Fatty Foods

Yummy ice creams, mouthwatering burgers filled with loads of cheese, or crispy chips and fries…well all these things have one thing in common. I know what you are thinking, all these sound just so delicious and tempting, don’t they? Well apart from that, they are all rich in fat and high consumption of these will soon have you visit your doctor owing to various problems starting from increased blood pressure, clogged arteries, reduced bone strength and several other problems. Well what is the deal with fat anyways? Some say its okay to consume the fatty foods up to a certain limit whereas others warn you completely against it. Well, let us go step by step about the whole thing.

Types of Fats in Fatty Foods

Well get one thing right, that fat is an essential element that is required for normal body functioning, however it is the excess of this fat which is harmful. Also there are various types of fat, some of which are beneficial to the body whereas others are harmful. Here are some of the important functions of fat in your body:

• Fat is a source of energy
• Fat acts as a carrier for essential fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K and aids the supply/circulation of these vitamins throughout the body.
• Fat acts as a protective cushion that protects the vital organs of the body
• The fat also includes essential fatty acids which are beneficial to the cardiac health as well as your immune system.

There are several types of fats, and hence it is imperative to know which kind of fats should be included in your diet. Fats are divided into two main groups as saturated and unsaturated fats. Here’s the deal with saturated and unsaturated fats:

Unsaturated fat

Unsaturated fat is the ‘good fat’. Consumption of unsaturated fats is usually because of the vegetable sources. Unsaturated fat molecules are liquid at room temperature. Unsaturated fat are further divided as mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. Common sources of unsaturated fats are vegetable oils like olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower or even soy oil. Useful fish like mackerel, pilchards, salmon and sardines are also rich sources of unsaturated fats.

Saturated Fat

Saturated fat is the ugly sister, which has been linked with several health problems. Saturated fat is usually included in the diet from animal sources. The saturated fats are responsible for increasing the ‘bad cholesterol’ (LDL) levels which results in adverse negative effects on the health of a person’s heart. It is generally solid at room temperature. Common sources are butter, margarine, cheese, and whole milk. Also any other food items that contain any of these fat sources like for example biscuits, cakes, cookies, pastries also contain saturated fat.

Trans Fat

Well, this very specific type of unsaturated fat that is perhaps the worst of the lot. This is the most harmful type of fat, because it not only increases the ‘bad cholesterol’ levels but also reduces the ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL) levels. In addition to being naturally available in sources like whole milk and dairy products, there are several synthetically prepared trans fats that are a regular constituent of several processed foods. Foods containing artificial trans fats contain up to 45% trans fat as compared to their natural fat counterparts.

Effects of Fatty Foods

Excess consumption of fatty foods especially the ones containing the ‘bad fats’ will have adverse effects on your health. For one, excess consumption of saturated fat clubbed with a sedentary lifestyle will result in obesity. Obesity itself is linked with several diseases. Some of the common disorders associated with obesity are increased risks of heart problems, type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, hypertension, and even osteoarthritis. Consumption of excess amounts of saturated fats is also one of the major reasons for increased levels of ‘bad cholesterol’. Excess of cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis which involves building up of cholesterol on the walls of arteries which can obstruct the blood flow and in adverse conditions block the blood flow completely, which can lead to a myocardial infarction, or even an heart attack.

So the next time you eye that bag of crunchy potato chips or the delicious candy bar that you are used to, or any type of fatty food that seems to tempt you, think of the amount of risks you are taking. Eating right is the first step in maintaining your health, so think twice before you indulge in the wrong sort of food.