What Type Of Fats Are Bad For Your Cholesterol Level

Cholesterol is vital for the proper functioning of the body. It is thought to build and maintain cells membranes and may have antioxidant properties but is probably better known as the cause of health problems. In reality, we need a certain amount of cholesterol in our bodies but, like most things, an excessive amount is not good for the body. High cholesterol levels are believed to cause and exacerbate cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. The most common reason why people have high cholesterol is because of their diet. A diet high in fatty foods tends to lead to elevated cholesterol levels. Fats are often broken down into different types on the labels of much of the processed food we find in grocery stores. This article will examine the types of fats that you find in grocery store foods and how they affect your cholesterol level.

Just like cholesterol, we need a certain amount of fat in our diet, amongst other things, to absorb essential vitamins and store energy so what are the good fats and the bad fats ? On food labels fats are generally broken down into trans fats, saturated fats, mono unsaturated fats and unsaturated fats.

Unsaturated fats can best be defined as being liquid at room temperature. There are two categories of unsaturated fat. Mono unsaturated fats are found in canola oil, peanut oil and olive oil. These fats will help to lower your LDL cholesterol, while they raise your HDL cholesterol. This is generally considered good for lowering the cholesterol level. The next category is the polyunsaturated fats. These are found in corn oil, sunflower oils and fish. This type of fat will lower both your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. HDL cholesterol is considered good cholesterol because it help to transport cholesterol for excretion.

The next type of fats is the saturated fats. Using the same definition, these fats would be solid at room temperature. This type of fat is the worst type of fat for reducing cholesterol levels because it raises your level of LDL which is responsible for producing plague that will eventually narrow or clog your arteries. This type of fat is found in animal fats like lard and butter.

The third type of fats is the trans fat. Trans fat is created by injecting hydrogen into plant oil until it is partially solid. Trans fats are a man-made creation that has widespread use in processed foods like cakes, biscuits and many take away foods. It is popular because it is cheap and easy to produce and enhances the flavor of foods and acts as a preservative. It will raise your LDL levels and lower your HDL levels. Like saturated fats, trans fats are bad for your cholesterol levels and ultimately bad for your health.

If you are concerned about your cholesterol level or want to lower it then you should read the food labels carefully. Avoid foods that are high in saturated and trans fats. As a guideline, the American Heart Association recommends that trans fat should make up less than 1% of your total daily calories.

Food manufacturers and restaurants are making more of an effort to make the consumer aware of the fat content in their foods. Labeling on the back of packets is now easier to understand and many restaurants print dietary guidelines associated with the food they produce. Man-made fats such as trans fats are being phased out of food manufacturing. Take control of your food intake and you will notice the health benefits in the long term.

High cholesterol is usually treated by making changes in your lifestyle. Find out how to lowcholesteroldieting.com/Reduce_Cholesterol.html reduce cholesterol by eating lowcholesteroldieting.com/Low_Cholesterol_Food.html low cholesterol food at lowcholesteroldieting.com lowcholesteroldieting.com . Adrian Whittle writes on issues related to reducing cholesterol and how to monitor cholesterol levels.