Good Fat Vs Bad Fat

Dietary fats add a good flavor and taste when added to foods. One gram of fat gives 9Kcals of energy, nearly double the amount of energy provided by either carbohydrates or proteins. Apart from giving the richness of taste and fullness of energy, fats improve the texture of food products like the puffiness and flakiness of baked products. As the serving size of fat increases so does the girth around the waist. Each kilogram gain in body weight is proportionate to the increased risk of obesity, heart disorders, diabetes and other life style complications.

Butter, ghee, margarine, cooking oils and lard are called visible fats. Invisible fats are those present in meat, milk, egg yolk, cheese, pastries, cream and so on. It is these invisible fats that bring about more harm as they are difficult to estimate. The fats considered bad are - saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are present in almost all fatty foods - egg yolks, whole milk, butter, dairy products, meat, poultry, coconut, chocolate and cream. All fast foods and junk foods like pizzas, burgers, and ice creams to name a few are all highly laden with saturated fats. Hydrogenated or trans fats are produced by converting vegetable oils into solid fats at room temperature. It is done for commercial purposes like margarine. Both saturated and trans fats have a higher potential risk of heart attacks. One should try to cut down on these for a heart-healthy life.