Obesity and Cholesterol

            For years we heard that a low-fat, low cholesterol diet  would keep us healthy and help us lose weight. And many of us jumped on the fashion, eliminating fat and high cholesterol foods from our diet. Well, unfortunately, we all do wrong. Instead eliminating fat completely, should be the elimination of "bad fats" the fats associated with obesity and heart disease  and eating "good fats" the fats actually help improve blood cholesterol levels.

             Before considering the good fats and bad fats, let's talk about cholesterol. Cholesterol - was ingrained in our brains that cholesterol causes heart disease and should limit intake of foods containing, but dietary cholesterol is different than blood cholesterol. Cholesterol comes from two places-first, from food such as meat, eggs and seafood, and second, from the body. Our liver makes this waxy substance and links to carrier proteins called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins dissolve the cholesterol in the blood and are in all parts of your body. Our body needs cholesterol to help form cell membranes, some hormones and vitamin D. You may have heard about "good" and "bad" cholesterol.
           Well, high density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol from the blood to the liver. The liver processes for the removal of cholesterol from the body. If there's HDL in the blood, then less cholesterol will be deposited in the coronary arteries. So called "good" cholesterol. Low density lipoprotein (LDL), carry cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. When there is too much the body has been deposited in the coronary arteries. An accumulation of cholesterol in our arteries could prevent blood from parts of our hearts. This means that our heart will not get oxygen and nutrients it needs, which could lead to heart attack, stroke or sudden death.
         So, if your LDL is higher than your HDL, you're at higher risk for developing heart disease. It may seem surprising, but recent studies have shown that the amount of cholesterol in our diet, is closely related to Our cholesterol levels. It's kind of fat you eat that affect your blood cholesterol levels. Bad Fats - There are two fats that you should limit your intake of saturated-and trans fats. Saturated Fats - Saturated fats are mainly animal fats. You can find them in meat, whole-milk products, poultry skin and egg yolks. Coconut oil also has a large amount of saturated fat.

         Saturated fats increase both the good and bad cholesterol. Trans blood fats - Trans fats produced by hydrogenation of oil-heating in the presence of oxygen. Many products contain trans-fatty acids, because the fats help them maintain longer life. Margarine also contains a high amount of trans fats. Trans-fatty acids are particularly dangerous because they lower good cholesterol, HDL and increase bad cholesterol, LDL. Unfortunately, most products do not tell you how much trans fat it contains, but you can see if a product by looking at the list of ingredients. If the ingredients contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, it contains Tran's fat.

       Fortunately, in 2006, manufacturers must list the amount of Tran's fats in their products on nutrition labels, so it is easier for you to find. Good Fats - Some fats actually improve cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated The Fats - Polyunsaturated fats found in sunflower, corn, and soybean oils. These oils contain omega-6, an essential fatty acid. However, most people get enough omega-6 in their diet and instead need more Omega-3. Monounsaturated fats found in canola, peanut, and olive oils. Both types of unsaturated fats decrease the bad cholesterol, LDL and increase good cholesterol, HDL. Now, just because the unsaturated fats improve your cholesterol levels, you have the green light to eat all the oil, butter and nuts you want.

Source:articlesbase.com