Learning the Difference Between Good Fat and Bad Fat

Understanding how the human body works is a pretty complicated thing, and sometimes the conventional wisdom you think you learned because it was correct turns out to be wrong. You see, your body needs fats. What it has a problem with are specific kinds of fats. And the reason those fats are bad for just about everyone is because the human body cannot synthesize them or get any sort of beneficial acids from them.

Thus, the bad fats sort of pollute your body, causing clogged arteries and actual visible obesity. Those are the bad fats, and you need to avoid them. The simplest way to find those bad fats? Look for the word trans fat in ingredients.

Trans fats have their own fatty acids, that are pretty much the opposite of Omega-3 fatty acids. These are fatty acids that slow things down, make it difficult to lose weight or process beneficial nutrients from food items. Even though trans fats are technically unsaturated, they have a special molecular make up that makes it tough for your body to shake the bad parts.

So after you figure out how to stay away from trans fats, what are the fats that are okay, that are actually important for the body? Well, those fats are in the family of Omega-3s, which actually break down into three different distinct variations. All three are more commonly found in fish with a high concentration of (good) fatty oils. In those oils are Omega-3 fatty acids, and it's those acids that are highly beneficial for health purposes. Because the acids form a long chain on the molecular level, scientists refer to them as long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

How do these Omega-3s actually help your body? That's a little bit more scientifically complex to explain, but here's a basic breakdown. There was a study done were scientists studied Eskimos in Greenland. They paid close attention to their diets, because the amount of fat in their diet, which was mostly fish, was high, yet their instances of heart disease were very low. From that study, scientists did more research, and figured out and scientifically proved that Omega-3 fatty acids are not just okay for your body, but actually, great for your heart.

Now that you know the difference between what fats are good and what fats are bad, it's easy to change your diet accordingly. Ditch all the processed foods you can, and load up on Alaskan seafood, which has the best levels of Omega-3s around. Your heart, and your body, will thank you.

For wholesome, natural protection from illness, look to Omega 3's. Found in many Alaskan seafood species, Omega 3's are a proven cancer fighter.