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Wise Choices
All Fats Are Not Created Equal
By Elizabeth Yarnell
Whereas it used to be that dieters were advised to avoid all fat, we are just starting to learn about the differences in fats and how some fats are actually good for your body.
We've heard about saturated fats, unsaturated fats, and lately there's been a lot of talk about trans fats, but the messages can be confusing. It's time to learn what all these fats mean and realize that all fats are not created equal.
The human body needs some fat in the diet for healthy functioning. Not only do we draw energy from our fat stores, but fat also cushions our organs and insulates us from the elements. Every cell in our body needs fat to build and maintain its outer membrane or cellular covering. And, of course, fat makes food satisfying and filling. The key to a healthy body is to choose our fat sources wisely.
In a nutshell, saturated fat is hard at room temperature – picture the ribbons of fat in bacon – while unsaturated fat is soft or liquid at room temperature – we often refer to unsaturated fat as "oil."
If we looked at fat chemically, we'd see that all fats are made up of long strings of carbon atoms with hydrogen and oxygen atoms attached to the sides. Unsaturated fats have one or more positions open for the body to attach its own hydrogen atoms to during the digestive process. Saturated fats, on the other hand, are already "saturated" with hydrogen, making them harder for the body to break down and use efficiently.
