| Marilyn |
|
| |
Reply with quote | #1 |
You probably know that trans fats both raise your bad blood cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol (HDL). Food companies do not want to be associated with these "bad" fats and they have been banned in various area's restaurants, such as New York City.
Once again, food companies worked to find "healthier" fat alternatives or at least foods which contain fat that will sell, since nutrition labels show the amount of ugly heart-unhealthy fats listed on them. One of these alternative fats is called interesterified fat. This is, so far, proving itself to be yet another disappointment in the search for a healthy way to eat fatty foods. In a recent study published in Nutrition and Metabolism, out of 30 volunteers using a controlled diet where the predominant fat source was either unsaturated fat, trans fat or interesterified fat. Bad and good cholesterol levels were measured as well as blood sugar and insulin levels in four weeks.. Both interesterified fat and trans fat significantly raised LDL, lowered HDL, and elevated blood sugar. It should be emphasized that this was a small study and further research clearly needs to be done. If you want to avoid interesterified fats look for "fully hydrogenated oil" on the package's ingredients list. Fats that are less saturated are listed by names you are familiar with, such as corn oil, olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil.
|
| Loading... | | |
| Jacquelin |
|
| |
Reply with quote | #2 |
It does well to note that one should not confuse fat with cholesterol since they are both totally different, and that cholesterol is labeled good or bad based on the function of the lipoprotein and not that there are really good or bad cholesterol. Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs or referred to as bad cholesterol) transport cholesterol from liver via bloodstream to various tissues of the body to be utilized by the cells. Excess remain in the bloodstream to be picked up by high-density lipoproteins (HDLs or referred to as good cholesterol) and be transported back to the liver where it is incorporated with the LDLs for delivery to the cells. And the cycle repeats itself.
Cholesterol is a crystalline substance that is technically classified as a steroid. It is however calcified as a lipid because it is soluble in fats rather than in water. While we might obtain some of our cholesterol from our diet, 80% of our cholesterol is produced by the liver.
Most of our brain tissues are made up of cholesterol and it is necessary for metabolism, production of hormone, the production of vitamin D, and a lot more vital functions of the body.
The problems with cholesterol are lifestyle and imbalance diet. Many persons do not know that a balanced diet is one that will keep you in good health, while maintaining average size, weight and a pH range of 7.35 and 7.45. It follows then that you will have to maintain a certain diet ratio – a ratio of 6:2:1:1 (ie. 60% vegetables of which 50% is eaten raw, 20% fresh raw fruits, 10% starchy carbohydrate – mainly cultivated foods, and 10% protein inclusive of its fats – be it saturated or unsaturated fats.) is suggested for maintaining the above requirement. Many persons who are now developing hormonal problems are as a result of not consuming sufficient saturated fats in their diet.
If one maintains proper diet, then adequate lipoproteins will be manufactured to carry out cholesterol transportation. Antioxidants in the diet will reduce oxidation, which will inhibit the crystallization and deposit of cholesterol on the blood vessel thus preventing plaque formation and thus maintain the flexibility of these vessels. The soluble fiber from natural foods will help to rid the digestive system of excess dietary cholesterol. And minerals from the diet will help to maintain the proper electrochemical signals – shutting down or starting up functions as needed.
More information is available at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgLeXPKMKX.XboKyxJhpcnjsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090126140639AAMI4te
|
| Loading... | | |
