***The Importance of Good Fats in the Diet

There has been a great deal of coverage in the media about how people need to be mindful of the amount of fat they consume in their diets. This has lead to a number of diets that are focused on severely restricting the fats that people eat. In some cases, fats are almost totally eliminated in these diets. Some people decide to follow every new diet that comes out. After all, these diets have research behind them. And a lot of that research has been manipulated in order to get the desired outcomes. A Diet with the good fats, from healthy animals diets seem like they would be the answer to good health and removing obesity... Diets can be a good tool to use in maintaining health. They can help a person become more aware of the foods they are eating as well as the amounts of food they consume. It is important, however, to not eliminate an entire group of foods, including fats. Fats are not the evil villains in the weight loss world as so many diets and media outlets would have consumers believe. In fact, there are a number of benefits to eating fats on a regular basis. Just as with other foods, however, there are good fats and bad fats. It is important to eliminate bad fats in the diet while consuming primarily good fats. Bad fats include partially hydrogenated fats and polyunsaturated fats, also known as trans fats. These fats offer almost no benefits and can wreak havoc on the body over the long term. They are found in many processed foods and also include vegetable oils. In contrast, good fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, have been shown to offer benefits that everyone should be interested in. Heart health, lower cholesterol, and a reduced risk for breast cancer are just a few of the benefits of consuming monounsaturated fats, also known as good fats. Other benefits can include less stomach fat and weight loss when the trans fats in a diet are replaced by monounsaturated fats. Some good sources of monounsaturated fats include avocado, nuts and olive oil. There are a number of different ways nuts can be incorporated into the modern diet, such as using nut butters for snacks and nut oils for cooking and baking. Avocados can be incorporated into a number of dishes and add a creamy texture to foods. They are also delicious when eaten alone. Many people find that taking supplements is the ideal way to ensure they are getting the good fats they need in their diets as they fit in with their busy lifestyles. This is not the answer we need to eat the real food and supplements can be an addition. Along with regular visits to their doctor for the tests and checkups that ensure their health is on track, taking charge of their diets can go a long way toward ensuring a person's health is at the optimal level, both in the short term and long term. Make sure that you find a doctor who is trained in nutritional and environmental medicine.