Bad Fat Research Paper

Fats have a bad connotation, but not all fats are bad. The fats you eat give your body energy that it needs to work properly. Certain fats should be part of a healthy diet. Dietary fats serve other purposes besides providing energy. They function as structural building blocks of the body, carry fat-soluble vitamins, are involved in vital physiological processes in the body, and are essential for a number of important biological functions. All fats have a similar chemical structure. Each contain a chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.The difference between each fat is the length and shape of the carbon chain and the number of hydrogen atoms connected to the carbon atoms. These small differences in structure translate into major differences in form and function. The different types of fat include saturated fat, trans fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The trans fats are classified as “bad fats”. They are a type of hydrogenated man-made fat usually found in processed foods. Hydrogenation is used to turn healthy oils into solids and to stop them from going rancid. Trans fat lowers your “good” cholesterol (HDL) while raising your

Found mostly in plant-based foods and oils. Polyunsaturated fats are essential fats, meaning they 're required for normal body functions. But your body doesn’t naturally produce them, so they must be consumed from food. A polyunsaturated fat has two or more double bonds in its carbon chain. Eating polyunsaturated fats in place of saturated fats or highly refined carbohydrates reduces the “bad” LDL cholesterol and improves the overall cholesterol level.One of the most beneficial polyunsaturated fats are omega-3 fatty acids. They can be found in seafood, flaxseed and flaxseed oil, and in walnuts. Research has shown that those at risk of heart disease who consume a lot of omega-3s can be at a decreased risk of inflammation or heart