All of us feel a growing concern for our body as we age. We try to avoid the foods that are unhealthy while we love foods high in fat. For some people, the thought of consuming fatty foods is enough to make them squirm. It is a fact that nowadays fat is equated with morbid conditions almost all the time. What we should know is that we need to maintain healthy levels of fats, especially essential fatty acids, instead of avoiding them altogether. Knowing which among your sources of food bring risk factors to your health will certainly help you cut down on the unhealthy kinds of fats.

Bad Fats

You can safely assume that trans fats are the most dangerous of all fats, and are the ones established to have an effect on the formation of several cardiovascular diseases. There was a surge in popularity for the use of trans fats in the mass production of canned goods and other preserved foods in the latter half of the 20th century since trans fats have shown to increase the shelf life of processed foods.

The scientific community, especially in North America, was convinced that trans fat coming from plants was healthier than the saturated fats from animals. Before long, the increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases associated with trans fat became a public health problem, and ensuing studies point to the active role trans fats play in the mortality in populations known to consume trans fats.

Today governments have changed their position concerning the use of trans fats, which in fact has been banned in some countries in Europe. The same reason why it is always prudent to avoid processed foods and other known sources of trans fats. Baking shortenings, margarine, and commercial oils used in deep-frying are identified to have the highest levels of trans fats.

Good Fats

Essential fatty acids are the kinds of fats that we need to make sure we get from our diet. They are essential in that the human body necessitates its presence but unable to biosynthesized them. There are only two identified essential fatty acids: (1) ALA or alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and (2) LA or linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. Individuals who have poor nutrition must also consume the following fatty acids: gamma linolenic acid, lauric acid, and palmitoleic acid.

Fish and most seafood like shellfish are rich in essential fatty acids as do oils coming from linseed, canola, hemp, and soya and seeds of chia, pumpkin, and sunflower. Green leafy vegetables in general are a good source of essential fatty acids.

The right levels of fatty acids in the body are necessary for human life, and the incorporation of fats in our diet are actually healthy. That being said, keep in mind that too much fat in our diets will never be considered healthy. Essential fatty acids in particular are indicators of good health, and their absence or imbalance in the body is a factor in many known diseases.

Essential Fatty Acids are available at your local or internet vitamin store. Always choose name brands like Source Naturals to ensure quality of the EFA supplement you buy for better health.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: EFA, Essential Fatty Acids, Good Fats, Why Do I Need EFAs