Good Fats-Bad Fats, What Are Trans Fats and What to Include in Your Dietary Fats

When it comes to dietary fats, we are always told to choose unsaturated fats over saturated fats. Because saturated fats are believed to be the bad fats. However, in reality this belief is a misleading one; in fact, it's the amount and the type of saturated or unsaturated fats that matter. Both fats have some benefits to offer to our body, except of course the trans fatty acids (or trans fats).

The trans fatty acids are processed or chemically altered fats; these fats are often used in packaged foods, they are referred to as hydrogenated vegetable oils that are solid at room temperature. Trans fats are harmful to our body because they raise the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and lower the good cholesterol (HDL) levels. We're know that people with high LDL and low HDL ratio are at higher risk of getting coronary heart disease, stroke, arthritis and other chronic conditions.

Unhealthy Foods for Your Heart

Saturday I outlined 5 healthy foods for your heart. Today I'll cover some things found in foods that are not so heart-healthy. Minimize these inflammatory aggravators in your diet to help promote optimal cardiovascular functioning.

Saturated fats. They can contribute to high cholesterol; avoid whole-fat dairy foods such as cheese, cream and milk, as well as red meat.

Trans-fats. Found in most margarines, snack foods, heavily processed foods and some cooking oils, these fats (often listed on food labels as "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil) can reduce HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels.