How many types of fat are there in the body?

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Fat in the human body is divided into two types, good fat and bad fat. Good fats provide energy for the body, bad fats cause the body to produce cholesterol, leading to many health problems. The following article will analyze in detail these common fats.

1. Classification of good fats and bad fats

Science divides fat in the human body into 2 types: good fat and bad fat.
Good fats: also known as unsaturated fats, do not solidify at room temperature, exist in 2 forms as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two polyunsaturated fats. In addition, they are also common fatty acids that the body needs to absorb from food. This is a good fat because it tends to lower cholesterol in the blood, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, produces good cholesterol that is transmitted throughout the body, prevents cardiovascular diseases,... Bad fat: also called Saturated fat, which solidifies at normal temperature, causes the body to produce bad cholesterol, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

2. Uses of good fats

2.1 Monounsaturated fat This is a type of fat that has the ability to reduce cholesterol to replace saturated fat in the daily diet. This type of fat is found in oils and oils: canola, grapeseed, olive, avocado, peanut, or even lean meat,...
2.2 Polyunsaturated fat Its function is similar. monounsaturated fats but are considered to have a better effect. Specifically, polyunsaturated fats have the ability to reduce both bad and good cholesterol levels, while monounsaturated fats can only reduce bad cholesterol.
This type of fat is found in vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, corn, soybeans and other grains,... Eating foods like salmon, fish Tuna, nuts, and whole grains can also make it easier for your body to absorb polyunsaturated fats.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are forms of polyunsaturated fats. They have their own uses as follows:
For Omega-3 Fatty Acids Is a beneficial fat for baby's eye and brain development in the first 6 months of life, promotes brain development, strengthens the immune system baby's. For adults, this type of fat has a very good effect in reducing pain, morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, they also help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in seafood such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel. In addition, they are also found in flaxseeds, walnuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes, especially soybeans,...
For Omega-6 Fatty Acids Omega-6 has the ability to help muscles can control bad cholesterol, protect the body from the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Omega-6s are found in foods like sunflower seeds, soybeans, canola oil, and peanuts.

3. Harm of bad fat

There are two types of bad fats: saturated fat and trans fat. Consuming foods with a high bad fat content will negatively affect health. Specifically:
3.1 Saturated fat Saturated fat increases the amount of bad cholesterol in the body, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, people should limit the consumption of foods with high saturated fat content such as: fatty meat, eggs, poultry skin, dairy products (cheese, cream, full fat milk), palm, coconut , cocoa butter, chips, cookies,...
3.2 Trans fat This is a type of fat that is hydrogenated during processing. It lowers good cholesterol (HDL), increases bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the body. This type of fat is commonly found in processed foods such as cookies, cakes, snacks, frozen foods,...

4. Tips for a healthy diet

To ensure health, each person needs to build and adhere to a healthy diet, should replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats to improve the level of good cholesterol in the blood. Notes when building a diet that you should refer to:
Limit the use of fast food because it always contains trans fats; Limit the amount of red meat your family consumes. Instead, eat fish, plant-based protein and skinless poultry; Use canola oil when eating baked goods; Use olive oil when cooking, salad dressing,... Choose healthy snacks instead of cookies, chips; Use margarine instead of toffee. Hopefully the above information will help everyone, especially housewives, to build a reasonable fat-containing diet in the family.

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