What are Unsaturated Fats?

While there are several different kinds of fats, unsaturated fats are generally considered to be “good” fats. Of course, if you are aiming to lose fats, then whether it is unsaturated fats or not, you will want to lose them!

Unsaturated fats come in two different flavours. The two types are polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. The way to tell the difference between the two, is quite simple. Polyunsaturated fats remain in a liquid state at room temperature and when refrigerated. Monounsaturated fats will become solid when refrigerated.

Unsaturated fats contribute to the overall fats in the body, and they do increase the triglyceride levels in the body, but the good thing is, they do not increase the cholesterol levels. Triglyerides are “fat storing” molecules and in most cases, people will have normal levels, even when over-weight.

The fact is, unsaturated fats, both the polyunsaturated and the monounsaturated fats, are much healthier for the body when compared to the saturated fats. One recent discovery was that the fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 found in unsaturated fats are actually beneficial to, and essential for the proper functioning of our bodies.

Unsaturated fats can be found in most vegetable oils, fish, fruits and nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are found mainly in fish like trout, sardine, pilchard, kipper, herring and mackerel.

It has been found that unsaturated fats help in stabilizing the electrical conduction system of the heart. Hence, omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil are now acknowledged to be very important to good health. Recently, it has been shown through medical studies that the risk of dying from heart disease is actually lowered by these kinds of fats (omega-3 fatty acids).

In case you do not like to eat fish, there is still hope. Most reputable pharmacies will carry fish oil or more specifically, omega-3 supplements. These are usually in the form of capsules for easy ingestion.

But do remember, too much of anything is still not good. While fish and vegetable oils are healthier choices, they are still fats and taking too much will still cause you to grow fat. Sometimes, people choose to take fat inhibitors, special diet supplements that help to neutralize fats in the digestive system to prevent them from being absorbed. This is one effective way to reduce your fat intake without counting calories. Make sure you get reputable products, though.