth noting that not all bad fats are unhealthy. Whole fat dairy products (such as milk) are a good source of protein and calcium. With this type of foods, moderate consumption is the key to avoid its more undesirable side effects.

Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats such as chicken with skin, high-fat cuts of beef, pork or lamb, butter, lard and ice cream. Avoid using palm and coconut oil as well. Transfats are commonly found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, pizza and cakes and also in packaged snacks like chips and popcorn. Alas, it is also found in candy bars.

There is no need to completely cut out fats from your diet. In fact, a healthy diet has to include about 20 to 35 percent of total daily caloric intake from fats. Just make sure they’re coming from the good kinds of fat and not the bad.

Gwinnett medical center Rodriguez MD provides general health care services for the entire family, including expert advice on healthy eating and living. If you are looking for bilingual (Spanish and English) fully qualified and experienced doctors in Lawrenceville, Ga., look no further than this exceptional family practice. Everyone in their professional medical staff is committed to providing their patients with the latest and most comprehensive treatments available today.