Deficiencies In Vital Mono And Polyunsaturated Fat Linked To Risk Of Heart Disease

By Author: xaviersascha
Total Articles: 9
Comment this article

While we have been taught to resist foods containing even a trace of fat, a groundbreaking study conducted at New York University suggests that the presence or absence of fat in one's diet actually has no affect on the rates of cancer, heart attacks and stroke. This landmark study lasted 8 years, involved 49,000 women, and cost the federal government $415 million dollars. The women were split into two groups, a group of fat consumers and low-fat consumers. The initial group ate as they pleased, while the latter group ate a low-fat diet. Unfortunately for the latter group of women who had not enjoyed McDonald's Big Mac in years, they were diagnosed with the same rates of breast cancer, colon cancer and heart disease as the fat consuming women.

The McDonald's Diet
So does that mean we should all go to McDonalds for lunch this week? Not exactly. Critics of the study point out one major flaw - the study only tested for how much fat women were eating, not what type of fat women are consuming. The critics claim one of possible reasons women did not see improved health was because they reduced all kinds of fats, and in ...
... fact, some types of fats are actually healthy for us. Mono and polyunsaturated fats, such as fish oil and flax oil, can help lower our LDL (bad) cholesterol, a major culprit in heart disease, and improve our overall health. The foods that contain these fats are packed with anti-oxidants, and these foods help joints, nerves, and bones, as well as promote healthy brain development and function. Additionally, fat-soluble vitamins, vitamins A,K, D and E, can't be absorbed into our body without the presence of fat, therefore if a person is to cut all fat from their diet, that person would be missing out on all the healthy effects obtained from these vitamins. Regular consumption of fast food and other food items high in saturated and/or trans fat have been associated with a plethora of issues such as weight gain, increased body mass index, and insulin resistance. Long term effects include obesity, diabetes, and complications associated with these medical conditions. While it is advised to decrease consumption of foods rich in animal-based fats, eliminating all fats completely can cause more harm than good. Plant-based fats (versus animal-based saturated fats) are not only recommended, they are vital for optimal organ function.

Not All Fats Are Created Equal
There is a misconception that all fats are bad fats. This simply is not true, and ruling out all types of fats may be more detrimental than to enjoy the occasional burger and fries. Unsaturated fats, such as essential Omega-3 fatty acids have a positive correlation with cardiovascular health, anti-cancer effects, oxygen transport from the hemoglobin, and disease prevention. Essential Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency may negatively affect the heart, induce arterial muscle spasms, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The fats we want to avoid are saturated fats and trans fats. Foods with these fats generally contain high amounts of LDL cholesterol and these foods are shown to lead to obesity, heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, the foods that contain these fats are the foods we all love to enjoy, such as butter, and as we are all aware, these foods prove difficult to be cut out of our diets. So instead of ridding our diet of everything delicious - replace those items which foods that are both healthy and delicious; foods such as avocado and flax seeds.

Who Says Healthy Can't Be Tasty?
Eating healthy doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste. Instead of cooking foods with butter, try making those foods with oils containing healthy fats. Bake your cookies with extra virgin coconut oil and replace those unhealthy fatty salad dressings on your salad with hearty flaxseed oil for a healthy alternative without compromising the flavor. When supplementing Omega-3 oils in your diet, choose fresh products to reap the most benefits from your fish and flax oil. Barlean's has an upstanding reputation for quality organic oils and oil blends. They use only the finest and freshest ingredients for an unparalleled and superior line of products to provide you with essential fatty acids for optimal health.

For more information about extra virgin coconut oil please visit www.barleans.com