There are many sources of energy found within the animal and vegetables, which provide energy and nutrition. Among many other sources of nutrition, there is an important nutrition, known as saturated fats. The fats which come from animals also have higher level of cholesterol. It is said that one should lower the intake of such heavy and saturated fats as these are not beneficial for health.
However, after various studies many new and opposing facts have been found about saturated fats.
- The Lipid Hypothesis
According to this theory, it stated that the more the intake of saturated fats, more the body will have cholesterol, which can result in coronary heart disease.
This theory was highly supported by oil refineries and the food processing industries.
- Evidence Supporting The Lipid Theory
Due to the support on the lipid theory, there were many people who stopped consuming animal fat and shifted to butter instead.
The high consumption of sugar and processed food took its tool.
However, studies and research were conducted and it was found out that people who took saturated fats had a little higher cholesterol levels but they were more active.
There is essentially no proves that the Lipid Theory is right. It is totally wrong to assume that saturated fats can cause heart disease or cancer.
Classification of Fatty Acids
Saturated Fats: These are solid or semi solid at room temperature and can be easily found in animal fats or tropical oils.
Mono-saturated: These are used for cooking purposes and can be found in olive oil, cashews, peanuts, almonds, pecans, and avocados.
Poly-unsaturated: These have high level of Omega-3 and Omega-6; these can be found in soybean oil, corn oil and sunflower oil.
These all types of fats are essential as they are required by the body but these are not produced within human bodies. According to scientists, the real danger is that of the poly-unsaturated fats as the human consumption of these is almost 30% but this should not exceed from more than 4%.
- A large number of health diseases come from high consumption of polyunsaturated oils, some of the diseases included are: cancer and heart disease;; depressed learning ability; impaired growth; immune system dysfunction; damage to the liver, reproductive organs and lungs; digestive disorders and weight gain.
- One of the main reasons being, the poly-unsaturated fats go stale when they are heated for cooking purposes.
How Poly-Unsaturated Fats are Dangerous?
The large consumption is of Omega-6 which can cause a lot of imbalances in the body; this is due to the fact that modern foods have lower the amount of Omega-3, which is the key important fat which helps in oxidization and help cure deficiencies.
Benefits of Saturated Fats
However, there are many benefits of saturated fats and they must be taken in diet with a proper balance.
- The saturated fatty acids give the cells the stiffness and integrity they need
- These are very important for good bone health.
- These also lower Lp(a), this is a chemical in the blood which will keep away from heart disease.
- These are good for the liver as they protect it from alcohol and other toxins.
- Theyare good for the immune system.
