It may be very ironic to hear that you need to add fat to your diet. Is fat not considered unhealthy? Experts say otherwise. You may also be familiar with the term ” a balanced diet,” it is often advised because each component of it has an important role to play in your body.
According to The National Health Service (NHS), “A small amount of fat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body cannot make itself.”
The health source above adds that food consists of two types of fats: saturated and unsaturated fats.
Saturated Fats
“This is the so-called ‘bad’ fat. It’s primarily found in animal products like beef, pork, and high-fat dairy foods, like butter, margarine, cream, and cheese,” according to the Havard Health publication. It is further added that a lot of quick, processed, and baked items including pizza, sweets, burgers, cookies, and pastries contain high levels of saturated fat.
Unsaturated Fats
The above publication also states there are two varieties of this kind, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, and they are both considered healthy. Nuts including almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and pecans; seeds like pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds; avocados and peanut butter are said to be good sources of monounsaturated fats.
According to health-focused publication Healthline, “Dietary fat tends to have a bad reputation. Despite what you may have heard, eating fat doesn’t make you fat — as long as you eat it in moderation.”
The above health hub also states that your body may struggle to operate as it should and develop health problems if you do not consume enough fat.
