Are FATS BAD?
Good Fat & Bad Fat – What are the differences?
Good fat
This kind of fat is sometimes called unsaturated fat. It helps us produce good cholesterol and aids its circulation around the body.Unsaturated fat helps keep arteries clear. It also reduces bad cholesterol, which is associated with heart problems. A diet with unsaturated fat can help avoid these problems later in life.Good or unsaturated fat comes in two forms: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. There are two types of polyunsaturated fat: omega-3 and omega-6. These are also known as essential fatty acids.
Bad fat
This kind of fat comes in the form of saturated fat and trans fat. Both kinds of fat increase the production of bad cholesterol and can reduce good cholesterol. Both can also increase the risk of heart disease later in life.
Where fats are found and what they do
|
Type of fat |
Where it’s found | What it does |
|
Monounsaturated (good) |
|
Lowers cholesterol when it replaces saturated fats in an average daily diet |
|
Polyunsaturated (good) |
Salmon and tuna |
|
|
Omega-3 (a type of polyunsaturated, or good, fat) |
|
|
|
Omega-6 (a type of polyunsaturated, or good, fat) |
Vegetable oils like sunflower, groundnut (peanuts), canola and soy |
Protects against heart disease by helping control bad cholesterol |
|
Saturated (bad) |
Animal products, like meat fat, palm and coconut oil, and dairy |
|
|
Trans fat |
|
|
Quick fat facts
- Essential fatty acids can’t be made in the body (except in breastmilk), so it’s important to include them in your child’s diet.
- A balanced diet should include about 2% of energy from essential fatty acids – 1.5% from omega-6 and 0.5% from omega-3. Plant seeds, nuts and fish are good sources of essential fatty acids.
- Research suggests limiting the amount of saturated fat in your diet to about 10% of your daily energy intake. The best way to do this is to choose lean meat, reduced-fat milk and dairy products (only for children over two years) or skim milk (only for children over five years). Try to keep commercially made cakes, biscuits and takeaway to a minimum.
- Vegetarians can choose soy foods, green leafy vegetables, legumes and walnuts to get enough omega-3 in their diet.
