Many people have become very confused about the information that they have been receiving regarding fat. Much of this information seems to be full of contradictions.
To get to the bones of the problem even though there are many types of fats, they can be divided into only three main classes: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Some saturated fats are said to cause high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. What happens is that these saturated fats produce excessive LDL (low density lipoproteins) which oxidizes and builds up as plaque on the inner surface of the main arteries.
Saturated fats are the bad fats,we get them from meat and dairy products. The worst saturated fats are called trans fatty acids. They are chemically altered fats generally labeled as hydrogenated oil. Our bodies have a great deal of trouble processing these fats so stay away from them.
Polyunsaturated fats are very unstable fats that easily become rancid.This instability is what links them to cancer. Monounsaturated fats are more stable than polyunsaturated fats and much better for the cardiovascular system. This does not of course mean that your body does not need some polyunsaturated fats. Linolenic acid, which is one of the major polyunsaturated fatty acids must supply at least 2 percent of calories to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency. It is an oversupply of polyunsaturates that cause the problem. Too much in our diet leads to reduced levels of HDL ( high density lipoproteins ) the good fat.
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats and those races that have a high intake of olive oil suffer less of the so called modern diseases than those who eat large amounts of saturated fats. Monounsaturated fats lift the level of HDL and reduce the level of LDL ( low density lipoproteins ) the bad fat.
So the bottom line is: cut out saturated fats from meat and dairy products and get your monounsaturated and the little amount of polyunsaturated fat that you need from olive oil and flaxseed oil.
Some very good links to sites covering dietry fats can also be found on the Longevityplus website.
