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Science Half of Americans don’t know the facts of fats
Science Half of Americans don’t know the facts of fats | Half of Americans don’t know the facts of fats |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Wednesday, 28 May 2008 | |
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Page 1 of 2 Based partly on confusion of U.S. citizens about which fats are good for health and which fats are bad for health, the American Heart Association (AHA) developed the program “Better Fats Sisters” and “Bad Fats Brothers” as part of a national campaign called “Face the Fats.” The Better Fats Sisters—Mon (for “mono-unsaturated fat”) and Poly (for “poly-unsaturated fat”) are the names of the two sisters representing GOOD fats—that is, fats that help a person maintain good health. You can be introduced to Mon and Poly, the Better Fats Sisters, at their AHA website. The AHA tells you that: “These gals are charmers in their own way--they look out for you and your heart. The sisters love it when you cook with the foods they're in, and they've got lots of great tips to share. Unlike their devious Bad Fats Brothers, they'll tell you like it is, including what you need to know to stay heart healthy.” Polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat are good ("better") fats because they help to lower blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). High levels of LDL can lead to a build-up of plaque in arteries, which can lead to medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Thus, LDL is commonly called “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called “good” cholesterol because it does not lead to medical problems but helps people maintain a healthy lifestyle. A "good" example of a polyunsaturated fat is soybean oil and a "good" example of monounsaturated fat is olive oil—both heart healthy fats. What about the bad side of the family? Please read on. |
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